Personal Development
I have developed so much personally throughout the exchange, I was able to make so many new friends, communicate in Japanese, and become more confident in myself. I remember at the start of the exchange being so nervous about how I was to live my new life in Japan however by the end of the exchange I was wanting to stay longer.
Academic Development
Through this exchange experience, I developed my Japanese language ability significantly. Being in an environment where I was able to use Japanese gave me a lot of confidence and exposure to the Japanese language. Classes were well structured and were nearly all in-person, they also provided a good workload where I was pushed but not so much that I was able to spend time out of class exploring Japan. It was a nice break from UQ's engineering studies. However, I did experience some difficulty in enrolling in classes as the system was quite different from UQ's, though Waseda did offer good support through the process.
Professional Development
Through this exchange, I have been able to further develop my communication skills in both Japanese and English. I have gained a greater sense of intercultural communication and global-mindedness and believe these traits will be able to help me in my career in international environments. A challenge that I was able to overcome was starting in an environment where I knew no one and being able to connect with people and build relationships. This has greatly increased my confidence in connecting with new people now.
Budget
I had a set amount that I decided to use for the duration of the exchange and I aimed to keep under it. I did not keep track of individual purchases. Overall, however, I believe I spent around $15,000. My advice is to go to countries with a good exchange rate!
Funding was beneficial towards my experience as it allowed me to spend the duration of my time abroad without having to work part-time. This allowed me to focus on my studies and to experience more in Japan. I therefore used my funding on accommodation, flights, food, travel and other necessities.
Highlight
My highlight was being able to join the Waseda Mountaineering Club. Through the club, I was able to make new friends and have so many new experiences. I enjoyed the multiday hikes through the Japanese mountains.
