Tell us about your experience on this programme
I discovered this opportunity while browsing through emails one day. Looking over the itinerary and the funding opportunities available, I knew I wanted to apply. When I was accepted, I was nervous but excited for my first international trip – everything from flights to accommodation and activities. However, at almost every point of this trip my expectations were surpassed.
Travelling to and within South Korea and Japan was smooth, the hotels were generally comfortable, and I loved everyone on the trip as well as the majority of the activities.The trip began with a city tour of Seoul, where we wore Hanbok and visited the largest royal palace in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace. We also explored Gwanjang Market, a bustling place filled with so many new, different types of foods. Other activities in Korea included a truly humbling K-pop dance class, a tour of HiKR Ground and a day trip to Nami Island!
Moving onto Japan, we first visited the Kansai region. Staying in Osaka, we experienced a traditional tea ceremony, went shopping in one of the busiest streets I had ever seen, visited USJ, and took a day trip to Kyoto – visiting the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Fushimi Inari Shrine! It was during this part of the trip where things got a bit full-on. About a week into the trip, everyone was feeling tired and lacked energy. Our days were jam-packed and long, but at the same time we were in Japan and wanted to make the most of it!! Making use of our rest time was probably the most crucial during this part of the trip, but luckily the hotel we stayed at in Osaka was the best of the trip. 10/10 in comfort and cleanliness.
Our final stop was Tokyo, and it was such a perfect city to end the programme in. The itinerary and days were planned amazingly, plenty of activities but at a great pace, where I didn’t feel totally drained by the end of the day (thank you Jesse and Toay!) We visited so many places, including Akihabara, TeamLab Borderless, the E-sports arena in Tokyo Tower, and the Studio Ghibli Museum. Although it would have been easy to spend a whole day at each place, the programme offered the perfect taste test of what Tokyo had to offer. The only slightly disappointing aspect of Tokyo was the size of our hotel rooms (super tiny), but that only meant that we had more excuses to stay out and explore the city! Overall, this programme opened my eyes to what life is like in these major cities. The scale and vibrancy of Seoul and Tokyo in particular were worlds apart from New Zealand, and I’m incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it and gain these new, invaluable perspectives.
Were you satisfied with the cross-cultural experiences this programme provided?
The cross-cultural experiences offered by this programme was extremely satisfactory. Not only were we immersed in the fast-paced modern-ness of each city, we also experienced some of the more traditional aspects of each culture such as wearing Hanbok and Kimono while exploring the palace in Seoul and taking part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Additionally, learning about how daily life differed in these countries compared to New Zealand was also interesting and valuable. The emphasis placed on hierarchy in these cultures was eye-opening and helpful to keep in mind as a visitor. I also found that I could relate some of it back to my own culture as a Pacific Islander, where our elders are the most influential and well-respected people in the community. Overall, I felt that we were given a perfect balance of insight into the history and tradition of Korea and Japan, as well as a taste of the daily lives of people in these countries.
What skills do you think this experience helped you gain, and how so? How might this differ from the experience you could otherwise gain in New Zealand?
There were so many skills gained on this trip. Personally, I found that my communication skills naturally improved as a result of being in a non-English speaking country. In some cases, in both countries, we had no choice but to use hand gestures and body language to communicate in conversations that strayed a little from the basic Korean and Japanese phrases I know. However, this was always easy enough and everyone we chatted to were helpful and understanding. The fast-paced nature of the itinerary also helped me to develop adaptability and resilience, as I had to quickly adjust to new environments, schedules and group dynamics. The exposure of diverse traditions, customs and ways of life also helped me develop new skills as a global citizen by broadening my worldview and understanding of different cultures, something I could not have experienced in New Zealand alone.
Did you encounter any particular challenges in preparing for or during this programme that might be important for future students to be aware of?
A particular challenge I felt was re-occurring throughout the trip was the intensity of the itinerary. While I fully understand that the nature of this programme is to immerse the group in the cultures of each country, and there was only so much time in each city, some of the scheduled days felt so tiring.
You rated this experience as one you were “highly likely to recommend” to a friend. What gives you the confidence to do so?
To those considering joining this programme or similar: Do it!! You will learn loads and have one of the most enjoyable experiences of your life, connecting with new people and seeing new things. Keep in mind that you will get tired! So, please make the most of your rest time and look after yourself in order to fully enjoy the experience!
