Daniel Grilli

University of Adelaide, Australia
Exchange to Waseda University, Japan

The time I spent at Waseda University was full of ups, downs, and everything in between. When I first arrived in September of last year, I was still in the clutches of an energy-draining glandular fever, which meant that I was forced to restrict my outings and live a fairly quiet life. However, despite this, I had already begun to find the exchange very rewarding. From a language standpoint, I was confronted with the fact that one and a half years of study back home had left me wholly unprepared for speaking with the native Japanese. Furthermore, due to a strange twist of fate, I was placed into a Japanese class a whole level above my actual ability. It was a little disheartening at first, but I quickly rose to the challenge and used the opportunity to fast-track my Japanese skills. I was also able to make a variety of friends, from fellow international students in my dormitory to the wonderful and kind Japanese students in international circles at the university.

As the new year dawned, so did a new stage in my exchange. I began to feel both physically and mentally better – no longer were the worries of settling down in a strange country bothering me, and my Japanese had improved by leaps and bounds. Throughout the following spring break, I was able to travel to various parts of Japan, experiencing the thousand-year old history of Kyoto and the horrors of the recent past in Hiroshima. With information passed on from the university, I was also able to take part in a two-week homestay program in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, which brought me an entirely new perspective on Japanese life and Japanese people that I never would have found in Tokyo.

These wonderful memories continued into the spring semester. This time, I took the plunge and joined one of Waseda University's infamous clubs, opting for none other than the Automobile Club – one that ranked right up there with the popular baseball or boat clubs. Participating in club activities many times a week and going on club trips on the weekends provided me with an excellent opportunity to practice my Japanese, make some great new friends and even learn a lot about one of my hobbies, cars. My only wish is that I had joined them sooner!

Now that I have left Japan and returned to Australia, I am only just beginning to realise the immense value that this exchange has brought me. Not only have I had the privilege of having the many wonderful experiences mentioned above, but I also feel that I have grown as a person. Going to Waseda has shown me that dreams are attainable – and that by following your dreams you are opening yourself up to a whole range of opportunities that would have otherwise never come to light.

While I am a little sad that I am now home and I wish I could have stayed on in Japan for some time longer, I will not dwell on these negative thoughts. Instead, I will take what I have learned in my time in Waseda University, as well as Japan, and use it to build a better future for myself.

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