Yuki Hasegawa
From: Norwich, East Anglia, UK
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| In Aoi Hall computer lab |
I'm in the Academic Intensive Japanese Program.
What were you doing before you came to Yamasa?
I finished my A levels and was accepted into university, but I then decided to defer for one year and started working in a Chinese restaurant to save some money and get ready for some travelling (I went to Spain, Italy and France before I started running low on cash...) and for studies in Japan.
Did you start as a beginner?
Yes, when I arrived at Yamasa I was a beginner. I wasn't in the absolute beginner bottom level class - but I started Yamasa's curriculum in an elementary level class.
Did you study Japanese before you arrived?
I did start learning hiragana while I was at High School in England but I soon forgot them when the tests were over... I didn't study any conversation at school, but because my parents are both Japanese I had long been used to hearing spoken Japanese so some of the vocabulary especially relating to food etc was very familiar.
Did your parents ever teach you Japanese?
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| Having fun at the village |
How long have you been at Yamasa?
I started about 5 months ago.
Is this the first time you have lived in Japan?
I was born in the UK and the only other time I lived in Japan was when I was a toddler. I lived in Kyushu until I was about 2 years old.
What are you plans after graduation?
I have got a bachelor's degree course lined up studying Japanese and Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London. I deferred for one year after I had been accepted so that I could travel around Europe and then on to Japan. I think I'd like to work in international finance in the future.
Where are you living at the moment?
I'm living with my Aunt and Uncle in Daijuji in the north of the city.
Did you have any trouble adjusting to living in their house? Was living with relatives helpful?
It was useful because I needed to speak Japanese all the time - neither of them speak English. We think differently, part of it is the difference in age as both of them are in their fifties and their children (aged 28 & 30) aren't living at home.
How do you get to classes?
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| Yuki Hasegawa, Japan, AIJP |
What is the biggest challenge or problem you've faced so far in Japan?
I got sick in a taxi on my way home from a night club to the hotel I was staying in during a trip to Tokyo. I might have been a little bit drunk... There was another student in the taxi with me and the driver got extremely angry - it was pretty scary.
When I arrived it was a drama. My father booked a ticket by mistake to Tokyo instead of Nagoya, so I arrived at the wrong airport. I didn't have any trouble getting on the right train although the luggage was a hassle. The problems started when I had to call my relatives. The handwritten note that my father had given me with the telephone number of my Uncle and Aunt was confusing. I thought the 7 looked like a 9 so I kept on calling the wrong number. Eventually I asked a station attendant and after a while it was all sorted out (he looked up the telephone book - I couldn't because it was all written in Japanese) and my uncle arrived at the station to meet me.
Any surprises you would like to share?
I like shopping, and the first time I went to try on some clothes at a department store I didn't realize that you had to take your shoes off before you squeeze into the booth. The shop assistants came rushing.... kind of embarrassing but at least now I know.
If a new student was entering your class today and asked for some advice, what would you say?
If you don't know an answer - ask your teacher - chances are that nobody else in the class knows either. Don't be shy.