What will I see and what will I gain from being in a global environment? I'm excited to encounter new facets of myself.

Risa Tajima, 2nd year
Graduated from Otsuma Arashiyama High School, a private school in Saitama
Study abroad location: Chulalongkorn University Thailand
Study abroad period: August 2019 → December 2019

- Why did you choose your study abroad destination (country/university)?

Chulalongkorn University, which I chose to study abroad at, is said to be the most difficult university in Thailand and is a global university with many international students. I wanted to challenge myself to see how well the English I have learned so far can be used in that environment. I also wanted to come into contact with diverse cultures and update my values.

-What preparations did you make to study abroad?

Professor Takuya Hayashi's "Asian Business Theory" and "Special Lecture B (I)" where we looked at business models in emerging Asian countries from a management perspective and learned about the transition to industrialization are of course subjects that I am interested in and would like to study abroad, but more than anything, I felt it was very meaningful to be able to learn about the society I will be witnessing before I go abroad. In addition, I heard from my seniors that there are many opportunities for debates and presentations at Chulalongkorn University, so I made an effort to incorporate ideas into my regular classes so that I could learn effective methods.

-What are you most looking forward to about studying abroad?

As I finally begin my life abroad, I want to have a variety of experiences and take to heart the moments that move me. It's also time to think about my future, but I intend to face myself properly in order to choose a career path that follows my heart, not just based on job hunting information or preconceived notions. I'm looking forward to meeting the unknown side of myself and seeing what I can see and gain from it.

-What would you like to challenge yourself with while studying abroad?

To learn Thai yoga! I want to exercise, eat delicious Thai food, and do lots of sightseeing. My biggest concern right now is that I can't speak Thai, but I'm studying in case of emergencies when I go shopping at the market or go out. I'm planning to take Thai classes, so I'd like to learn phrases little by little as a way of preparing. I'm a bit worried about how well I'll be able to speak Thai by the time I return home, but I'll study as hard as I can. Although the classes and assignments at university are likely to be more difficult than I imagined, I want to use my time meaningfully and stay healthy in both mind and body.

The first local report from Tajima-san is scheduled for mid-October!!

While studying hard, I am also taking good care of my health and enjoying life in Thailand to the fullest.

Risa Tajima has started her life as an international student in Thailand. We have received her first report from the local area about her life at Chulalongkorn University and her daily life!

-What is the location and environment of the university you will be studying at?

Chulalongkorn University, where I will study, is located in the center of Bangkok, so there are many different means of transportation available, including trains, subways, buses, taxis, and mobile car dispatch services. In addition, because it is Thailand's proud historic national university, the area around the university is very safe and well-maintained.

Tajima-san's week in August

-What topics are you studying?

It has been about 10 days since classes started. Since I can choose between faculty-specific and general education courses at the Faculty of Arts, I was worried about which courses to register for, but I decided to take five courses over three days on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

"Communicative Thai for foreigners" is a Thai language class, and it is an international class where you can interact with international students from other faculties. I am not yet used to Thai, and it is difficult, but I will do my best to master it. "Media History" is the most difficult class for me. In addition to the difficulty of the content, there are only five students, so we are required to actively participate in discussions, debates, and questions to the teacher. Since two of the five students are international students from English-speaking countries, the content of the discussions is advanced, so I am desperate not to be left behind. "Introduction to classical music" is a class where we watch and listen to video clips of classical music from various fields, so I am learning very enjoyably. In "Cross cultural communication", we are learning in depth about "culture" and "communication" from their definitions. In this class, I, an international student, often introduce Japanese culture to my classmates as an example of a different culture, which is an opportunity to think about Japanese culture again. "Man and geography" is difficult because it is for third-year students, but I am able to understand it thanks to the support of local students.

-What are the differences between classes in Japan and abroad?

