Hi there, it's Minami.

Excuse me for talking about myself out of the blue, but I have dabbled in quite a few different languages. I speak English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, etc., etc., etc.

How can you learn so many languages? I am sometimes asked, but I have a strong desire to absorb and better understand the local culture. (I believe it is probably because of this desire)

It is implemented not only for long-term stays, but also for short-term stays.

If you speak a little in that language when you're there, you'll be a lot closer to the heart!

In this issue, I would like to introduce some of the things I am aware of and books I recommend.

Recommended books to bring from Japan

Globe-Trotter (Chikyu no Arukikata)

Buy this if you can afford it. It is low priority.

If you want, you can find them at the library, so you can make a day to read them and write them down and go there.

If you are in a very prosperous place like the U.S., you can find a lot of information by searching the Internet in Japanese, so there is not much need to do so.

I have few complaints about the freshness of the information, which is the most important thing.

There's a Kindle version, and I recommend it because you can carry it around on your electronic device, inside your phone or tablet device!

You can of course take it with you in a book, but it is just too heavy, so try to avoid carrying it around on a regular basis, either in a suitcase or by scaling or photographing the parts you need in advance elsewhere in the local area.

デジタル版を持っていくことをやって見たことがあるのですが、地図には期待しないほうがいいでしょう。

でもそれ以外は重宝します。ベッドで旅行から帰って何もできずゴロゴロしたり、暗い飛行機の中で予習しようとしたいときにも、デジタルで光が出るので見やすいです。

pointing and calling (occupational safety book, etc.) (Yubisashi Kaiwacho)

This is definitely a level book that you should buy even for a short stay.

This is especially useful when the local language is quite minor.

They were very helpful even in Myanmar, a land where even the Japanese don't know Myanmar (Burmese) language.

I use it in Cambodia, and it's very helpful because it's in a minor language!!!

It's reasonably priced.

Best of all, it's lightweight (thought to be carried around locally!)

I really recommend it. I am a big fan of this book. Hehe.

By the way, I bought it when I went to Taiwan.

Taiwan is easy to get to, so why not use it?

本で持っていくことのメリットといえば、電池不足が気にならない！結構見直したりしたいときは目がブルーライトを出しまくる

ただ、デメリットとすれば、多少の重さやかさばりはどうしても出るところ。

Books introducing Japanese culture written in the local language

Take this with you when you think you will have a chance to talk with people in the area.

If you want, I would be grateful if you raise this book.

Young people know a lot about Japan from Youtube and other videos, but books are popular with ladies in their 60s.

In Spanish-speaking countries, there are sometimes the following

It's a bit old, but it was quite well received. Especially since many Latin Americans like to talk about politics, this book, which is also about the Japanese political system in Spanish, is quite useful!

The phrases can also be imitated, so it is easy to get an image when explaining with your own mouth, even if you don't give it to them.

Grammar books and books that teach idioms

This is for those of you who are already learning the language of the region, and who want to take a book with you to learn about the idioms and phrases you use, so you can use them locally! and for those who are already learning the language in several languages of the region.

But this is also heavy, so keep it to a minimum in your carry-on luggage and put it in your suitcase.

In Spanish, it would be this.

In Russian, this was quite well received locally.

I hear the examples are all kind of hilarious!

Feelings are conveyed! Russian Real Phrases Book (with CD) (Real Phrases Book Series) Book (Softcover) - 2013/1/23気持ちが伝わる! ロシア語リアルフレーズBOOK (CD付) (リアルフレーズBOOKシリーズ) 単行本（ソフトカバー） – 2013/1/23
吉岡 ゆき (著), セルゲイ・チローノフ (著)

Don't be stingy and definitely buy a SIM card.

Purchase the SIM card itself, no matter how short your stay is.

Because I don't trust free wifi in a country I don't know. (LOL)

This does not necessarily mean that it is unsafe, but it does mean that there is a high probability that the Internet will not actually be available even though it is supposed to be connected.

Even for a very short stay of 2 nights and 3 days, we recommend purchasing unless you are on a very tight budget.

The comfort level during your intervention stay is way different without the internet!

I guess my mistake was to buy a SIM card at the airport in Moscow, Russia at a price that was at a rip-off level in the local market. It is difficult to know the price of a legitimate SIM card in Russia. I bought it because I am allowed to buy it in English and I was too scared to take a cab without a SIM card.

Well, let's just give up thinking it's a tip, then we'll laugh about it.　

I can learn a lot from the "Chikyu-no Arukikan" (The Globe-Trotter), as it has information on reasonable prices.

Also, with the Internet, I can use the machine automatic translator with ease.

(Well, Google translate can be used offline for the bare minimum, but it may be a bit of a hassle to have to download it for offline use beforehand. DeepL etc. would be nice to use.)

Check if there is a social event with Japanese and local people at the event.

For the most part, you can find out about language exchange events through Facebook or other means.

If you don't speak the local language, you should still go!

This is because local people who are learning Japanese want to speak in Japanese.

I'm already thankful for the social gathering aspect of just going.

It's a great way to make friends! (Depending on where the event is held, there may be a few suspicious people, so be careful of them. (However, depending on where the event is held, there may be a few suspicious people, so watch out for them.)

For example, in Japan, there is a Spanish-Japanese exchange meeting in Shibuya, Tokyo.

This organization FRON also organizes social events in other languages besides Spanish, such as Russian, so why not go there if there is a language you are interested in?

There is a fee for this service, but you may go once.

No matter what country you are in, if you can talk to locals even a little, you will feel much more at ease in the country, and you may even have a chance to get information about good spots and deals that only the locals know about!

Finally - of course, it is best to find a way that works for you!

I am not much of a drinker to begin with, but of course, some people can walk into a local bar-like place on their own and suddenly become friends with the locals.

Just as those who can do that style are better off, the methods I have described are not necessarily the right way to go about it, but only the things and actions that have helped me in my experience.

But if anyone has any questions about where to start, we'd be happy to help!

We wish you all a very fruitful stay and more international exchanges!

If you are interested in other aspects of travel and language learning, please click here.