Questions Anyone? - Response to Viewers (Good Version)

[TheMaara2312]

how did you beccome an exchange student in japan?

[BleachRukia1]

cool video

[RandomReject02]

what part of Japan do you live in?

i lived in okinawa. =]

i wanna go back so bad!! -_-

[gaeunlee]

I JUST HATE THAT JAPANESE UNIFORM. It really sucks

[bkrival]

lol im taking intro Japanese just started this week XD idk y but 3 places i want to go to b4 i die r Japan cause of cherry blossom festival ^^ WOOT Venice (water city FYI) and england ^^ idk y tho lol um yeah in there it is like 2 main things Technology and ANIME ?? lol thats about it from what i herd

[vikinglady09]

What exchange program are you in?

[hirokigallo]

u r so cute!!

[kikyo1551]

my friend wants to know what cheese tastes like in japan or even if there is any cheese LOL and like when you are at school do you like have any trouble understanding people or the teachers or anything at anytime?

[Tennyo29]

Umm... Cheese tastes the same as it does anywhere else. And they do have it. However, they usually eat it as is. THey don't put it on crackers or anything.

[cingle2004jp]

Looks so cute in the uniform, aren't you? Enjoy Japan!

[NexRoseAtrum]

Konnichiwa!

was getting used to life in Japan hard? When you went to school were you a first, second or third year?

[Tennyo29]

I came in August and their school year starts in April so I started 2/3 of the way through the 2nd year and then became a 3rd year in April before returning in August.

[inversek]

why do the majority of japanese kids have to go to juku to get a decent education? why are many japanese schoolgirls engaging in "compensated dating"?

[makokun9]

I believe I can answer that. Some of them feel it´s easy money, and of course there´s stuff they want to buy. As long as no one finds out, "why the hell not"? A few others just want to lose their virginity, and get some money in the process. Enomoto Nariko made a very interesting and well drawn manga series called "Sentiment to Kisetsu", and it explores this social phenomenom from different angles. It´s only in Japanese, though, and the plot is not suitable for minors.

[CirtolthielMelethnin]

hi there~! i have questions if you don't mind answering: what did you do for fun in your free time? did you hang out with friends often? how was your social life in general?

thank you ^_^

[LifeIsHardX3]

I want ot go to school in Japan for a year! How did you do it? :D

[Tennyo29]

I went through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Google it to get more info. You have to start applying around September/October.

[LifeIsHardX3]

I googled it ystrday! It seems interesting! I think I might do it! Was Japan your first choice?

[Tennyo29]

Believe it or not... Japan was my SECOND choice after France. I originally signed up to the program so I could go to France and improve my French but going to France is popular among Canadians so I got sent to Japan instead.

[LifeIsHardX3]

Awesome! Hopefully they pick Japan for me! That will defintiely be my first choice! :D

[CirtolthielMelethnin]

go on exchange with rotary lifeishardX3! im applying to go to japan with them in '09-'10 :P

[LifeIsHardX3]

Hopefully I can! ^__^ I was hoping you could answer this one question for me. :D Do you have to host another person in order to go to another country?

[Tennyo29]

For Rotary, no. For Eiffel Tours, no. For other exchange programs, I`m not sure. But my family was not required to host someone so that I could go on exchange. YOu may be asked... (like we were) but we weren`t required to (and my family chose not to).

[mac13123]

do u live in Tokyo???

[Tennyo29]

No, it's approx a 2 hour trip to get to Tokyo for me.

[cocoazzz]

hi,

I think your videos are really cool.

The Japanese people seem really friendly in my opinion. Since your living in Japan, are they all that friendly?

[Tennyo29]

THey are INCREDIBLY friendly!! There isn't a moment that I don't feel welcome!

[cameno1001]

did you expirience any discrimination or unwanted attnetion for either being a girl or a foreinger or both?

[Tennyo29]

I certainly got a LOT of attention for being a foreigner. At my school, when I first got there I would walk down the halls and everywhere I went people would be whispering, some of them would yell out my name trying to get my attention and then I'd respond with "Yeah?" and they'd go all silent and whisper quietly "hi....".

