JCR SA Intercultural Exchange Programs

FINAL ASSEMBLY EXCHANGE STUDENT'S SPEECH
I had long wished to study abroad in South Africa as an exchange student. When I was in Japan, my imagination of South Africa was of many wild animals ( elephants, giraffes, etc.) walks in a grassland of vast extent, people wearing their traditional clothes and a climate that is very hot. Coming to South Africa was like a big adventure for me.

It took 24 hours to come to South Africa by aeroplane. When I arrived at the airport in SA, I was full of hopes and fears. My host family warmly welcome me at the airport then I went to their house. I was very surprised to see their house for the first time. I did not know their house is a farm! They have chickens, cats, cows, sheep, 22 dogs and 36 horses, as well as a huge garden. I thought "I will have a wonderful year with them".

I can clearly remember my first school day. I did not know anything, I could not speak  English very well and no one spoke Japanese. I was very nervous. The beginning of my life in South Africa was terrible. I got homesick and culture sick. I hated every break time at school because I could not understand what everyone was talking about, "why  they were laughing?". My feeling was always of being alone. It was very difficult for me to understand and speak English. But, I think I am now one of the happiest girls in the world. Everyone tried to understand my feelings, my English and many people helped me a lot everyday. Mrs. Schumann gave me some extra English lessons and my friends learned Japanese from me. I am very pleased to have met all my friends Vikki, Xina, Bradley (I cannot say all my friends' names now). Their warmth made me happy. Especially, I thank you, Erin Morgan Jones, with my whole heart. We were always together, at school and at home. When I felt down, you helped me a lot as my wonderful friend and as my family.

It was not easy to adapt to the South African way of living. The life style is completely different to Japan. For example, customarily Japanese sit directly on tatami-mats on the floors and sleep on them as well, with futon mattresses. Therefore, people take their shoes off in order to keep the floors clean.
Traditional Japanese home cooking includes rice and a couple of dishes such as baked fish or cooked vegetables with miso soup and some pickles. Most people eat rice as a staple food at least twice a day. (It's said that Japanese have been producing rice for more than 2 000 years ). Japanese did not eat meat until recently. Meat has been eaten only since 1868, until then, eating meat was forbidden due to Buddhist teachings.

My school life in Japan is also different to this country .
7.30 -3.30 = 6 lessons each 50 minutes
10 minute breaks between each lesson
3.10- 3.30 = Assembly
3.30- 4.00 = Clean the school (e.g. wash floors, wipe windows)
4.00 -6.00 = Club time for sport and music
6.00 -7.30 = Home to eat
7.39 -9.30 = 2nd school for extra lessons
10.00 -12.00 midnight = Homework
I go to bed at 1.00 in the morning

I think South Africa is so incredibly unique with its variety of different cultures. I learned we should accept each other, we have different cultures, religions and minds, but we should not hurt each other. We should accept each other as we are.
Another thing, South Africa has beautiful weather so that most of the season it is warm weather. So, people play a lot of sport during the whole season. I have started to play many sports in South Africa such as hockey, athletics and a little bit of swimming. I like to play sport. Especially I love to go running early in the morning. At this time I can see the beauty of this country. Fresh air, huge grounds and the beautiful orange red sunrise that is when I realise the I have unlimited possibilities.
I would like to thank my host family who are special people to me. They have a big
heart. I have learned many important things for my future from them. They always said to me Ai," you can still make mistakes. You must believe in yourself. We know you can do it. You are still growing up into a big girl."

I have learned how important it is to believe in myself. This year I played hockey,
athletics and did a little bit of swimming. Every Saturday I played music in an orchestra at the Johannesburg College of Education. My English has also improved, I have tried to do many things because I believe too that I can do anything.
I think the Japanese people need to do more exercise, for example, my school has
swimming practice only for one month a year. Japanese children study very hard every day. We do not have enough time to do sport, nothing is more important than
academics! Before I came to South Africa I thought studying was most important for my future. I can now say that it is wrong. Of course, studying is very important but I have learnt from South Africa that there are other important things to do as well as studying.

First it is to do exercise. When I feel down, I exercise, then my feelings become much better and all my stress has gone. Next it is family. I love my family -no-one can help me more. I did not have enough time to spend with my family when I was in Japan. We never even ate any meals together because of all the hard work. It is very sad that we always had different lives to one another.

I need to make my time more meaningful. I must make possibilities for my future. For
example, I love to play the clarinet then my time will be for my practice. I believe that
if I love something I should try to be the best at it. This year has changed me a lot and you are part of my experience. Thank you so much.

Ai Hashizume
PIEE Exchange Student
Japan

Nov 2001