Yoshiko Yamashita

Kansai Gadai University, Japan
Exchange to The University of Western Australia, Australia

My 10 months in Perth have passed unbelievably quickly! When I first arrived, I was nervous but also excited about a new lifestyle. I remember every single thing I came across was totally new for me.

Although I had never stayed in a different country for such a long period, it was not so difficult for me to settle down in my life here. That was because I was always supported by people around me, especially by my host family. They gave me much advice whenever I had a problem, both in academic and social aspects. Even just by seeing them and talking to them, I felt my concerns had been released from my mind. I’m so glad I could live with such lovely people here with full support from them.

However, living in a foreign country has not been always easy for me. One of the most challenging things was to study in a new environment. Different from my university in Japan, every unit in the University of Western Australia (UWA) has a tutorial class which requires students to actively participate in a discussion. It was challenging for me to follow the discussion and express my ideas in front of other students because I didn’t have enough confidence in my English.

To make up for my disadvantage in terms of language, I was required to put in much more effort in every aspect of my study. Even though it was very hard, I could manage those difficulties thanks to teachers and friends who supported me all the time. I could also manage time efficiently and appreciated the importance of studying on my own initiative.

Through a year of study at UWA, I had a great opportunity to learn new areas which I could not get a chance to study in my home university. Moreover, studying with students who are motivated to study for the achievement of their future goals was also encouraging.

I have also learned a lot of things through direct interaction with Australian culture. In a multicultural environment such as in Perth, I could feel a “world” in one place. I realized again the importance of “English” which enables us to communicate with people no matter where they are from in the world.

Besides, through a lot of travel during school holidays, I met many nice people and had precious experiences. The most impressive experience was the one to Uluru. My accommodation was simply in the wild, with a simple bathroom shed which was totally open in the field. I also got the chance to sleep in a sleeping bag around a campfire under the numerous stars, and wake up to the sound of the didgeridoo. Every moment I came across new things, I realized that there are so many things I haven’t known yet but I should know in this world.

The experiences I had here are too many to share with you, but the reason I could have such great experiences was that I had a support from the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Scholarship Programme. Thanks to this, I could concentrate on my study and fully enjoy my life here.

I love this beautiful city, Perth, with its relaxing atmosphere and open-minded people. Perth has become another precious hometown for me. The time here has passed unbelievably quickly, but the number of things I have learned is inestimable. They have brought a significant meaning to my life and I’m sure they will help me when I face other challenging situations in the future. I’ll never forget my precious experiences in Perth!

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