I came to Japan in July 2017, and during this year, I have many memories. I think life in Japan can be quite stressful for foreign students. Everyone works hard and perseveres through the stress for a brighter future. I believe those who endure and strive through stress will become stronger in the end.

Now, I would like to share some memories from my time at Sumiyoshi Japanese Language School.

First, our first field trip was a lot of fun. At that time, we had just arrived, and we couldn’t speak much Japanese. I hadn’t talked much with my classmates either, but I made an effort to approach them. Thanks to this field trip, I was able to make friends with everyone.

My class is very enjoyable. My classmates are all diligent in their studies, and we often have study sessions and stay overnight for tests. We come from different countries, but we’ve never had any fights. I believe the various experiences in this class will be unforgettable. Teachers can be strict at times too.

In May 2018, I applied for the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). I originally planned to take the N1 level, but my friends all applied for N3 level, so I decided to apply for N3 instead of N1. At that time, we hadn’t finished studying for N1 yet, and the teachers asked, “Why are you taking N3?” We replied, “Because we want to try the N3 exam.”

So the teachers consulted and taught us N3-level material for about 40 minutes before our class. It was around two months, and it was exhausting. We had less sleep time, and we had to rush to get to school, so it was tough. But thanks to the teachers, we were able to pass the N3 level.

I have a little regret now. If I had taken the N1 level at that time, I might have been able to read all the N1 kanji now. I decided to take N3, so there are times when I can’t read N1 kanji, and N3 kanji is more numerous and challenging, so I can’t read them either. This is the regret I’m dealing with now. I made the wrong decision, and now I’m facing the consequences.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the teachers. I really appreciate all the care and support. I will never forget the teachers and the friends I made at this school.