Report: Former MEXT Japanese Studies Students (Mr. Verleg)

2021/9/14 updated

It is our great pleasure to share a report about the experiences of one of our former MEXT Scholarship grantees.

 
Name: Mr. Boudewijn Verleg
Program: Japanese Studies Students
Term: 2019-2020
University in Japan: Tohoku University
Link to interview video on Facebook page (@EmbassyJapanNL)

There is something quite surreal about being chosen to receive a scholarship from the government of a foreign nation, with the explicit purpose of furthering ties between countries as well as participating in cultural exchange. Couple this with the possibility of studying at one of the most prestigious universities in said country and you have a recipe for greatness. Especially because I had been studying the language of said foreign nation for three years at that point, which meant that the scholarship represented much more than just a cool sum of money. It represented validation for my efforts. So it was with no small amount of excitement and, yes, a little trepidation that I boarded my plane towards Sendai, blissfully unaware of how my life would be impacted and changed by the experiences I was about to undergo.

Sendai proved to be a perfect blend of a bustling downtown with smaller, quieter pockets of living areas surrounding it. Comparing it to the Netherlands, the population of the city could rival our biggest cities but it still maintained a serene atmosphere. This atmosphere was mostly due to the feeling that while it was most definitely a city in size, the population treated it like a village that had outgrown itself. Said atmosphere was further compounded by the greenery that was placed throughout the city. It is no coincidence that Sendai is also known as the City of Trees (杜の都, mori no miyako). While the noise of cars passes you by, it is possible to relax in a park or a small stretch of greenery, feeling like you are in an oasis of tranquility while surrounded by a concrete jungle. The dichotomy was mystifying and delicious.

Sendai is also located in the Tohoku region, which means that while there are some cities, on the whole it is not as urban as Tokyo or Osaka, the more well known bustling cities. This means that the area surrounding the city was dotted with beautiful nature which can be enjoyed after a relatively short journey. An impressive volcanic crater lake called Okama (お釜), the hot spring mountain range and its accompanying village both named Zaō (蔵王) and the awe-inspiring Akiu Great Falls (秋保大滝 Akiu Ootaki).
 

Okama Crater Lake

Akiu Falls

It wasn’t just the surroundings that made my stay as pleasant as it was. Being dropped on the other side of the world, where you have some command of the language but know that it’s far from perfect, holding a slip that promises you a monthly stipend, a ticket to Japan and a hearty ‘good luck’ forces you to come to terms with who you are as a person and in what kind of situation you thrive. I was voluntarily ripped from the bubble of comfort and safety that came with having lived in my own country for 28 years. My year abroad proved to be a microcosm of the human experience, from unfathomable happiness to debilitating sadness; from experiencing feelings of unbridled love to crushing heartbreak. It is safe to say that I ran the gamut of emotions and I loved every second of it.

Life in Japan can be extremely comfortable. It can also be very hard. It is up to you as a foreigner to put in the effort. You are encroaching on someone else’s territory and while a lot of people will accept you if you put yourself out there, if you choose to pull back and live in your own bubble, it’s possible to do so but you won’t get the full experience. The MEXT scholarship was a perfect way to experience Japan in a way that would be impossible if you were to go as a tourist. You gain a deeper understanding of an endlessly interesting culture, with a safety net as both my home university and Tohoku University had support staff with whom I could discuss any worries I would have, as well as helping me out with anything document related.
 

Sendai dusk

I of course would be remiss not to mention that halfway through my stay the world suddenly had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. This too was somehow exhilarating. I was fortunate enough that Japan managed to avoid succumbing to the pandemic in the same way that other countries did, which means that I was able to avoid being cooped up in my dorm as much as people in other countries had to and could still enjoy almost everything Japan had to offer, despite having to follow classes online for half of my stay.
 

Sendai night

In short, I loved every second of my year in Japan. If your goal is to achieve a better understanding of Japan, try and get a MEXT scholarship. If your goal is to spend a fantastic year abroad in a culture very different from your own but very rewarding in its own right, try and get a MEXT scholarship. You will have to put in some effort to be able to build a life here but the fruits of your labor will be rewarded with one of the greatest experiences of your life. The year was enough to convince me that I wanted to try and build a life proper there and it might do the same for you.