Japanese exchange student loves Aussie parties! (Issue 13, 2012)
Takashi Ikeda is a La Trobe Exchange student from Japan. He is studying Law and Management subjects and has loved every aspect of his time in Australia and at La Trobe.
Takashi did not find the move and adjustment to Australia as challenging as he first thought he would. Takashi lived independently in a dormitory when at high school and at university in Japan and this helped a lot with the move to Menzies College here at La Trobe. However living in a place where everyone spoke English was new to Takashi, but his new friends helped him overcome this trial.
‘Living at Menzies College I have made many new amazing friends who have helped me settle down in this new enriching environment. Though I have experienced adjustment so many times in past years, living in a dormitory without anyone who speaks Japanese was another story. Initially being surrounded by English native speakers was a daunting experience.
‘I once had a dream that I was drowning from the load of questions my Australian friends were asking me in ENGLISH. It was overwhelming because these questions were spoken so fast that I could not catch the meaning. Despite my nightmares, my amicable and lovely friends have always cheered me up and been supportive since moving into Menzies College,’ says Takashi.
Takashi has loved his time at La Trobe – but has found many cultural differences that are unique to Australians. However these differences are some of the things he has found the most memorable.
‘Every moment and situation I face is enjoyable and educational. Even greetings are interesting but at the same time confusing because Australians say “How are you?” as a greeting, even if they are not genuinely interested about your health condition.
‘Living on campus has given me so many opportunities to participate in fantastic events, which makes it hard to choose the most memorable. However, I would say the exciting parties Australians invent are somehow unforgettable. During the first week of my stay at Menzies College, we held a Halloween themed party, colour party, toga party, and hero party (I cannot remember every party). Australians are really good at finding an excuse to have a party and their parties are so creative and fantastic.’
Takashi is extremely interested in relationship between attitudes toward the world, different cultures and history. He is hoping to go onto study teaching, but also has dreams of contributing to global harmony.
‘One of my dreams is to contribute to world peace by building amicable relationships among citizens. In order to create trust and relations, individuals need to know differences and accept diversification. I believe education plays an indispensably significant role in building concepts in the minds of humans on difference.
‘Individuals are naturally afraid of something unknown but they are able to handle it if they have knowledge about it, and therefore, governments should focus on the central role education plays in order to eliminate casualties and wars as well as to encourage callous people to realise the importance of life,’ says Takashi.