The only time I got unwanted attention was when I was walking home in my school uniform and some random person I didn't know honked at me in their car. ...little creepy....

[cameno1001]

thankyou for replying so quickly.its good to know things werent that bad. its just ive been seeing allot of these japanese peopple hate foreigners videos and it put me off a little.i live in london and they dont really teach japanese in enlgand so ive taugh my self most of it, i plan to do japanese from beginers level at uni so i will spend at least a few months ther during my course.but unfortunteatly i wont get to where cool uniforms like you did.you are so lucky that you had that opertunety.

[sinsofruin]

Im thinking about gettinf into the exchange program.i just had a few questions:

how was HS life in a japanese school?

was your school work? was it all in japanese?

how'd you deal with it?

[Tennyo29]

HS life was interesting. It's DEFINITELY different. Clubs are every day after school (I STRONGLY suggest you get involved in one, as that is how you get involved socially...clubs are hard work however....)

My school work was in Japanese and unless you have the patience to sit with someone and work on it it is, in my opinion, practically impossible to do. I only did Math and English work. The rest I sort of gave up on.

[U2LUV07]

what club did you join? What type of clubs do they have? (just wondering if they were anything like american highschool clubs.:) )

[Tennyo29]

I joined a couple of clubs for different periods of time. They have broadcasting club, English club, drama club, dance club, science club, computer club, etc. Also they have sports clubs such as tennis, soccer, baseball, handball, basketball, swimming, kendo, fencing, etc. Lots of choices! But they are DEFINITELY more serious in their training then I would say most clubs in america are. For example, the drama club would start off with voice training exercises, then do 30 pushups!!!

[U2LUV07]

Oh wow they are more serious.:) sounds like fun though with so many choices. thanks for answering my question.

[Tennyo29]

My biggest advice? Get a dictionary, one with a pad where you can input the kanji by hand with the stylus pen. I wish I had gotten mine sooner. Would have helped out SOOOO much!!!

[sethorlando]

so what i want to know is are you going back to japan? study there again or live there in the futur, have you thought of this? oh and do you feel comfortable enough to think of japan as a second home?

[Tennyo29]

I definitely feel comfortable enough to consider Japan as a second home. I hope to go back and see all my "family" and friends there someday (hopefully someday soon).

Personally, I'd like to live at least a PART of my life there.

[sorrowofthewolfsong]

What year are you in, going to school in Japan? and, how many years of Japanese did you take before you went?

[Tennyo29]

I went there on student exchange for one year, and I took ZERO years of Japanese before I went. The student exchange program chooses where to send you from your list of top 4. I started in High School Year 2 and left during High School Year 3.

[IchigoMilkshake]

Was it easy to make friends?

Oh and how much of the language do you know?

Enough for people to understand you?

Do you understand what they are sayig in your classes?

Do you have an American accent?

[Tennyo29]

It was easy to make friends as everyone was eager to be friends with the foreigner. Now, I know a lot of Japanese and can speak very well. In my classes I can understand the chatter, but when it comes to actual explanations of concepts (like Biology) I don't understand AT ALL!!

Personally, I don't think I have an American accent and I've been told that my accent is good... but you never know if Japanese people are just being nice...

[aznryu2009]

how were u able to go to japan lik i hear u need good grades cuz i hav a friend tats a korean exchange student but i dont kno

[Tennyo29]

Yeah, you need good grades. But, it's more about what kind of a person you are than whether you get As or Bs...

Check out Rotary Youth Exchange Program or Eiffel Tours for potential programs.

[crackaline]

i'm thinking about teaching english in japan when i get my bachelor's in may. do you have any advice or words of wisdom about the school systems there? are there a lot of american's or westerners there? i only speak english so its kind of scary moving somewhere that speaks a different language.

[Tennyo29]

There aren't a lot of Americans, in general. But, the people who teach English have a sort of community of their own. So, if you went as an English teacher you would be surrounded by English speaking people (a lot of Americans, too)

Words of wisdom? Umm...Try to work hard and be aware of the customs of Japanese people.

[monkae126]

cool i have always wanted to live in japan but frist things first learn japanese and graduate

[lanJapan]

Where is SAMURAI @_@?

[Tennyo29]

...???

