Studying in Japan: Living a Dream

tudy in Japan has always been something that I had wanted to do for a long time. In my childhood I used to play Japanese videogames and watch animation and live-action series and movies on TV, wondering if I'd be able to get to know Japan one day. Then, in 2000, living in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, I tried the Japanese Government MONBUKAGAKUSHOU Scholarship. I applied for the University of Tokyo undergraduate course in History, but I wasn't successful, failing the Japanese language test.

After that I never tried again. Getting to know about Japan became a more distant dream. However, it all changed in 2007, when I received an invitation while living in São Paulo, Brazil, to join the MONBUKAGAKUSHOU "Young Leaders Japan-Brazil 2008". I was studying at Pontifical Catholic University, graduate school of Communication and Semiotics and a Professor called Christine Greiner invited me to try the aforementioned program, due to my interest in Japanese culture. After I submitted the test essay I was approved and traveled to Japan for the first time in March 2008. I was completely amazed with everything I saw: the temples in Kyoto, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park, the Akihabara district's bright and lively atmosphere, the Tsukiji fish market, the city of Oizumi and the non-stop rhythm of Tokyo.

After almost two weeks I returned to Brazil and I decided, for one thing, that I would return to Japan and this time I would enter a graduate school there. It was in October 2009 when I finally came back to Japan as a research student first, and then entered the Master Degree course, Graduate Program in Digital Contents Studies of Meiji University in April 2011. I'm really happy now and I'm learning many important things about my area of study. My supervisor Professor Suga Keijiro and my classmates are really kind to me and even though all my classes are in Japanese, I'm trying my best. We have been on fascinating and highly informative university trips and seminars to Taiwan and Hokkaido all together. Also, everyone at the International Student Office is very kind, helping me with whatever I need, from important procedural information to student support. I try to cooperate with them as much as I can as well.

So far, my life in Japan is like the accomplishment of my dream: I'm studying digital media, more specifically the "Evolution of Videogame Storytelling (1980-2011)" and learning many interesting aspects of Japanese society and culture. Needless to say, I am now feeling thoroughly happy, having enjoyed all these unforgettable experiences that will define my future career. I'm also feeling very honored, grateful and blessed for all of this.