By: Daniel Lorenzo
Edited By: Ahmed Labib Daiyan
For a large number of international 2020 and 2021 enrollees of APU, entering Japan seems like mere hope. With the rise of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 and uncertainty of the Japanese borders, students across the globe seem doomed to be stuck in front of their computer screens for months, unable to experience college in person. Regardless, there is enthusiasm for journeying out into a new country. There are undeniably hints of anxiety and doubt of what to expect when first coming to Japan. This article will explore the experiences and opinions of students who have endured the process of moving from their home country to Japan for the first time, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phong Luan, a 2nd year APM student, mentions how moving to a new country, although very exciting, can be pretty daunting. Furthermore, with the pandemic still going on, there are little to no on-campus activities, social events, and a general shortage of international students that are present in Japan, which does not help the case of new students getting comfortable in a new environment. Luan, who came in during the winter of 2020, described his experience.
“At that time, the majority of rooms at AP House were not filled, and it felt very quiet.” He further added that for a person who has little confidence in their Japanese, it was quite troubling. Luckily, he found floormates and caring RAs that helped him during that tough period, and some of his floormates remain friends to this day. Another student also suggested that being in a community is always good when moving to a new place. Hence, the general consensus is that finding a supportive community is one of the best options when coming to live in Japan, and that is exactly what AP House aims to offer.
Speaking of adjusting to a new environment, let’s look at the living conditions one can expect when first moving to Japan. The bulk of new APU students usually stay in AP House, APU’s on campus housing, for the first months to a year. According to APU’s website, primary needs such as a bed, bedding, Wi-Fi, refrigerators, chair, and table are available for personal use. Depending on whether students have a single or shared room with a roommate, they may also have a sink and toilet. In addition, shared facilities such as a shower area, laundry and kitchen are available on each floor. The kitchen is accommodated with induction stoves, microwaves, washing sink, and much more. Each building also has easily accessible entertainment facilities such as pool tables, table tennis tables, outdoor area, ofuro(Japanese style baths), and basketball courts.
Although AP House provides a lot of basic necessities, there are a number of things new residents will need to acquire on their own. Items such as clothes hangers, food ingredients, and kitchen utilities are not provided in AP house. Residents will also need to bring their own personal hygiene utilities, especially in this pandemic period, items such as soap, toothpaste, masks, and alcohol sprays or wipes are essential.
On the other hand, there are students who move directly into an apartment when first entering Japan. Jenan, a 1st year student, shared her insights on how she moved into an apartment in Japan. The first thing that she did was buy furniture for her apartment as it was not furnished. She explained that this is common, as most Japanese apartments will likely be affordable but unfurnished. On top of that, she mentioned how buying items for apartment care is also important in order to maintain the cleanliness of the apartment. Some of you may be wondering why she moved straight to an apartment, and her response is that she is very particular about the type of furniture and the quality of internet she wants for her living space. Additionally, she felt it would be more financially convenient for her to move into an apartment than AP House. In brief, some people consider these benefits to outweigh the benefits of living in AP House.
Whether they move into AP House or an apartment, students face some common issues when coming to Japan for the first time. These issues mainly circulate around two topics, which are paperwork and weather. Many students are blindsided by the amount of paperwork to deal with when first arriving in Japan, such as insurance documentation, extra fees when moving into an apartment, and monthly bills. As the Japanese government is strict towards the regulations of paperwork and bills, it can be said this is the most harrowing aspect of coming to live alone in Japan. Moving on, the weather, mainly in winter, can be an issue for students who live in countries with no cold weather. Beppu can be very dry and cold compared to some Asian countries, thus, a humidifier and cold-weather outfits are needed in order to get through winter, which might need getting used to for some students.
All in all, newly coming students will have their own fair share of challenges when adapting to life in Japan. Nonetheless, there are always people who are willing to help when in need. New students will have the chance to experience new environments, meet new people, explore and express themselves more, all as part of their beginning at APU.
References:
Outline of AP House—Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.apu.ac.jp/home/life/content1/
Salamon, J. (2008). Arriving at Narita Airport [Photo]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/plopy/2187038528/
University, R. A. P. (n.d.). Housing | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. APU Admissions Website | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Retrieved from https://admissions.apu.ac.jp/student_life/housing/
"Arriving at Narita Airport" by plopy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
"Arriving at Narita Airport" by plopy is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
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