Lille 1 University, College of Industrial Technology A (Spring)
Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration Department of Commerce Banrin Furukawa
- Pickpockets/Refugees and Immigrants
Before leaving for France, I spoke to people at social gatherings and privately who had traveled there, and they first told me that I should be careful of pickpockets in France. Europe accepts many immigrants because it is surrounded by unstable countries and regions such as the Middle East and Africa. However, I learned through research that there are people who cannot find work and are struggling to make ends meet because of cultural and linguistic differences. In fact, there were people begging for money on the sidewalks of Paris. These people often sat with animals, and I wondered why they had so many pets, but I guess they brought them along because of the situation in their country and could no longer take care of them. In tourist spots, people would approach me and try to sell me things when their eyes met. I tried to ignore them and walk on, but a store clerk almost grabbed my arm. I often hear that Japanese people are "rich," "timid," and "not cautious," so it must be a quick way for sellers to make money. When I tried to grab his arm and run away, I thought, "Is it really that dangerous?", but now I think they were probably desperate. Japan has a strict policy on accepting refugees and immigrants, so pickpockets are not something I encounter often, and I learned that it is a safe country where you can move around by placing your belongings on a chair. I saw in the newspaper that Japan will be accepting more immigrants in the future due to the declining birthrate and aging population, so I expect more foreigners to come to Japan in the future. As a citizen, I should be more interested in the country's policies so that we don't end up like Paris. - mask
I noticed from the moment I arrived at the airport that most people were not wearing masks. It would not be an exaggeration to say that no one was wearing one when I left the airport. In Japan, masks are also worn for preventive purposes. In addition, young people often wear masks as a fashion statement these days. However, people stared at me when I was wearing a mask in France. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian travelers wearing masks are likely to be wary. I was often asked, "Are you Chinese?" In Europe, sick or infected people wear masks to prevent others from spreading the virus, not for preventive purposes. We took our masks off halfway through, but if we had continued to attend classes with masks on, it may have caused communication problems. I brought disinfectant spray and alcohol wipes from Japan, but while I was in France, I felt that the measures were too extreme, even though Japan is close to China. It was my first time abroad, so it's better to take precautions, but as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so it's important to act in accordance with the environment. - Gestures/poses
In an international communication class, we learned that hand poses have different meanings depending on the country. For example, when counting numbers with your fingers, the order in which you fold them is different, and the pose that represents "money" in Japan represents "zero" or "nothing" in France. The most memorable of these was Greece. The peace sign, which represents "peace" in Japan and is often used in photo shoots, means "go to hell" in Greece. Also, showing your open hand seems to mean "go to hell" just like the peace sign. This was even more shocking because it is a pose that is used casually in Japan. I had told people in advance that I would try to avoid making peace signs as much as possible when taking photos overseas, but I didn't know why. However, when I heard about it in class, I realized that it was dangerous. This time it was France, so it was fine, but if I had posed without knowing, I could have offended some people and put myself in danger. As globalization progresses, it is important to understand the culture and circumstances of other countries as well as the destination, even if you are in Japan. - clock
I noticed something while taking classes in various classrooms. There were no clocks in the classrooms. There were no clocks in Library, and the clocks at the train stations were broken and stopped. Also, when the bell rang to start class, no students showed up at all. Some students were about 10 minutes late. It is said that Japan is strict about time. They do everything exactly, such as train times and classes. It is an advantage and something to be proud of. On the other hand, I often hear students say "There are still 10 minutes left" during class. And many students blatantly relax when there are only a few minutes left of class. They put away their pencil cases and class materials, and act as if they just want to go home. The most annoying thing is when they start chatting. It can be said that this is a disadvantage of having a clock. When I was taking classes in France, I often felt like the class was already over, perhaps because there was no clock. A classroom without a clock was a fresh experience for me. - Library
I often went to Library Library I had the opportunity to stay there after class until the cafeteria opened, and I thought it was an open and comfortable place. Japanese universities place emphasis on reading books, but French Library are designed mainly for computer work and small meeting rooms. There was an S-shaped plastic product that could be used as both a table and a chair. Because it is made of plastic, it is light and easy to move. There was also a flat structure, with cafes placed in Library and chairs placed on stairs other than the aisles to use as chairs. However, there are some people who don't want to be disturbed. For such people, there were earplugs. It looks like a gashapon, but if you put in 1 euro and spin it, earplugs will come out. Earplug gashapon is a great idea that has a pop look and a practical side. - Restaurants
Restaurants are where I realized the cultural differences with Japan the most. When I ate in Lille and Paris, I paid immediately after ordering. I think this is a great idea. It means that there is no need to send employees to the cash register when the restaurant is busy, or to check if there are customers waiting at the register. There is also no risk of people eating and drinking without paying. There is also no need to spend money on purchasing a cash register. This could be useful for restaurants that are struggling with staff shortages.
Another thing that caught my attention at the restaurant was that the stick used to stir the cocktail that the French student ordered was made of paper. Although it has the disadvantage of breaking if used too much, it prevents the waste of plastic. This was a visible example of a measure being taken at a time when plastic littering has become a hot topic of environmental issues. - Power
I had a problem in the dormitory. The electric kettle didn't work. There was a microwave so I was able to transfer the water into a mug and warm it up, but I didn't understand why the electric kettle didn't work. When I got back to Japan and talked to my family about it, it seems that the electricity situation in France is different from that in Japan. In Japan, electricity is supplied according to the amount of electricity used by the product, and if there is an excess of electricity, the breaker will trip, but in France, the amount of electricity supplied is apparently fixed. In other words, the electricity needed to boil the electric kettle was not being sent to the dormitory. I knew that the voltage was different in Japan and France, but I understood why it didn't work even with a transformer.
Being my first time abroad, I honestly didn't expect there to be such big differences as I have written above. I was shocked and excited to experience cultural differences that far exceeded my expectations. There were many times when I was confused by the cultural changes. Also, for me, who had never traveled abroad or even been on an airplane before, the program was stressful and anxious, but thanks to the frankness and kindness of my companions, the French students, and the local people, I returned home safely and it was a fun experience. It also deepened my interest in French and gave me a sensibility to view Japan more objectively. If I have the opportunity, I would like to invite a friend to participate again. I would also like to travel abroad at my own expense.