I’m an exchange student from Taiwan 🙂 During the spring break, I spent 3 weeks in this farm. I made this decision because I wanted to know more about Japan’s agriculture, and practice speaking Japanese. Besides, Okinoerabu Island’s weather during spring was just fine!
The Attractive Part of Working Here…
1. People are very very friendly. Including the couple with 2 kids, few long-term staffs, and 6 or 7 short-term workers. Although I speak poor Japanese (about JLPT N4 level), everyone is patient and kind when talking to me. Moreover, they taught me a lot of Japanese, which are useful in daily life. Whenever I asked questions, they were willing to answer me, and tried their best to let me understand.
2. Lived a simple life, and enjoyed the natural. During these 3 weeks, I felt so close to the natural, the field, the ocean, and the mountains. At first, I felt that this was an boring island, but soon after, I realized that fancy stores and tourist attractions aren’t necessary for daily life. The important thing was to experience the lifestyle on Okinoerabu Island.
Furthermore, the lunch box and dinner made by farm staff are always super yummy that I feel like eating at restaurant everyday. I am glad to have the chance to try so many Japanese dishes and local ingredients. There was also one day that we had barbecue at the potato field, which was a lot of fun!
During these days, I was very lucky to join the biggest annual event on Okinoerabu Island, the jogging event. This event was held on March every year, including 3 km, 5 km, and 21 km course. Although I’m not very interested in jogging, I enjoyed the 3 km “walk” with amazing scenery and the traditional music performance.
For me, as a foreign student in Japan, the most precious thing I received is the chances to make Japanese friends. It was quite difficult to join in a group of Japanese students, since they all have their own circle of friends already. But when staying in this farm, everyone came from different places alone, I feel more easy to join them.
The Difficult Part of Working Here…
1. Harvesting potato was simple, but when carrying them, it was a tough work for me, because of the heavy weight. However, other people always help me when I’m in trouble!
2. This island is quite far away from the place I live, which spends time and money to go to. However, it’s my first time taking ferry for so many hours, and I actually feel good without sickness.
Nothing really difficult actually! Since people are kind, they have always been taking good care of me!
Overall, the 3-week experience is really amazing. I would say this is the most impressive days during my exchange life so far. A lot a lot a lot of thanks to all the people I met!
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我是來自台灣的交換學生，趁春假到新田農園打工換宿。起初決定打工換宿的原因很多，其一是想了解日本農業，其二是想練習日語，其三是想到一個溫暖的地方生活(居住的滋賀縣太冷了)!
【美好的部分】
很幸運農場的人都非常非常和善，包括農場夫婦與兩個小孩，兩三位正職員工，以及六七位打工換宿的人。我的日語說得不好(日檢N4程度), 因此常常聽不懂大家的對話內容。不過，當他們對我說話時，都很有耐心，也用各種方式幫助我理解(充滿感謝)! 我問了許多關於農業的問題，大家也都很熱心幫我解惑。能從大家身上學到許多農業知識，以及實用的日語會話，真的非常開心!
起初來到小島，覺得是個荒涼的地方。但漸漸調整心態、進入狀況後，發覺簡單的生活只要有超市能購買生活所需的物品就夠了。商店街、觀光景點不是生活所需。我的目的應該是來體驗小島上的生活方式，而非觀光。享受大自然，享受車子開著開著盡頭就是海，享受沒有高樓大廈的寬廣天空，享受眼前一朵朵低低的白雲，享受從山上看下去的小小房子，享受在泥土中收穫。
除此之外，每天的美味午餐和晚餐也讓我覺得很幸福、滿足。難得的機會能嚐到日本家常菜，以及當地特有食材。曾一起做壽司捲、廣島燒，還有一天大家在田間烤肉，都是很特別的經驗!
在打工換宿的期間，很幸運碰上沖永良部島的年度盛事「路跑大會」。每天三月左右，跑者從各地來到島上進行3公里, 5公里, 或21公里的慢跑活動。雖然我不熱愛慢跑，但我很享受的「走」了3公里，搭配沿路的海景以及藍天白雲。路跑結束後，島民還準備了非常精彩的傳統音樂及舞蹈表演! 非常佩服沖永良部島能籌備如此有魅力又完整的大型活動!
對我一個外籍交換生而言，來到島上打工換宿最大的收穫就是交到許多日本朋友。 在學校時，日本學生已經有自己原本的生活圈了，要融入並不容易(我的日語又很爛)。然而，打工換宿的大家都是「新來的」，即使語言上有些隔閡，一同在田間工作，吃飯唱歌之後，，似乎慢慢能融入大家了!
【辛苦的部分】
收穫馬鈴薯過程中最大的困難是「搬運」，因為它們非常重。自己力氣太小常常搬不動，不過大家都非常和善會互相幫忙! 整天的勞動是辛苦的，但也是充實、有成就感的。
另外，小島的位置幾乎在台灣附近了! 相對日本本島就非常遠，必須花費金錢及時間抵達。起初擔心七小時的船程會暈船，不過大船似乎不那麼晃，船上設備也很齊全。
整體而言，這是非常美好的三個星期，也能說是我到日本以來最深刻的體驗! 我喜歡沖永良部島上簡單的生活。很慶幸自己做了這個決定，也感謝大家對我的包容及照顧!