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STUDENT INTERVIEW: Martin Hansson (Sweden, AIJP)
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| Martin Hansson |
Due to the unprecedented success of Brett Robson's last two interviews, Brett is taking a well earned 'break' from interviewing.......
Jon: Martin, would you like to become famous and be the first Scandinavian to be interviewed for the newsletter?
Martin: I'm not sure about the famous bit but I'll do it.
J: Great! And I'll need to take a photograph as well.
M: Do I have to wear anything special for the photo?
J: 6 inch flares, a kipper tie with matching shirt, medallions, unnecessarily large sideburns and a tight perm would go down a real treat - but otherwise no.
J: Now then, you started studying in the AIJP program from April, how's it going?
M: Good, I just moved up a class to F class. It's harder than before but I feel I'm really learning a lot - most people seem to be really motivated so it creates a good atmosphere in the classes.
J: So how did you manage to move up a class, all I ever managed to do was move down!
M: I asked the teacher!!
J: Really?
M: Well, my grades were amongst the highest in the class and I mentioned to my academic advisor that I would like to move up and they moved me up at the beginning of this quarter..
J: So what's the secret of getting promoted?
M: There's no secret, as well as doing the regular stuff at school I get a lot of practice speaking outside of class which helps a lot. I have a Japanese girlfriend and I practice Kendo four or five times a week as well so I'm using the Japanese I learn whilst also learning things that they haven't taught us in class yet.
J: I had a friend who used to practice Kendo, it sounded like a bit of a dangerous sport to me.
M: It's perfectly safe if you know what your doing.
J: Where and when to you practice Kendo?
M: At Okazaki taiikukan (gymnasium), Gamagori, and Okazaki medical treatment prison.
J: Okazaki medical treatment prison! I would think practicing with the inmates would be the equivalent of signing your own death warrant.
M: I don't practice with the inmates, only the guards.
J: Are they good?
M: Yep, they kick ass!!
J: And how about you, can you kick ass?
M: Sometimes, but mostly I get mine kicked.
J: When your not getting your ass kicked, and not studying, what do you?
M: I go to Nagoya now and again - I went to 'I.D cafe' but I thought it was a bit of a meat market. I've been to the Izakaya opposite the bank near Yamasa a few times - they do great kariage (fried chicken) and I go to karaoke.
J: Can you sing?
M: Yeah, I used to be in a band in Sweden, but my voice is not what it should be.
J: Everybody has at least one song that they always sing when they go to Karaoke; what's yours?
M: Yokohama Tasogare by Itsuki Hiroshi, it's Enka!
J: And I thought Enka was only sung by Oba sans or drunk salary men in dingy snack bars.................
J: A lot of faxes come into the International Office addressed to you with strange maps of small towns in the UK.
M: All over Europe actually, but recently the UK.
J: Why?
M: In Sweden, the company I work for part time has a client in a hotel chain & I draw maps, produce brochures - all the graphic communication.
J: So will you continue to work for them when you finish your studies?
M: Yeh, I will go back back to Sweden after studying here for a year as I'm currently on leave from my current job.
J: So how different is Sweden from Japan?
M: One of the things that struck me was that everything is on the other side - driving, escalators and the big contrasts between the buildings, you'll see a huge skyscraper next to a tiny house; it seems like anything goes! Oh, and Yamasa Yamasa Villas 3 and 4 are pink!
J: It's a nice shade of pink though............
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Aichi Center