The biggest difference is the long class time of 3 hours. However, since the classes are conducted in a variety of styles such as discussions and group work, it doesn't feel that long. Also, since all classes are conducted in English, the English lectures every hour require more brainpower than you might imagine. Discussions and debates require you to listen carefully to what the other person is saying, grasp the main points, and give an appropriate response or related opinion, so it is no exaggeration to say that discussions in English are the most difficult for me, who has little experience studying abroad. However, rather than being embarrassed about my failure and hesitating, I plan to start by speaking up and gaining experience, and gradually polish the content of my comments!

-What topics are you discussing in your daily life?

I have become more conscious of my health. There is no kitchen in the dormitory, so I basically have two choices for meals: eating out or eating vegetables and fruits as they are. In addition to considering nutritional balance, I make running and training a daily routine to prevent poor health due to lack of exercise. I think that by getting my body in shape through both diet and exercise in this way, I can increase my motivation for various activities, including studying. When I was assigned a reading assignment, I took my laptop to my favorite cafe, put in earplugs, and concentrated on it all at once. Even when difficult assignments are given, I can think carefully and revise them until I am satisfied, so I feel that it was a good idea to schedule my time with plenty of time.

-What are the topics for the activities?

I went to the night market "Talad Rot Fai Ratchada" and the fantastic view of the colorfully lit up ceilings of the food stalls is still burned into my memory. At the orientation for international students organized by the faculty, I received words of welcome from teachers and students and enjoyed various events. After that, I went to dinner with my buddy and friends, tried Thai food that I had never tried before on my buddy's recommendation, taught each other Japanese and Thai, and had a harmonious time that can only be enjoyed while studying abroad. On the weekend night, I reunited with my friends from Aoyama Aogaku who I have been close with since my first year, in Siam, the center of Bangkok. Since all four of us are studying at different universities - Thammasat, Kasetsart, Srinakharinwirot, and Chulalongkorn - it was a meaningful time where we were able to exchange information about the content of our classes and the surrounding environment. Although I will miss campus life at Aogaku where I could see my beloved friends every day, I can't wait until we can all live in our own places, meet up from time to time to encourage each other, and reunite at Sagamihara campus, having grown as individuals after our time studying abroad!

From popular cafes to tom yum goong and mangoes, here's a report on the unique flavors of Thailand.

What is Tajima's life like in Thailand now that she has been studying abroad for one month?
The second report has arrived from the field!

Tajima-san's week in September

-What are the topics for the activities?

A friend who lives in America came to visit me, so we spent our time outside of class visiting tourist spots and eating lots of delicious food.

There are many temples in Thailand that are popular tourist spots, but this time I visited the most famous of them all, Wat Pho. The Chao Phraya River flows between the nearest station and the temple, so I took a boat to the other side. The golden reclining Buddha statue was 46 meters long and was overwhelming in size, far beyond my imagination. In addition to the Buddha statue, there are beautiful buildings around the main hall that are intricately painted with motifs of flowers and birds, which you can enjoy while taking a leisurely stroll.

After worshiping, we had brunch at the popular "Blue Whale Cafe" located very close to the temple, where you can drink bright blue drinks. I was surprised at how blue the hot latte I ordered was, but it turns out it's a natural pigment called anthocyanin found in butterfly pea flowers!

At the extremely popular dog cafe "Dog in Town" near BTS Ekkamai Station, I was able to interact with friendly and adorable dogs, which was very relaxing! For lunch that day, I went to a restaurant called "Baan Khun Mae" in the central Siam area. This restaurant, whose name means "Mother's House" in Thai, serves traditional Thai home cooking. I ordered Tom Yum Kung, which is synonymous with Thai cuisine. It was a delicious dish with an excellent balance of sourness and mellowness. Siam is a relatively new area filled with young people, but this restaurant has a calm antique-style interior, so I was able to enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace.

I had midterm exams and essay assignments to complete, and the English classes I took at GSC were helpful!

Tajima-san has become accustomed to life as a student in Thailand. Here is the third report from the country!
Well, what topics will there be?

Tajima-san's week in October

-What are the topics for the activities?

