Tak is an alumni of Greenheart’s Teen Summer Language Camp Japan Program. He was kind enough to answer some of our burning questions!
What advice would you give someone before they start their program?
If possible, learn how the public transportation works by either asking your host family, school, or just researching on the internet. Look for places you want to visit ahead of time before you arrive at the area of the program, otherwise you might end up not finding the things or places you wanted.
Did you experience any culture shock?
For the first couple of nights it was hard for me to sleep. I felt that I should complete the homework that was assigned that day, which started making me feel stressed, but it was not helpful and I wish I could have just slept instead of worrying so much.
What was something that surprised you on your program?
I was surprised by how many times I got lost navigating Nagoya’s train systems and multiple times overshot my stops. I wish I had looked up the different trains that take the correct routes to the locations I needed to go but I survived in the end.
What part of the program stood out the most to you?
The thing that surprised me with the program I took is that they took me and some other students on field trips after classes which was a great way to connect with my fellow students.
Tell us about your day-to-day life while on the program.
I would wake up at 7 AM, eat breakfast then head to the train station. I took the 8:52 AM train to Nagoya station and arrived at 9:00. I would get to the school and start classes at 9:30 and finish at 1:10 PM. After that I would go grab lunch and either head back home or wander around the city looking for card shops or something fun if I didn’t have a field trip with the school.
What was your favorite cultural activity while abroad?
I loved karaoke with some of the teachers and other students. It was really fun and truly a wonderful experience. I wish I could have done more karaoke when I was there, sadly.
What was your favorite food?
My favorite food was the curry my host mom made. It was delicious. There was also this ramen shop we went to and this bowl of spicy noodles was also really good though most of the food in general was good.
What are some activities you did with your host family?
We went to shrines, saw a big buddha statue, introduced me to their family members, played small games and cooked fun food like takoyaki or made shaved ice.
Final Thoughts
This trip showed me how differently Japan operates from America, like how orderly and organized people schedule their days to the activities that take place during family gatherings like breaking open a watermelon with a bat or trying to catch grapes and shine muscat as they flow down cut bamboo poles vs kids just being on some kind of device the whole time.
Some skills I have learned in Japan are being punctual and making plans ahead of time to cause less confusion and stress if I am working with other people. From this trip I am inspired to continue to travel more to places like Central America, Korea, and possibly Japan again to explore other cities and cultures.
Thanks for sharing your answers Tak!