How I travelled to Japan In 2000 for FREE

Japan is?high on the bucket list for many travelers?due to its popular culture, food, history, and, art, but often unaffordable for many.?In 2000 at age 22, I spent 3 months in Japan. This was a huge achievement because I had only moved to Canada in 1997 - as a vulnerable orphan.

I discovered Japan via a TV show X-OR (Uchū Keiji Gyaban). I loved this show. Coincidently, the main actor's name is Kenji like my son.

My curiosity for Japan grew during my stay in Nairobi, Kenya. When I went to open a bank account, a teller read my name Shima Shikama, and asked if I was Japanese. Shima is common in Japan. It means Island. You also find it in popular names like Hiroshima.

When I moved to Canada in 1997 at age 19, I was a vulnerable orphan and immigrant. Except, I had two immediate goals. My first goal was to finish my high school education. The other goal was to travel to Japan.

After graduating high school in Cheticamp in 1999, I enrolled at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. I chose Japanese as an elective. The class was challenging as I had to learn the Japanese alphabet (Hiragana, Takana) and Chinese characters. With perseverance, I excelled in the course. And when an opportunity to travel to Japan presented itself in the form of 3 months summer exchange program. I applied and I was one of the few students selected to join the Cohort. In fact, I was the only male.

I did not even have a passport. I had to apply for a temporary travel document. It would be more challenging to use. However, I was determined to achieve my goal.

In the spring of 2000, I traveled to Japan on a scholarship provided by my university. My flight, meals, and accommodation were covered. Not bad, for a young man who a few years earlier was starving and sleeping on the floor in Bukavu, DRC.

If you wait for an ideal moment in life, it may never present itself. When you set goals, you can dream big.

Please note: The year was 2000. Steve Jobs had not released iPhones and Instagram did not exist. Our pictures can not be compared to today.