After the long midterm exams were over, I went shopping with a friend from Aogaku for the first time in a month. She was a classmate in the "Academic English" class in the first semester of our second year, and we had promised to meet up a lot while studying abroad, but we studied abroad at different universities, so we had not been able to meet up until now. We met up at Siam and shared our recent happenings while eating delicious food at a popular Korean restaurant. It had been a long time since we last saw each other, so we had lots to talk about while shopping, and we had a great time. She is a reliable and imaginative person, and she always stimulates and inspires me. I have been working hard on my assignments and exams for the past month, but I realized once again that the reason I can do my best like this is because I have friends who support me emotionally even when we are apart.

And I was able to make some great purchases that day! The shoes I wore to school got damaged during Thailand's rainy season from August to early October, so I bought my favorite pair at a long-established leather shoe store called "Ballet Shoes." They're simple black ballet shoes, but they're made of genuine leather, so I can wear them for a long time. I'd like to take good care of them and wear them so that I can continue to use them as a memento of my study abroad experience after I return home.

I was able to overcome the difficulties of living in a different culture thanks to my teachers who supported me with their kind words.

Video production for presentations, essays, writing and listening exams.
In addition, we received the fourth field report from Mr. Tajima, who also put a lot of effort into field trips!

Tajima-san's week in November

-What are the topics for the activities?

Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church visited Chulalongkorn University campus. It was the first time the Pope had visited Thailand, where the majority of the population is Buddhist, and the large-scale mass held at the National Stadium the day before attracted 60,000 people. I was on campus to take a class on "Man and Geography" when the Pope visited the university, and I was very surprised by the countless security guards and the traffic volume, which was more than 10 times the usual amount. Special panels were prepared to welcome the Pope, and a festive atmosphere was created.

Before the exams started and things got busy, I went to dinner with some friends from Aogaku. It was the first time we'd seen each other in a month and a half, so we had lots to talk about our school lives and midterm exams. On the surface, it was just a dinner party, but one of our friends had a birthday coming up, so we secretly prepared a birthday cake. He had no idea about our surprise, and was very surprised when we gave him the cake! He celebrated his 20th birthday, a milestone in his life, in a foreign country, and I hope it was a special memory for him.

My experience studying abroad was full of joy as I gained new knowledge and felt that I was growing through challenges.

I returned to Japan at the end of last year after successfully completing my six-month study abroad in Thailand. I was excited to discover new aspects of myself in this global environment, but my studies there were a series of surprises and confusion. This is because there were many elements that were very different from the education I had received in Japan. First of all, discussions were held in every class and you were expected to speak up, so if you are not proactive, you will be left behind. At first, I was overwhelmed by the local students who spoke English as fluently as if it were their native language, but I gradually got used to the environment and began to place more importance on how to effectively convey my opinions rather than speaking perfectly. Also, since I was taking courses that no other Japanese students were taking, I spent my days silently completing assignments by myself. However, by facing the assignments and classes thoroughly, I was able to feel my own growth more. I experienced many setbacks, but as the saying goes, "Forget your shame on the journey," I spoke up whatever I thought without worrying about others, and praised myself for taking a step forward even when things didn't go well.

Meeting my professors was also an invaluable experience for me. The professors were very kind and spoke warm words to me, an international student. They evaluated me based on my abilities without comparing me to local students or other international students, and when my presentation was successful or my paper received good marks, they celebrated with me. I learned a lot from them, not just academic knowledge, but also an attitude of trying to understand different cultures and treating everyone equally.

Before I went abroad, I wanted to challenge myself to see how far my English could go, but during my time abroad, I was painfully aware of my own shortcomings and lack of study. That's why I put all my effort into studying, and I feel that I was able to grow a lot as a result. Now that my English has improved, I plan to take various English proficiency tests. Also, being entrusted with writing the monthly study abroad report has made me interested in language-related jobs such as editing and publishing. I've learned that opportunities lie in the most unexpected places, so I would like to continue to use the positivity and drive I've developed during my time abroad and boldly challenge myself in the unknown. Thank you for joining my report every month!