Nikenkan Version 2.0

Interlink 2009 has indeed been a memorable experience for me this year and the memories stay for long never dulling. Although school was very much ongoing during the homestay, it was definitely worth every second of it as we went about doing our best with our limited japanse showing the 九大students around Singapore.

Not only was it a chance to learn more about the language, I guess we all walked away learning more about the differences in culture and learning to see Singapore through a different set of eyes which was very refreshing and おもしろいwhen faced with questions about our culture and history which was taken for granted. Such as why people here do not carry a fan and towel with them since it is blazing hot everywhere in Singapore when back home(Japan) it is impossible to imagine someone not doing so.

Food was definitely a good ice breaker and it was amusing bringing them around to all the hawker stalls in Singapore, seeing their faces grimace in horror to the initial sight of the foreign and often spicy looking food but ending up loving it. And it was cheap since meals were mainly not pricy.The friendships made during this short period of 5 days is definitely memorable and fruitful as I believe everyone’s command of the language improved and became more confident in speaking in Japanese. This is a rare chance and I would definitely recommend this to anyone reading it who have not hosted before or wanting to practise their Japanese instead of doing so in a control environment such as a class. 

Wesley