In this edition of the Student Discussion column, the S1 Sastra Jepang programme had the opportunity to interview two friends who both had the chance to intern in Japan. Come on, read this exciting interview with them below
NWU:
Please introduce yourselves first—what is your name and batch?
Aqil:
Hello, my name is Naufal Aqil, usually called Aqil, from the 2019 batch.
Imam:
Hello, my name is Imam Prasetya, from the 2019 batch.
NWU:
What semester are you in now?
Aqil:
Now we’re in the 10th semester. Same as Imam.
NWU:
How come you’re in the 10th semester?
Aqil:
In my case, after the proposal seminar, thank God, even though we’re the COVID batch, I finally got the opportunity to intern in Japan for 3 months.
Imam:
Same here. I also participated in the MBKM internship programme in Japan for 6 months.
NWU:
So the programme gave the opportunity to the 2019 batch who couldn’t go to Japan because of the COVID lockdown for the MBKM programme in Japan, right?
Aqil&Imam:
That’s right, sensei.
NWU:
Your internship placements were different, weren’t they?
Imam:
Yes, sensei. I was in Hokkaido.
Aqil:
I was in Tokyo.
Imam:
That’s nice, Tokyo is bustling. Hokkaido is quiet, sensei.
NWU:
How quiet are we talking about?
Imam:
My placement happened to be in East Hokkaido, in an area called Ishikaga. There’s only one convenience store, sensei.
NWU:
Are there any small shops or stalls? In Indonesia, you walk 2 meters and find a stall, right?
Imam:
No, sensei. Even the neighbours’ houses are far apart, sensei.
NWU:
What about the area where Aqil interned?
Aqil:
In my case, since it’s in the central part of Tokyo, sensei, it’s still busy even at night.
NWU:
Please tell us how you, as the COVID batch, were able to get the internship opportunity in Japan.
Imam:
In my case, sensei, I registered for quite a few internship programmes. If I’m not mistaken, this PLANDO was my third attempt. I registered for many programmes, but I was accepted through PLANDO. I received information from Amar-sensei at that time. I mustered up the courage to apply again. Then there was an interview process with someone from Indonesia who was in Japan.
NWU:
Was the interview difficult?
Imam:
The interview was conducted in Japanese, sensei. The questions were still everyday topics. And because I had prepared and practiced for the interview beforehand, it went smoothly, sensei.
NWU:
So it wasn’t something you did without preparation?
Imam:
Right, sensei. Preparation was still necessary because I really wanted to pass, sensei.
NWU:
When was the interview?
Imam:
The interview was in early November, sensei. I left in April, sensei.
NWU:
So it was during spring? Did you get to see snow?
Imam:
Yes, sensei. Even though it was spring, sensei. I went sightseeing in the upper areas, sensei. A Japanese friend took me to those places. After the sightseeing, it suddenly snowed, sensei.
NWU:
Wow, that was quite an unforgettable experience?
Imam:
Yes, sensei. It was hatsuyuki (first snow) for me, sensei.
NWU:
So Aqil, how was your story getting to Japan?
Aqil:
From the programme itself, there are many internship programmes to Japan, starting with OSIP and PLANDO. I once applied for OSIP, but I didn’t make it. After that, there was another short 3-month internship programme. Thank God, I was accepted. Initially, my placement was in Miyakojima. But the placement changed to Haneda, Tokyo. So, thank God, I got Tokyo.
NWU:
Wow, that’s amazing. When did you leave?
Aqil:
August, sensei. During summer.
NWU:
How was it like interning at Haneda Airport?
Aqil:
Since my group was the first to intern at the airport, thank God, the internship place was very accommodating. Since there were many foreign interns, communication could be done in English as well. I didn’t face too many obstacles, sensei.
NWU:
Imam, what was it like interning at a Ryoka or Hotel?
Imam:
I was at a hotel. My placement was in two departments. In the kitchen and front desk. The kitchen was the most tiring.
NWU:
Did you get to sightsee? Or was it all internship?
Aqil & Imam:
Yes, we did, sensei.
NWU: Where all did you go sightseeing?
Aqil:
I went to Odaiba …
NWU:
Oh, you definitely wanted to see the Gundam.
Aqil:
Yes, sensei. Then I went to Asakusa, Kamakura, Tokyo Tower.
NWU:
Did you climb Tokyo Tower?
Aqil:
I did, sensei. But I didn’t make it all the way to the top.
NWU:
You went to a lot of places, Aqil. In just 3 months, you went all over the place.
Aqil:
Yes, sensei. Hahaha. Quite a bit, because the work schedule wasn’t too tight.
NWU:
Where did you go, Imam?
Imam:
At the end, before returning home, I got 4 days off and went to Tokyo, sensei.
NWU:
Oh, you must have met Aqil then.
Imam:
I stayed at Aqil’s apartment, sensei.
NWU:
Wow, nice. Where did Aqil take you?
Imam:
To Kamakura, sensei. Since the time was limited, I didn’t get to go to Tokyo Tower yet.
NWU:
Oh well, after graduation, if you get a job in Japan, visit Tokyo Tower then.
[To be continued part 2]