For me, the most unforgettable moment in my life so far has been when I came to Japan. It was the first time I had traveled so far. A year and a half has passed since I came to Japan. Time has flown by unexpectedly. In March last year, I came to a completely unfamiliar foreign country and started my life here. Everything around me was new and something I had never experienced before.
During the first year, my life as an international student was lonely without my family and friends, but I studied Japanese desperately to quickly adapt to life in Japan.
I am a recipient of the Asahi Shimbun Scholarship, so I deliver newspapers every day. On weekdays, I come to school at 8:50 AM. Most of my other time is spent at home. Every night, from 20:00 to 22:00, I study Japanese. As my Japanese has gradually improved, I have made more friends. At that time, I felt a sense of satisfaction I had never experienced before.
When I first arrived in Japan, I felt loneliness living alone, confusion when the language didn’t make sense, and economic anxiety, but as I kept trying various things positively, I started to feel like I could manage in Japan.
In Japan, not only have I gained knowledge, but I have also had various experiences. I went to see cherry blossoms in the spring, saw autumn leaves with my partner in the fall, and went on a ski trip with friends. I plan to enter university next year. I have had many experiences during my year and a half in Japan. When I enter university, I want to experience even more of Japanese culture. I want to make many foreign friends. If I can make Japanese friends, my life in Japan will truly be wonderful.