Working in Japan opened his eyes

A Masterton student's Japanese jaunt has provided an eye-opening look into the world of international politics.
Ben Matthews, 26, has just finished a double degree in international business and Japanese at the Auckland University of Technology.
As part of the business degree he had to complete an internship in a business-related field.
Mr Matthews chose the New Zealand Embassy in Japan, to combine his two areas of study, and nine weeks ago landed in Tokyo raring to go.
The former Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Wairarapa and Wairarapa College student said his responsibilities at the embassy included product and services research, tourism presentations, liaising with New Zealand businesses, and translating documents.
The highlight of the trip, though, was assisting embassy staff in their APEC negotiations which coincided with his visit.
"It's an eye-opener, just getting a look into what the relations are like between different countries, looking at trade and bilateral agreements."
The APEC meetings also enabled him to travel to Yokohama, the country's second largest city with 3.6 million people - tiny when compared with Tokyo's 13 million people.
Despite the huge population, he said everything worked like clockwork. "There's not too much personal space, and constantly people everywhere ... It's amazing how even though there's so many people there's so much order and peace and a sense of harmony."
He had a head start in the Japanese language after spending two years in Japan from 2003-2005 doing missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Now home in Masterton, Mr Matthews plans to "chill out" for a few weeks before job searching.