[kooookit]

I have already made an application to be an exchange student in japan and i heard some stuff and was wondering if it was true

1) Is there really one room in class were you sit all day and the teachers do the switching rooms itstead of the students going around to their classes?

2) any breaks in school?

3) is there ANY possible way to avoid eating fish?

4) how does the grade system work?

5) What classes might i have?

[Tennyo29]

1) Yes, there really is only one room and the teacher rotates. Just think of elementary school. Sometimes, however, you have to switch rooms for certain classes (such as art, science, gym, etc).

[Tennyo29]

2)You have one hour-long lunch break and a ten-minute break between classes.

3)I had an american friend who was allergic to shellfish. He seemed to survive, but it is difficult as A LOT of what they eat is fish...

(It is possible but it'd be better to eat it if you can)

[Tennyo29]

4)Elementary school is from year 1 to year 6. Then junior high school is from year 7 to year 9. Then high school is from year 10 to year 12. School starts in April and ends in March with a two-week break in between. (they have a one-month summer break and several one-day holidays during the year. As well as two-week new-year's break)

[Tennyo29]

5) Classes are determined partly by you and partly by what the school has to offer. I had 7 classes in a day and each day was a different schedule. I had gym (kendo, badminton, dance, swimming, gymnastics), calligraphy, home ec., biology, english, and vocal music. You might have art, or instrumental music, or history, or physics or chem.

[midnightcherrytree]

I have some questions. =)

1) How do you usually get to school?

2) What are the classes like?

3) What kind of food do you usually eat there?

4) What do you do for fun?

5) How did the kids in your class react when they found out an american was in their class?

I really hope to go to Japan someday and i'm currently working on learning more about Japan and it's life style, so if you could please answer my questions? thankies!! ^^

[Tennyo29]

1) I usually went to school by bike. Most students do, or they come by train and walk or take a bus the rest of the way.

2) Classes are 45 minutes long and are usually like lectures: listening to the teacher talk without any student interruption

3) Japanese food :P Sukiyaki, miso soup, sushi, onigiri, rice, a lot of stuff

4)For fun? Play video games, go shopping, go KARAOKEING (A LOT!!)

[Tennyo29]

5) They were all VERY excited. For the first month I was there, anywhere I walked in my school I had people whispering around me and yelling my name, only to have them say "Hi....".

Japan is an AMAZING country! Reading guides helps a lot to understand, so does watching dramas.

[midnightcherrytree]

wow! that sounds great! Thank you for replying! ^^ You went with the rotary club right? how old do you have to be to travel to Japan with them? And do you get to pick where you go? (sorry, so many questions :p)

[Tennyo29]

Yeah, with Rotary. You have to be 16 or 17. 18 year olds can go...but only if they have a late birthday. Different districts have different rules. My district (both in Canada and Japan) let you tell them where you wanted to go (pick a Top 4) but ultimately they picked.

[midnightcherrytree]

hmm......ok, I have one last question and then I won't bother you anymore! =) Could you do a tour of you Japanese home or are you already back? (I can't seem to find any Japanese house tours online! =( .)

[Tennyo29]

Unfortunately, I'm already back *tear*. However, I do have some pics of my houses. I'll try and see if I can post them up in some of slide show.

[midnightcherrytree]

awesome! thanks! =)

[FIyingDumpling]

WAA, you go to school by bike, if you did that in here (America)

right after school ends you'll find your bike missing it's seat and wheels. Butttt that's not always the case xD

[Tennyo29]

Yeah, no kidding.

Not to mention, in Japan they don't chain their bikes to anything. Instead, they have little locks that they click into place around the wheel so the back wheel can't spin. That's it!! So, if one wanted to, they could just pick up the bike and walk off with it....

[FIyingDumpling]

one question, were there any students in the school that doesn't know Japaneses, or just started learning it? o.O

[Tennyo29]

I went to a Japanese public school. EVERYONE spoke Japanese because they WERE Japanese. I was the only one (besides the one American English teacher) who was trying to learn Japanese.

However, one of the other exchange students went to a different school and they had two other exchange students going there.

