Exchange Students’ Voice / 交換留学生の声

Japan, in general, is a very organized and likable country, whether it’s in terms of food, culture, people, and many other aspects. Previously, I have visited Japan a few times, which in a way make me feel like it’s a safe place to pick as my destination; moreover, the Japanese treat others with such respect, making it a reason to choose Japan since communicating with people who are willing to help you learn will me study abroad more enjoyable.

Why Meiji University? The most influential factor is the location of Meiji University. It is easy to get around the city of Tokyo. Another reason is the number of students which attends Meiji University, for me, making connections is one of the most important reasons in attending the university.

The Sports Hall at Surugadai Campus comes to mind when I am asked where my favorite place on the campus is. The reason is rather straightforward: I like to be active and play sports. But there is more than that; it is the place where I learn to communicate and talk in Japanese since the Suruga Basketball Club is all Japanese members. It is the place where my Japanese skills are nurtured and a place where I can enjoy playing my favorite sport, basketball.

After living in Japan for almost three months, the thing I was impressed about the most are my Japanese colleagues. Even though they all said communicating in the English language is hard for them, they still try their best to utilize English to teach me Japanese. Other than the beautiful people in Japan, the weather, food, sightseeing, and systematic way of life in Japan are already top-notch.

To be honest, it’s probably the cost of living here. Compared to Thailand, the cost of living here is higher. For instance, having a meal in Japan would average around 800 Yen; on the other hand, Thailand would only average around 300-400 Yen.

■Things you particulartly enjoy / 楽しいところ
Getting to know new people and learning the language is possibly what I enjoy the most at the time being. Knowing that I can get along with people from other countries is a relief, and doing activities like Karaoke with Japanese friends, playing sports with them, and many more have made living in Japan much more enjoyable.

■Things challenging for you / 大変なところ
My biggest challenge so far is communicating with my Japanese colleagues. It was expected, so I understand it is normal to adapt and learn new languages without any misunderstanding. Even though learning Japanese is hard, I think if it were the other way around, learning Thai would be harder due to more content and components in the Thai language.

My dream is being able to spoil my parents, hahaha. They have made everything in my life possible, including coming abroad to Japan. To achieve my future dream, I will dive deeper into the world of business and achieve it. 

My home university is Chulalongkorn, Thailand. Similar to Meiji University, Tokyo, Chulalongkorn is also located in the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok. As a country, we are known for our beaches, temples, food, and many other tourist attractions. But one thing that you might not know is that Thai people are the friendliest, if not one of the friendliest, people in the world. So don’t ever be scared to interact with us if you do come to Thailand.

It is one of the places filled with the friendliest environment that you will be able to enjoy in Japan for sure. Do not hesitate to come. Take this opportunity to both continue your studies and enjoy Japan. If you ever come across any problems, they will help you for sure.

Thank you for a warm welcome. Thank you for being patient while I ask for help or when I have questions about Japanese, so that I can learn. In return, if any of you who know or remember me want to come to Thailand, I will be your guide! Lastly, I hope all of you will live a happy life and achieve whatever you desire, whether it’s work, relationships, or anything at all. I hope it does come through.