Japan exchange trip a memorable experience for local teen

WANGARATTA teenager Leo Harwood recently wrapped up his one-year exchange trip to the Ishikawa prefecture in Kanazawa City, Japan as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Leo was sponsored by the Milawa Oxley Rotary Club and Higashi-Kanazawa Rotary Club, allowing him to spend the past 12 months getting accustomed to the different way of life in the Chubu region of Japan. “I used to think it was the hardest language I’ve ever learnt,” he said. “If it’s the first language you’ve studied, it’s definitely very difficult. “Now I don’t really have to think when I speak it. “It feels pretty normal to me.” He said Japanese popular culture has had quite an influence on the modern world, making it easier than it’s ever been to learn the language. “It’s very, very popular, especially nowadays,” Leo said. He said that he looks back fondly on his friendships formed with other exchange students on the trip. “I think probably spending time with all the other exchange students is something I value a lot,” he said. “I was really close with a lot of them.” During his stay, Leo attended a business school where he was exposed to the customs and norms of Japanese education. He said school times were a lot longer but he really enjoyed his classes. "My favourite classes by far were definitely geography and Chinese," he said. "It's very different in Japan. "For example, at the end of each day, all the students start cleaning. "The students would go clean the bathrooms and the classrooms and the halls." Unlike many Australian school campuses, which have buildings dispersed over a large area, Leo said the school was a singular five-story building. "My gym class was on the first floor and my homeroom was on the fifth floor," he said. "It could be a bit of a trek sometimes." Leo said that while the trip gained him a sense of independence and resilience, he certainly felt lonely at times. "I think being away from home there is a lot of learning on how to be more independent, and learning how to get through problems if you have them alone," he said. He also said he felt like he was the “token white guy,” and the prejudice he experienced wasn’t something he expected would happen. “Even though I was living in Japan, I always felt like I was not a part of everyone else,” he said. Another challenge Leo said he faced was staying with four different host families, rotating between them every three months. "I found it pretty difficult at one point," he said. "I had some problems with some of my host families. "But in the end, I made it work." He was thrilled to reunite with his family back in Australia, but said he was "very sad" to leave his life in Japan behind and has found the transition back to school difficult with his friends having graduated last year. “It's tough, but I knew it was part of the deal from the start,” Leo said. Despite the challenges, Leo described his exchange as the most amazing experience of his life. “I’ve made lifelong friends, and even though there were tough moments, I appreciated every moment,” he said. He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who made the journey possible. “I’m really thankful to my host families, my schools, and especially my family and the Rotary Clubs that supported me.”

Japan exchange trip a memorable experience for local teen

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