Experiences of Students in Basic Subjects 8/4-8/31 in August 2015.

The International Field School on Rebun Island provided me with some truly valuable experiences. I found my time there particularly significant for three reasons.

First, I had the opportunity to interact with students from Russia and various other countries.

Second, I experienced a series of archaeological processes ranging from excavation to processing of artifacts. Third, I learned about the local fishing industry, which has long supported livelihoods on the island.

My stay on Rebun was full of new daily experiences and encounters with people from various backgrounds. The opportunity to speak with students from different countries taught me a lot about similarities and differences between Japan and other nations, and the lectures given by instructors with various research perspectives were truly appealing.

The most memorable thing was my interaction with the Russian students on the program. I felt uneasy at first because of the language barrier between us.

However, we got to know one another through music in activities such as group singing, and forged invaluable relations. I was surprised to see artifacts similar to those found in Japan in the Russian students’ photos of museum exhibits in their country.

This experience and the program’s field practice work brought me closer to Russia both culturally and psychologically.

The field practice period also provided a wealth of opportunities to engage in various activities ranging from archaeological site excavation work to attendance of lectures and laboratory processing of archaeological finds. I carefully observed unearthed archaeological artifacts and learned how they are classified and processed in a laboratory environment.

This experience was very useful in the field; when I took part in the excavation of a section yielding numerous artifacts, I knew not to overlook particularly important artifacts as a result of what I’d learned.

My stay on Rebun Island also taught me how locals there have engaged in livelihoods closely related to the sea since ancient times. An excavation at an archaeological site there and a visit to a local museum gave me a glimpse of the area’s long-established marine lifestyles.

I also truly felt that archaeological sites were being created when I saw fishermen working out at sea while I was walking on the island and when I enjoyed fresh seafood at my accommodation.

The International Field School on Rebun Island taught me about Japanese culture from international perspectives and highlighted cultural connections linking the past, present and future. I very much appreciate having had the valuable opportunity to broaden my temporal and spatial perspectives in this way.