Part 1: A Strange Contrast

Modern, clean streets, interlaced network traffic attuned with green mountains and small traditional restaurants.  First impression of Japan by Kim Hoang Tran Mai Trinh is a strange contrast like that. After a week of cultural exchange in the country of the Sun, the K12 students of Construction Department who have the highest GPA University told OISP about their pleasant experience

OVERVIEW

Fold up all those busy anxiety for the upcoming final exams, in the mood to thrill, excitement, I carry a backpack over shoulders and begin the journey through the world. The word “world” seems too broad, subliminal, but, in the country of the cherry blossom, there are plenty of doors open to a new sky of knowledge 

Before mentioning the academic field, only separated by a strait, stepping out of the airport, I was surprised about the atmosphere. Not noisy, boisterous as Vietnam, living here is more hustling, wide-eyed but quite quiet.

After being picked up by the Department’s representative, we caught two city trains to Toyohashi. Sitting on the train, launched the eye, I was startled to see street homes here have something similar to the provinces in the North of Vietnam, the green mountains towering as well, also the small traditional houses, hiding   behind the modern Western architecture. There are others just as network traffic interlaced with modern, spacious, but an absence of passers-by, maybe the day was Sunday, people was enjoying a fun affordable family party? Passengers on board weren’t talking to each other, some read books, some listen to music, mesmerized in considerations of themselves that soaring over another, as fast as a violent wind. A strange contrast!

Just about half an hours later, we were down to Toyohashi station. Just as a small station, but I was completely overwhelmed with the flourishing of it. Not only the rise in height but also dug deep into the ground, at this point, all items are sold with all designs, colourful. Located high above the restaurant, shops, cosmetics, is the world capital of thousands of manga familiar to young Vietnamese. Inside the shop, the means of display posters, postcards, pattern, game simulation. Besides, before the comic book store and order the lucky drawer, only from 200-300 yen and everyone can own a lovely model of loved characters that you love it.

Going down to the basement of the station are the gadgets that store sufficient supplies of facilities, as well as other types of fast food for the students, from various types of noodles of many flavor, to pretty compact bento rice box.

Rich, varied models, affordable price from 100 to 1000 yen, the staff here are very open minded, passionate, when guests enter or leave, a very Japanese culture.

Next to the shop of food always put a row of garbage classification, types: of organic, for cans, canned foods for convenience of reuse, and sort of hard plastic cover for the decomposition. One thing very well complied with so that the streets here were very clean, spacious.

FRIENDS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Commensurate with the title of “cultural exchange”, “Asia today and tomorrow”, in the program, we have been acquainted and talk with a lot of international students across the world.

During the welcome reception, we had a chance to chat with students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Mexico, China, Turkey, even a Doctor came from Naga (Africa)

Thought that cultural differences, geographical interference will cause us reservations but once the party started, we’ve mouthed talk, get familiar with each other. People are very enthusiastic and open-minded, it’s far from my imagination.

After asking each other’s name and hometown, we exchange the queer studies, individual projects as well as the dream of self. Through exchanging of a few words, I got a glimpse of the colorful and dynamic student life here. A student from Vietnam shared that in this past week, he has held the Vietnam sport week

In contrast to international students, Japanese students seem more reserved. At first glance, you might mistake the silence as out of touch, not sociable. In fact, it’s the culture of the Japanese, they favoured to listen and comprehend more. A further important factor of Japan is industrial powers. The boom of it caters for the domestic economy and exports as a whole. Even today, Japan is not on trend in studying English as other countries. That’s why when communicating with Japanese students, I try to speak slowly, clearly every word and describes more by gestures, actions. After the surprise and confusion at first, they entered the General and have fun with us. The day after, they have guided us in the tour of the school, as well as in the fun such as shopping, dining and sightseeing.

We Vietnamese are guided by Fistyan san and Hori-students and Master students of the University’s electronic Department, with a group of Chinese students. We together enjoy a traditional meal of miso soup with fresh sashimi and Japanese in a roadside restaurant in Nagoya. After that, we split out taking pictures, bought souvenirs and sightseeing.

Vietnam group always come together and support each other, the other group always tend to divide. They go separately, will pair up, or playing with a small team together. So that our group has almost lost sight of a Chinese member, we had to run everywhere to search, thankfully she caught up the last train to come to the hotel. What an experience!

CUSILINARY

Speaking of Japanese cuisine is speaking about  the famous Ramen noodles and Sushi bar. Now, after the first noon check-in hotels, we get the instructors of the school, Mr. Daimon to introduce the noodle tradition. In which we have been enjoying the Miso Ramen noodles: chewy, soft, and delicious sauces, greasy.

In Vietnam, the Sushi restaurant is considered a luxury, then in Japan, again quite the contrary. Each evening, the Sushi bar is crowded through the back. With a buffet and a la carte system in place through electronic devices, very quickly after ,you will enjoy the paradise of the kinds of Sushi, sushi, salmon, tuna, egg rolls, Octopus

There are two basic kinds of sushi: raw and cooked. According to the habits of Vietnamese, foods should be cooked thoroughly for safety .However, if you have tasted over sushi alive, you will have to change that perception. Just give in to the mouth, the fish is cut thin slices melts, the sweetness overflows throughout the oral cavity along with spicy mustard of pungent.

The sushi platter will be putting up continuous rotation for natural selection and, when paid, rather surprisingly, the restaurant owner was again charged at the height of the stack of dish. Usually a plate of sushi are priced 100 yen, just 1000-2000 yen it is youcan enjoy out tastes and know!

 Scholarship for Exchanging international

(from 26/10 to 1/11/2014) of Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan grants students of technical universities in Asia learning oppoturnities. HCMUT has four students gained this scholarship

1. Trinh Tran Mai Kim Hoang, Student K12 Construction Department (the articulation program with University of Griffith, Australia), GPA 9.86

2. Tran Hong An, Student K12 electrical electronic engineering (advanced programs, HCMUT), GPA 8.16

3. Le Khanh Nhan, Student K12, business administration (articulation program with the University of Illinois at Springfield, United States of America), GPA 8.86

4. Vo The Nguyen, Student K13 electric and  electronic engineering (Advanced Program, HCMUT), 8.26 GPA

(From left): Le  Khanh Nhan, Trinh Tran Mai Kim Hoang, Vo The Nguyen, Tran Hong An.

THI CA,Thanh Nien Newspaper, VNExpress Newspaper