It’s been over a year and a half since I came to Japan, and I didn’t even realize how quickly the time has passed. I never thought I would have the chance to come to Japan, so now I feel it’s the best thing that has happened in my life. I’ve always admired Japan since I was little, and now I’m finally here, enjoying every moment.

The reason I admire Japan is its culture. When I was a child, Japanese anime and Tokusatsu shows were broadcast every Sunday on TV, and I never missed an episode. Later on, I developed an interest in various aspects of Japanese culture, especially idols during my high school years. I even joined a fan club-like group in Bali.

There, I met many people and made friends. Every time we met, we talked not only about idols but also learned about other aspects of Japanese culture. Participating in Japanese cultural festivals and Bon dances in Bali with them was a lot of fun. My love for Japanese culture grew even more.

After graduating from high school, I wanted to study economics in college but failed the entrance exam. That’s when a friend suggested I join a foreign language university. As I was interested in Japanese culture, I decided to study Japanese. It was quite tough at first. Japanese was more difficult than I expected, and I had to work hard to improve.

Even after graduating, I struggled with using Japanese fluently. During that time, a university professor told me about a scholarship for studying abroad in Japan. I took the chance and passed the interview, which made me incredibly happy. Finally going to Japan, the country I had longed for, felt like a dream.

In Japan, there are many things I want to do. On my days off, I often visit tourist spots, department stores, and shopping malls. I can see cherry blossoms in parks and autumn leaves in Kyoto not just in photos but in real life. I also frequently check out manga and action figures in stores. Just looking at them makes me extremely happy.

I will graduate from this Japanese language school in about five more months, but I don’t want to go back to Indonesia yet. There are still many places I haven’t visited. Therefore, I am currently searching hard for a job. Not only do I want to work and save money for the future, but I also want to explore more of Japan. I will keep striving for more.