JAPANESE EXCHANGE STUDENT IN NZ

By Mami Imami

I’m an exchange student from Nara Women’s University, Japan. Nara is the oldest capital city in Japan. One of the biggest temples in the world is in Nara, and you can also see the oldest Buddha there too!

It’s so rewarding that I get to look back at my time at Lincoln University, and recognize my own inner changes and to compare my time here with the time spent at my own university. Here, we take fewer courses per semester, which allows us to learn the subjects more in-depth. My university back in Japan, offers a variety of lectures which are all theory-based.

During my time at Lincoln, I was studying environmental studies. Every course I’m taking here comprised of theoretical lectures and hands-on exercises, which were exciting to me. Not only the lecturers but the students around helped me learn many new things. I am now trying to stop setting limits and have started thinking in a positive way, as much as possible.

Another pleasure of my exchange time here as a student, has been is traveling around New Zealand. I have visited some well-known places in the South Island, such as Milford Sounds, Mt. Cook etc. I’ve enjoyed this time here as a treat, and it has helped me realise how beautiful New Zealand is. I love the LU campus, surrounded by amazing farms and beautiful nature.