政治経済学部のグローバル教育・留学
Personally, my favorite place on the Surugadai campus would be Liberty Tower and its respective facilities such as the 17th floor canteen and its various student lounges such as Lounge Zero and Lounge Marronier. The late-1990s post-modern aesthetics and the general layout of the building inspires a sense of wanting to be there to learn, or to study, or to socialize with other students.
The canteen within Liberty Tower, the Sky Lounge Akatsuki, is also very much unique due to its 17th floor location which gives you a view of the heart of Tokyo from its vast windows, alongside offering affordable and delicious meals with rotating choices every week.
The canteen within Liberty Tower, the Sky Lounge Akatsuki, is also very much unique due to its 17th floor location which gives you a view of the heart of Tokyo from its vast windows, alongside offering affordable and delicious meals with rotating choices every week.
Aside from the previously mentioned Prof. Unno's Seminar, my favourite course is Comprehensive Japanese 1 (Prof. Kawano Takako & Prof. Xu Yan) due to the fact that it is my first true introduction to Japanese as a language and how it is meant to be studied. It is very much a class that is “just right”, not overtly difficult but very much not a class where you can just take it easy. Especially for classes held by Prof. Kawano, the class is very lively and engaging, giving you the willpower to push through and making understanding Japanese clear and accessible.
■Things you particulartly enjoy / 楽しいところ
So many things are far more enjoyable than in my home country, such as the sheer variety in shopping and dining and entertainment, and interacting with local students and students of other nations and other cultural backgrounds. Tokyo’s world-class transit network is also a key component on why living and studying here is far more enjoyable than in my home city of Bangkok, where you could practically go anywhere in Tokyo and the Kanto region on a whim within an hour or two. Also being able to use 1 transit card for every mode of transit and every transit operator in Tokyo, unlike in Bangkok, Thailand where I need 2 different transit cards and cash, is a massive quality of life improvement.
■Things challenging for you / 大変なところ
Trying to navigate Japan’s vast retail industry and its sheer number of retailers in order to get my groceries and household goods is abit of a challenge especially compared to my home country of Thailand where you could practically get close to all you need for your daily living in like, three supermarket chains or even convenience stores. This is also made harder due to the fact that not all stores will sell everything; for example, having to go to a drugstore to get things such as laundry detergent since most supermarkets and convenience stores do not sell it.
So many things are far more enjoyable than in my home country, such as the sheer variety in shopping and dining and entertainment, and interacting with local students and students of other nations and other cultural backgrounds. Tokyo’s world-class transit network is also a key component on why living and studying here is far more enjoyable than in my home city of Bangkok, where you could practically go anywhere in Tokyo and the Kanto region on a whim within an hour or two. Also being able to use 1 transit card for every mode of transit and every transit operator in Tokyo, unlike in Bangkok, Thailand where I need 2 different transit cards and cash, is a massive quality of life improvement.
■Things challenging for you / 大変なところ
Trying to navigate Japan’s vast retail industry and its sheer number of retailers in order to get my groceries and household goods is abit of a challenge especially compared to my home country of Thailand where you could practically get close to all you need for your daily living in like, three supermarket chains or even convenience stores. This is also made harder due to the fact that not all stores will sell everything; for example, having to go to a drugstore to get things such as laundry detergent since most supermarkets and convenience stores do not sell it.
A day at my home university
My home institution of Chulalongkorn University is the oldest and the most prestigious university in Thailand, located in the heart of Bangkok, surrounded by world class business, shopping, and cultural districts. On a national level, Thailand is very much known for its world class tourism venues ranging from beaches to temples to palaces, and very much filled with some of the kindest people in the world, and its capital of Bangkok is a modern, and cosmopolitan capital city that has hints and influences of other cities and other cultures from around the world.
It is very much a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially the fact that you will get to experience Tokyo in the eyes of a local, surrounded by friendly locals and other international students who are here for the same thing. Seize this moment if the circumstances allow, and you will not regret it at all.
