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Student Interview

Interview with international students No.2: Why Kyoto University? How is your Kyoto life?

Kyoto iUP admissions office had a chance to interview three international students to ask about their student life at Kyoto University.

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    Harini Samarasinghe
    Sri Lanka
    Graduate School of Management
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    Anna Kreshchenko
    Ukraine
    Faculty of Law
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    Floris de Graaf
    The Netherlands
    Faculty of Integrated Human Studies

Why did you choose Japan as your destination to study abroad?

Harini: I have been feeling familiar with Japan since my childhood when I was watching Japanese TV drama "Oshin". After studying business in India and working as an accountant in Sri Lanka, I got interested in the concept of social entrepreneurship. As I found Japan has a lot of social enterprises, I decided to come here.

Anna: I was interested in the history of Meiji period and modern Japan, the economic boom and how Japan became one of the most developed countries in decades. Now I am more interested in international law and foreign affairs.

Floris: What brought me to Japan is modern Japanese literature. They are traditional and different from what I was used to in Europe, but some of them such as Haruki Murakami's works made me feel Japanese people are not all that different. Then I started to learn Japanese language to better understand Japanese literature.

What is a good point of Kyoto University?

Anna: In Kyoto University, there's a freedom. You can choose all subjects you want to learn and you can participate in a variety of programs including volunteer activities and competitions.

Harini: At the Graduate School of Management, famous people like Vice President of the World Bank Group and so many entrepreneurs come here to give speeches and tips on how to be entrepreneurs.

Floris: Kyoto is a perfect city for students. You can go anywhere by bicycles while you must take trains in other cities like Tokyo.

Are you participating in any extracurricular activities?

Floris: All of us are members of Kyoto University International Students' Community where various events for international students are organized. Besides, I am working for a Dutch company and show Dutch people around Kyoto as a tour guide.

Anna: I started karate when I was little, which was my first encounter with Japan. Now I really enjoy doing karate here in Japan.

Harini: I belong to Kyoto University English Speaking Society. I participated in two speech contests where both Japanese and international students give very good speeches on interesting topics. Outside the university, I join a hiking group for foreign people and go hiking in Kyoto every month.

Future Kyoto iUP students may feel anxious about studying abroad because of the difference of language and culture. Do you have any advice to them?

Anna: It's always good to challenge. Living in a different country gives you a lot of experiences and makes you independent.

Floris: All languages are difficult in the beginning, but don't worry! Most people understand English. We can communicate smoothly both inside and outside the university.

Harini: Kyoto University has a good environment to learn Japanese language. In the Student Lounge KIZUNA, you can learn Japanese from Japanese students in exchange for teaching them English. Your supervisors and tutors for international students also provide adequate support.

Do you have a chance to have your home countries' foods in Japan?

Floris: Yes, there is a Dutch restaurant in Osaka. But I don't miss my country's foods so much because I like Japanese foods.

Anna: I rarely have an opportunity to have Ukrainian foods though there are shops and one restaurant in Kyoto. But I don't mind as I enjoy Japanese foods.

Harini: I sometimes miss Sri Lankan foods but I can easily buy them online from stores in Tokyo.

Where is your favorite place in Kyoto and/or Japan?

Floris: Nanzenji temple and Tetsugaku no michi (The Philosopher's path) are my favorites.

Harini: I like the city of Kyoto as a whole. When I came to Kyoto for the first time in April, I was awed by the beauty of cherry blossoms. Other than Kyoto, I recommend Amakusa in Kyushu where you can enjoy beautiful sceneries.

Anna: I enjoy travelling around Japan during long holidays. Okinawa was very beautiful and I really want to go there again.

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