ARTS & CULTURE
15 Obiter Dicta
The Obiter goes abroad
No. 3 – David To in Tokyo
marie park › arts & culture editor
B
y now, we all can relate to the fact that that
one semester flies by in no time. Maybe the
first weeks feel slower, but as routine kicks
in, it’s already time to hustle for finals. But
that perceived passage of time can change so very
drastically when one is taken out of that habitual
comfort zone; three months is a long, long time to
pass when alone in a new world. Time alone in a foreign place affords this kind of learning, as it gives one
the opportunity to dedicate long hours to the sole
purpose of understanding one’s own self, as well as
the many unique adventures of being a newcomer to
a strange land.
David To, my good friend now articling with the
Ontario Ministry of Finance, echoes these thoughts in
his reflections about his own time as an exchange student at Waseda University. Along with a highlighting
the Japan experience, he shares with us his thoughts
about the life lessons that are bound to come along
the way.
Since taking some Japanese language courses years
ago, David’s curiosity for the country’s culture and
language grew, culminating in his choice to apply to
go to Tokyo on exchange. “I wanted to go on exchange
to get a chance to travel and see the world,” he says.
His decision to go was compounded by the fact that it
would be difficult in the future to find several consecutive months to travel. Plus, Tokyo was an opportune
place to further his interest in learning the language
and culture through immersive living in the city. And
of course: “I had worked hard through university…I
justified it as a well-deserved trip.” Well-deserved,
indeed.
“The most anticipated part of my trip was the
food,” he says. “In particular, I really wanted to taste
the sushi there. The fish tasted much fresher, and the
rice was prepared well–even at the most inexpensive restaurants.” A memorable experience was at the
famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, where the tuna
he bought and sampled was extremely fresh, despite
being unexpectedly rough in texture.
Many of the neighbourhoods in Tokyo have their
own specialty menu items, and the Waseda University
area is also known for something unique. “The area
around the university is well-known for a dish called
abura-soba. It is
essentially ramen
no o d le s w it hout the soup, but
instead is served
hot with oil, and then you mix chilli and vinegar into
it,” he details. “It was my first meal in Japan, at which
time I didn’t fully appreciate it. But after one of my
classmates would rave about abura-soba every class,
I came to like it so much that I decided to have it for
the final meal before departing Japan.”
Another must-go place he mentions is Nara, a city
east of Osaka, with some of the most beautiful sights
in Japan. “Nara is famous for its park where deer
roam free, as deer are revered there. Even if you take a
thirty minute hike up the mountain overlooking the
city, there are still deer.” Vendors sell senbei, or rice
crackers, to feed the deer, too. David warns though,
“once you start feeding the deer, the deer will act like
your best friend and follow you around!”
In sum, reflecting on the value of the experience,
ê Reality outside the bustling big cities, and outside of the exchange student lifestyle.
David affirms that spending time away on exchange
is invaluable in many ways. “Without reservation, I
would recommend that every student go on exchange
sometime in their life. Not only do you learn a lot
about a foreign culture, but you come to learn a lot
about your own country, culture, and self. Only
through comparison did I realize what I value, and
what could be done better.”
Also, though not exactly directly relevant to his
articling position, David feels that his classes definitely helped broaden the way he thinks about the
laws in Canada. “Many of the classes made comparisons with laws in
the U.S., France,
a nd G erma ny–
and then I realized
t h at C a n ad i a n
law actually isn’t that different from the laws from
around the world.”
“Waseda University is among the top three universities in Japan. They put in a lot of effort to make
international students welcome,” he says, but adds
that not being able to speak fluent Japanese was difficult, as most locals do not speak any English. “At
times, figuring things out can be very frustrating,
but people are very much willing to help in whatever
way they can. In short, deciding to go on exchange to
Japan should not be taken lightly, but if you take up
the challenge, it can be an experience of a lifetime.”
In parting, David shares a specific memory that
has had a lasting impact. It was on a group trip with
his residence building to Namiita, a town in Iwate
Prefecture. The town was particularly hard hit by
“The most anticipated part
of my trip was the food.”
the tsunami in 2011, and still being in a state of disrepair, the residents who lost their homes continued
to live in temporary housing units. “I learned from
many of them that life is still difficult, with many
having to move to larger cities to find work, leaving
behind elderly parents, who were dearly attached to
their hometown. During the trip, we delivered cyclamen flowers to the residents, played with the children, and hosted a gathering for the community,” he
recalls. “This experience opened my eyes to the reality of parts of Japan outside the bustling big cities,
and outside of the exchange student lifestyle. Perhaps
most touching was ݡ