This is my final blog post, as today I am returning to Australia. I have had an incredibly amazing six weeks in Japan, and learnt so much about the identity and culture of this country as well as that of my own. Though I am not ready to return to the tedium of normal life, I am prepared for a new adventure, that which lies in Australia.

The kindness and welcoming attitude of my host family helped me to settle in to Japan so smoothly, and I really do view my place in 桜新町 as a second home. I think that I have achieved my goals for this exchange, to immerse myself in the language and culture of Japan. And I also think that it is only when you are amid a culture other than that of your own that you are truly able to evaluate that of your home. 

What did I learn in Japan? I learnt that the people are kind, crazy, intelligent. That if you make an effort they will support you in every way that they can and put aside their life to improve yours. I learnt that there’s this tiny island, and it’s got the most amazing people. And that even though this island is so far ahead, it still knows how to respect where it came from.

I learnt that friends you make here are friends for life, and also that those friends don’t care if you don’t speak perfectly. And that doing one small favour for someone can lead to an iron strong friendship.

I learnt that, just because I had lost my voice, I didn’t have to lose myself. Though I couldn’t always express myself, I always communicated. I didn’t stop being me. I didn’t want my host family to get to know a shadow of who I am, because I was too scared to try.

I also learnt that it is important to remember where you come from. Sure, I’m not here representing Australia, but for those people who have had little exposure to Australia, I am their link. Make of it what you will – what do you want the world to think of your country? And I think that I want people to know the truth. The good things, the bad things, but to also remember that I am just one person in a country of 23 million. I am not Australia, merely a reflection of its culture and society.

I learnt that everyone has an いきがい, a reason for living. For some its work or children or anything and everything in-between. What’s the reason you get up in the morning?

Mine? I’m about to begin a new adventure.

-H