Exchange student to Japan?

Im going to be an exchange student going to Japan for about a year. I have a lot of questions so please bare with me..


I was wondering how is it like in the school when your an exchange student? How do the students treat you? and since im a girl...Do the girls join a sports club? considering that i like to play softball. Are there any other sports that girls play other than volleyball?


What other clubs do they offer to girls?


how is it like at home, with your host family?


What kind of japanese food do they usually eat?


What are some things that Ishould and shouldnt do? ( i already know taking off the shoes when entering, chopticks w/rice) any other different ones?


When talking to a japanese person do you use "Anata" or do you use the 3rd person, using their name??





If you have any experiences in being an exchange student in Japan or you live in Japan. Please give me advice or information that i need. It'll help a lot! Thanks^^

Exchange student to Japan?
Hi!


You're off on a great experience.


While I've not been a student myself, I've hosted 12 of them!


I'd like to refer you to the website http://www.exchangestudentworld.com/


It's written by exchange students on the whole gamut of the experience. While it's not Japan specific, it might help you with other parts of the exchange.


Good luck and have fun!
Reply:I've never been an exchange student, so I'm not sure what your experience will be like as far as that goes, but I have lived in Japan for 3 years and been studying Japanese for like 10 or so years, so I think I could help you a little. Therefore, a few brief answers:





Every family will eat different stuff, but with your host family, I would expect at least 50% of the food you are served at home to be a starch: white rice, noodles (udon, ramen, soba, somen) or some kind of bread product. Low-carb diets are seldom practiced in Japan. Most people who are Japanese also eat a lot of seafood (yes, sometimes raw), pork and beef on occasion, and lots of eggs (sometimes barely cooked on top of noodles in soup, sometimes hard-boiled, sometimes omelette style or tamago-yaki - a sweet omelette...).You will eat many fruits and vegetables you didn't know existed before, and there may not be an English name for them (that you know of), but most are very sweet, juicy, and/or flavorful.





As far as being polite,say "sumimasen" frequently and you'll be safe. When you want to thank someone, you can say "sumimasen" (instead of "arigatou gozaimasu", but this is fine, too), when something is your fault, of course "sumimasen", when it's obviously not your fault or not something you had control over, but there is an awkward, uncomfortable, or undesirable situation, say "sumimasen". You can even say it in response to someone else saying "sumimasen" to you (and for many situations, the same goes with "arigatou gozaimasu" and "onegai shimasu").





Because you're a foreigner (unless you are of Asian descent and it is obvious by looking at you), many people will not expect you to be able to use chopsticks, sit on the floor properly (for girls, NOT with your legs crossed, but seiza-style, lower legs bend under), be able to speak any Japanese, but some people will expect this of you, so it's important to try. These are the basics, though.





Train etiquette: I can't imagine you coming to Japan and not taking a train at least once, so some things to remember: unless you ride an express train with side trays at your seat, in a green car (I think...I never ride in them) or on a bullet train (shinkansen) and have food at your seat (on your tray), it is not appropriate to eat or drink on trains(like local trains or commuter trains). Quiet talking to your friend is okay, earphones+mp3 player are okay if the volume is not so loud others can hear it, and other noises that might disturb others are frowned upon. People generally read, sleep or stare off into space on trains. Eye contact with strangers is avoided, but not rude if it happens, just don't stare. Avoid applying make-up or brushing your hair (even though many younger girls will do this, it is still frowned upon). This is obvious, but still people don't do it - give up your seat to persons who are elderly, disabled, clearly injured, pregnant or carrying infants. Place bags/purses on the racks above you, in your lap or at your feet, but don't put it on the seat beside you - taking up space where someone could sit. A side note: it is also not uncommon (even in and near Tokyo) for the only available seats to be next to where you are sitting. My foreign friends and myself have noticed this to be the case on many many occasions. You may feel somewhat discriminated against, but it's the reality anywhere you are minority on this planet: subtle (and sometimes blatant) discrimination.





Don't eat or drink while walking.





Don't leave the house with that just-showered look. Blow dry your hair.





Don't keep your hands in your pockets while talking to someone, just standing, working or at school.





Don't lean against things.





Bow or at least head nod in greeting, salutation, thanking and apologizing. Shaking hands or any other physical contact in very rare, but because you are a foreigner, some people might shake your hand.





Don't push something along the floor with your feet, even if it is your own belonging and you are moving it just a a short distance. Pick it up to move it. (This sucks for me because I have back problems.)





3rd person+"san" is always safe when refering to someone or talking about someone. If you don't know someone else's name, and can't avoid not using something to make it clear who you are talking about, it would probably be okay to use "anata", but if it is your teacher or principal, say "sensei". If you feel like you are wearing someone's name out in conversation, just don't say their name at all (a lot of conversational Japanese is context-dependent and the subject is not continually referred to throughout the conversation), or "anata" is general okay with someone you know who is not your superior...Really, I use it on occasion, but I try not to use it too much or with people I just meet.





A lot of these things - what's polite and what's not - take forever to learn because no one points them out to you - unless you're lucky enough to have very honest friends. Japanese kids' mothers tell them, but you probably have no Japanese mother, and your host mother will treat you like a guest. You will have to learn a lot through weeks, months, etc. of careful observation, and the discovery process can be slow and frustrating or enjoyable...however you want to look at it. When in Rome...





I could write for days and days, but you will figure things out once you get here, and you probably studied some Japanese and Japanese culture already, so you should have a good start. Ganbatte ne!

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