[makokun9]

Tennyo chan, why don´t you get your own sailor fuku by the end of your stay? A friend of mine gave me his high school days gakuran. The only thing he couldn´t give me was his koushou because he says it got screwed. But it´s worth it, and as far as I´m concearned, you don´t have to buy it new. ^^

[Tennyo29]

Uniforms are EXPENSIVE (everyone I talked to said so...) and I had very little money to be spending on my own uniform. So, it was arranged that I would borrow them. As such, I couldn't take those uniforms home.

[makokun9]

Thanks for replying! I might as well suscribe.^^ And yes, they are indeed! According to my friend, his fuyufuku was almost 3 man new! I'm certain you can buy used real (not cosplay) gakuseifukus somewhere, though... but I forgot the name of the store. I'll get in touch as soon as I find out. ^^

[Tennyo29]

That's the equivalent of $300...and I don't have that kind of bread...

[makokun9]

Okay, okay... just thought it would be really cool if you could take that or any other sailor fuku back home with you. Anyway, ganbare with your classes. ^^

[Tennyo29]

Yeah, it would have been really cool... *tear*

[okamiwakko]

How cheap was the one you saw online?

Anyways, I like this video! What are the main differences in the schools there? (curriculum wise) I've heard that my school is similar to Japan, China, and Russia's schools academically. Dunno. I hope you have an awesome time there!

[jesssaaa]

howddyoulearnjapanese

[bubblygurl]

hey.. can you please talk japanese in your next vid! I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU TALK IN JAP! *urayamashi* :DDD hehehe

[sakura12687]

I know japanese ppl r really excited to meet caucasian ryuugakusei demo ajiakenkyuu to spainjin to indojin ryuugakusei wa dou desuka? How would they think of them (in general)? Why did you go to Japan for school? Are you learning your grade level class work in a different language? I mean, when you get back, you won't be behind in math, history, etc.?

[zenhill]

I am Australian and I go to Japanese class in Japan and in my class there are Indojin, mongoliajin, Iranjin, chinese, vietnamese and the Japanese people are just as happy to meet those people as me. It depends very much on whether the person is nice or not. From my experience colour of skin isnt an issue, if the person is nice they will be treated nice, if they arent so nice, they wont be treated as nicely.

[RankoAnime]

I kind of wonder about that too. I'm 3rd generation Japanese, born and raised in CA. How would I be seen/treated there, being that I'm not fluent in Japanese and I'm basically 100% American culturally even though I look Japanese?

And to Tennyo29: I'd love to see you make a video speaking only in Japanese! You're so lucky to have the opportunity that you did. I wish I could do the same, but I'm too old. ;-; Oh, and your accent is cute. I could tell you're from Canada! ^_~

[kitsuneofwinter]

Just how did you do it. O.O Let me do it too. xD heheh

And help us w/Nihon-go!!!

Domo arigato!!! ^^

[johnnyboy6996]

what is a kendo class like

[zenhill]

I am curious about your Japanese, how good are you? I would think pretty good if you are going to a Japanese school, right?

[zalphagotango342]

hey Tennyo29!

Is there any specific reason why you decided to sign up for an exchange program? More specifically, to Japan?

Because you've been in Japan for so long, has it caused you to enjoy music/movies/manga/etc. even more?

Anything you don't recommend about Japan?

[atmaca20]

Tennyo29 arkadaşım, ben anlamam. Bu videoyu eklediğine göre, benim üst kısma yazdığım mesajıda bu bayan arkadaşa iletirsen sevinirim. Kendisine hayran oldum. Bana imzalı bir fotoğrafımı email adresime gönderebilirse memnun olurum. Turkey'den selamlar

[atmaca20]

I live you. Güzel bayan sana evlenme teklifi yapıyorum buradan. Teklifimde gayet ciddiyim:))) Turkey

[Tennyo29]

LOL! Thank you...but no.

[myargonauts]

Hi there - nice vid. I teach in Shimane ken and we have a few high school exchange students with us for this year, one at my local High School. I'll tell her about your videos. ;)

Do you bow when you talk on the phone yet? If so, then you know you have been in Japan a while... :)

-J

[Tennyo29]

Hilariously enough, yes. I do bow when talking on the phone. It's kinda hilarious. I laugh at myself when I do it.