A WARM WELCOME

Waking up was difficult.

The day was rich with promises but it was a long night and it was hard to get out of bed. However, with the help of good breakfast, brisk walking, and a little anxiety, I was able to pull through and sense the air of excitement looming over the group. I honestly have zero expectations on my plate as I didn’t know what the protocol is when it comes to exchange students. Imagine my surprise when the students of National Institute of Technology, Akashi College welcomed us with our school hymn with matching fists pumping high. I was incredibly touched by the gesture and I knew at that moment that this would be quite a ride.

The first class we attended was math. So was the second one. I expected that the classes would be heavily focused on STEM so there was no surprise there. What caught me off guard, though. is that it was purely in Japanese, add the fact that we were sitting at the very back of the classroom; waking up was hard but staying awake was even harder. To shoo away my drowsiness, I instead focused on observing how different the Filipino and Japanese classroom setting is. It isn’t really much different, and perhaps the Japanese are quieter. I also sensed a great respect for their professor (sensei), and an exemplary camaraderie between them. By the end of the period, we were introduced to our assigned ‘buddies’ and the environment started to warm up quickly. In a matter of hours, we were already playing tag and hanging out with the girls. It took a while to sink in how easy they are to talk to despite the palpable language barrier.

This first day is also the day we were assigned to present to the class. It’s incredibly exciting for me to introduce my Japanese classmates to my side of the world, as well as the field that I come from. It was such a joy to talk about my passion for films and give them a glimpse of our rich cultural heritage that, unfortunately, even some Filipinos are unfamiliar with.

The girls in the class were extremely accommodating to Johanna and I as we dressed up for our PE class that afternoon. They let us use our lockers and helped me tie my hair. I was incredibly nervous because I’m not exactly the sporty type but it brought me great relief how supportive my classmates and girls from other class are, and how kind sensei is. It was my first time playing table tennis and it had been the perfect place to do it. I had so much fun and at the same time met a handful more people.

It was an incredibly tiring day but fulfilling nonetheless. It gives me great hope for what’s to come, an exhilarating excitement towards the day ahead, and a big smile as I go to bed.