Glimpse Of An African Student's Life In Sendai Japan

Jozenjidori Street in Sendai (Photo:sentabi.jp)

            I was born and raised in Rwanda(ルワンダ) and Uganda, East Africa. I went through a French modeled Education System (Rwanda,though its now English) and an English modeled (Uganda). Currently, I am pursing further studies in a Japanese modeled Education system.
Of course, there are lots of similarities in the 3 Education systems, but equally there are numerous differences. The similarities are; same science equations, same theories, same laboratory tests but the differences stem mostly from the relationships that you develop.
              Now that I have spent 15 months studying at MYU in Sendai,Japan.  I have experienced a lot and will try to split it into four categories;

Omotenashi(おもてなし）
    Omotenashi is a word that refers to Japanese hospitality. There is no English word that best describes Omotenashi. The word "Hospitality" merely refers to welcoming words like "you are welcome", "excuse me","make yourself comfortable" extra. On contrary, Omotenashi is both a noun and a verb, its a combination of hospitality words, actions and sound.
    MYU's omotenashi begins with a series of welcoming parties that last for a whole year round. First, my Sensei(Professor) and classmates held a small welcoming party where we all went to a restaurant for eats and drinks. Then, the MYU board of directors organised another welcoming party for International students, again speeches,eats and drinks. Thereafter, an official welcoming party of all new MYU students at Sendai City Hall. About one month later, a Welcoming party of graduate students at a hotel in Izumi Town, then a welcoming party at MYU Taihaku campus and my first year ended.
     Simultaneously, MYU Administrators' Omotenashi pours in. First, it was a Professor in Human Resource Department that together with his class invited me for a Halloween party. Then it was some staff from Administration that took me for ShabuShabu Dish(しゃぶしゃぶ a Japanese dish that is actually my best dish now). Then  a couple of students kept inviting me for lunch or dinner together. Epic of the story, is when two ladies in their mid 50s, that do university cleaning drove me to a the most expensive restaurant I have been to in Japan. Yes, there are almost no income classes here, whether you are a cleaner,doctor or driver, everyone who works hard earns a descent life.The same Omotenashi filled ladies have been to Morocco as tourists, how cool!
           
Sensei(先生）
    Just to give you a glimpse of my experience studying in a french oriented academic education, I consider it to be; "Educator is pushy to the Learner". Then British oriented one is "Educator argues out the Learner". The system of Higher Education in Japan and precisely MYU is "Educator parents the Learner". Therefore, your professors and MYU staff will, on top of offering education services, offer things "like texts of your wherea bout after earth quakes", "tips of which stores are cheap" ,"a cup of coffee together" and more.

Bicycling (自転車)
    MYU just like most of Sendai city is beautiful engraved within nature. Surrounded by a forest and a lake, MYU's geographical set up is so perfectly conducive for academics. It is quite, with fresh breeze from a surrounding artificial lake and forest. Within 100 meters and 300 meters vicinity, there is Miyagi Public Library and Izumi Outlet Malls respectively. Izumi Outlet boasts several international restaurants and supermarkets.
The beauty of it all, is that I cycle through the whole of Sendai a city of 1 Million population, solely on a bicycle and safe from automobiles, on a Bicycles'-only lane.

Academics and Work (研究と作業)
    Studying and work is synonymous to life in Japan. But most importantly both studies and work are done with utmost modest. 
First, on several occasions, I have had a chance to chat with one of MYU professors, but little did I know that he is this Big. When having a chat with him, he will not tell you nor show you, how busy or accomplished he is, he will instead motivate you.(By the way, he is the only person that I have met in my life that has 3 Patents.)
Second, ever since I got in Sendai, I have been seeing a few scattered construction materials on one of the roads. I asked my friends, what kind of construction lasts for a year in the middle of the road, and they too, didn't know.  

Subway construction (Photo:GoogleStreetMap)

 Early this year, I was surprised to realize that under this road, a new subway line was opened.Here is a video of its opening .

A subway under the above road (Photo:Youtube)

Really? I expected such a construction site to have been busy, with noise and hundreds of construction workers moving up and down, fuming cigarettes and concrete littered allover. Only to find leaves and a few red road signs.

                     With this fascinating academic life, my time at MYU seem to be flying very fast and can't imagine how so much, I will miss, this beautiful place after my studies.

Dutahe!!!