ANDIRA

21, Mexico

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Student

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

10 – Apr – 2021

Why does studying Japanese in Japan mean so much to you?

Since I was in high school I have been interested in Japanese culture, I started with anime, then literature and ended up studying international relations with the aim of learning more about this interesting country. When deciding where to go to college, one of my priorities was to see what agreements there were with other universities and in my case, the National Autonomous University of Mexico had exchanges with the University of Tokyo. With the goal in mind since the first semester to go to study in Japan, I kept a 9.6/10 average despite the difficulties, thanks to my average I managed to stay with one of the two places that my university gives to win the exchange scholarship and finally I thought that my efforts were paying off, I was finally going to study in Japan, however the pandemic brings me an uncertain future where I do not know if I will be able to enter Japan for my semester that starts in October 2021. They gave me the possibility of canceling my exchange and return to compete to go to another country, however I want to believe and bet on my dream, because Japan has given me so much that I would like to give something back, grow in Japan and develop academically.

How do you think that as a student in Japan that you will add benefit to Japan society?

I consider myself to be a very committed student, since before my studies I have demonstrated my high academic level and my ability to work under pressure. Within my research, the topic of bilateral relations between Japan and Mexico has been one of the focal points and I have no doubt that despite my young age, with the passage of time I can contribute in an essential way to improve relations not only between Mexico and Japan, but also between Latin America and Japan, which is essential to boost the Japanese economy.

What will it mean to you if there is another delay for students to be able to come to Japan?

I will have to give up the scholarship I won, I will not be able to participate in that call again and that means that in my career I will not be able to live the experience of being an exchange student.

Chamika, 30, Sri Lanka

I am waiting from April 2020 to get into my university as a self-financed student. April intake was postponed because of the corona situation. Then I was able to register for the September intake. However, because of COE delays, I couldn’t get in during the time Japan was open for students. My research is already on hold since I cannot perform the experiments needed for data acquisition. Because of this uncertainty, I now have to consider a Ph.D. topic change even after spending 8 months into my research. I left my previous job in 2019 January thinking I’ll be able to get in by April. Because I don’t know when Japan will start accepting students, I can’t apply for any other job positions either. There is a minimum contract period that I must complete before quitting all most all of the jobs. So my life is on hold since January of 2019. It is not an easy task to keep going [especially mentally] when you are already 30 and you have to depend on your parents for food and a roof over your head. At this point, I am prepared to accept any conditions imposed by the Japanese government if it means that I can start my research. Even something like quarantining in a paid embassy designated quarantine location in my home country before I come to Japan. So, total of one month quarantining is a possible action for me now at this point. That’s how desperate I am at the moment, and I know it would be same for many students who dreamt of studying in Japan. Another long delay will force me to drop my research dream and focus on a different path for the sake of my mental health alone.

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Giulia, 26, Italy

I have been studying Japanese for seven years. I spent the last year stuck at University, keeping paying taxes even if I finished all the exams in Winter 2020 just waiting for Japan to open and let me in, since I am trying to write my MA thesis regarding women contemporary literature in Japan.

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Lissette, 30, America

It is very important to learn first hand in Japan because it will let me keep pushing forward to learn. There is no better way to learn a language than in the country it comes from.

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John, 30, America

Studying in Japan has always been part of my dream. I wish to pursue not only studying and becoming fluent in Japanese, but to be able to build a life in Japan. I have visited many times and made many Japanese friends. Each visit has had a profound effect on my life, and I wish to be able to communicate fluently, in order to become a contributing member of Japanese society.

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Veronica, 25, Italy

I always dreamed of going to Japan as soon as I graduated in Japanese (which was last October). My goal is to improve the language, as I would like to become a translator in the future.

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Abhishek, 23, India

studying Japanese in Japan is means a lot to me because for me it’s always my dream to live and study in japan and experience their culture while enjoying student life which I always dreamed of.

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