Louise Evans

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Louise Evans (AIJP)

Declan: Hello. May I interview you for the newsletter?
Louise: Yes.

D: Thank you. When did you come to Japan?
L: In April last year, so its just over a year now.
D: Was it your first time in Japan when you arrived?
L: No I had been here before. I lived in Niigata 12 years ago for a year.
D: What were you doing in Niigata?
L: I did a working holiday there, teaching English.
D: Where in Niigata were you? In the countryside or in town.
L: In Niigata City. Teaching in a school and some private teaching.

D: Was that directly from Canada?
L: I went to Niigata using my Australian passport. I've been going back and forth to Canada.
D: Where did you live in Canada?
L: In British Columbia.
D: In Vancouver?
L: On Vancouver island.
D: In Victoria?
L: In the middle of the island in a place called Courtney. Its a farming and logging community.
D: Do many Japanese people pass through?
L: In Vancouver of course and to some extent in Victoria, but not so many come to Courtney. There is an English language school so there are a few there. I think the school was established by some Canadians who returned from Japan.
D: Why did you decide to come to Okazaki?
L: I wanted to learn Japanese. Didn't have the chance to learn much when I was in Niigata and it is difficult to learn outside Japan. And I've been interested in Japanese culture since childhood so wanted to see more than I did before and get the language skills.
D: How much do you remember of Niigata and what were your first impressions of Okazaki?
L: Its a very different here. Much more sophisticated I guess. Nagoya is giving me a very different experience of Japan. Even though I was in Niigata City, there were people staring at me to some extent, practising their English on me. Here they always speak to me in Japanese.
D: Its not a touristy area.
L: No. I guess that is the big difference. People here are businesslike.

D: On your days off what sort of things do you do?
L: I usually go in to Niigata. Browse through the bookstores and things.
D: The foreign bookshops?
L: Those with an English language selection. I can read children's books in Japanese but for more difficult materials its still too difficult.
D: Do you have a favorite bookshop?
L: Probably Maruzen. I like the Sakae area of Niigata. I love Japanese textiles and design so thats a good area to do some window shopping, or actual shopping of course.
D: Do you like walking
L: Yes, I like wandering around, doing a bit of people watching too.
D: What other parts of Niigata do you like.
L: You know the market near the temple
D: The one in front of Osu Kannon?
L: Thats the one. I like the arcades, and you can see many kimono and obi. Beautiful fabrics.
D: Do you feel a little under dressed when in Niigata? Its such a fashion center.
L: It is, but being a westerner... I guess the locals expect less from us in the fashion sense. I see some very well dressed foreigners around too of course.

D: You've been studying in the AIJP for 1 year now?
L: Yes.
D: What level are you up to now?
L: Still in the intermediate levels.
D: Which text book are you using?
L: The main resource is the New Approach book.
D: What is the most difficult part of the language for you?
L: I think it may be a confidence thing, but for me its speaking with Japanese people. Having confidence in what I've learned. Trying to use all the vocabulary and grammatical structures I've learned in class. I have acquaintances I can talk to but need some close friends.
D: Who are your teachers this quarter?
L: Yokozawa,
D: Is Yokozawa-sensei the first male teacher you have been taught by
L: We were instructed by Hirano-sensei before. Its good having a variety of teachers in the teams.

D: Now I heard you are working part time?
L: I'm teaching English in Kariya.
D: Not far away then.
L: Very convenient. Some adults, but mostly kids.
D: How much do you work?
L: Thursday to Saturdays for 14 hours.
D: Is it difficult to balance the workload with the studies?
L: Exam times are challenging, you need to manage your time. If I could though I would probably work a little more as I need the money for living expenses.

D: You are paying your tuition using a loan system, can you tell us something about that?
L: Its the British Columbia Student Loans. Basically it is a low interest loan scheme.
D: Available to anyone in British Columbia?
L: Any resident, yes. After finishing your studies you start paying back the loan 6 months after your graduation. Depending on you income level.
D: So there is a repayment threshold?
L: Yes.
D: Is this an exchange issue?
L: No, Yamasa is one of the designated schools approved for the funding.
D: Is there much bureaucracy involved?
L: I have to fill in the paperwork each year, but that is the same as if I was using the system for studying in BC.

D: Where do you live at the moment?
L: I'm in Yamamoto House.
D: Thats a new facility, how is it so far?
L: Its beautiful, lovely and clean. We are on the 2nd & 3rd floors so there is lots of fresh air. Especially when there is a nice breeze.
D: Convenient location?
L: Its so close to the JR station and very close to campus.
D: Do you walk or ride to school?
L: I walk.
D: Do you use the trains much?
L: I use the train pretty frequently. I go to work by JR, and of course whenever I go to Niigata.

D: Its good being so close to the station because if I'm coming home between 10-10:30pm after work, I feel safe.
L: The way home is well lit and of course a much shorter walk.
D: Have you ever felt uneasy in Japan?
L: In Niigata once. A weird feeling not a scary one.
D: In Okazaki?
L: Here I've never had a problem.

D: Do you cook your own meals?
L: Mostly I cook my own food. Yamamoto House has a good kitchen, but for some reason I head to McDonalds sometimes. Its strange, I wouldn't eat at McDonalds in Canada but here I do. Some kind of craving.
D: To be honest I drop in there once a week or so too.
L: Usually I hope no one sees me but there is always at least 1 person around from Yamasa. Or at least someone I think is from Yamasa.

D: Do you have your own computer?
L: No I use the Yamasa PC's.
D: What facilities do you have in your room?
L: A fridge, tv, bookcase, clothes rack.
D: Is noise a problem for you?
L: No, its great. We are all a fair way from the showers and kitchen area so the noise is pretty well contained, and the hallway is carpeted so there isn't much foot noise.
D: What are the garbage disposal issue?
L: Its complicated but we've learned how to separate everything and are trying to do the right thing. At first I thought it was incredibly complex, but when I was in Niigata I remember how so much much rubbish was created. How every chocolate was individually wrapped then wrapped again, so there has been a big change over the last 12 years. One extreme to the other.
D: That sounds like Japan in a sentence.
L: Yes.

D: Just to wrap things up, what are you plans for after Yamasa?
L: I'm not sure yet if I'll go to Australia or back to Canada. I would like to continue studying Japanese, and maybe start my own business.
D: No solid plans?
L: No solid plans yet. My family has a business making cheese in Canada, so maybe something involved with the marketing of the product in Japan, but nothing planned as yet.
D: OK, well thank you very much and good luck with the studies.
L: Thanks.

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