Report from Students
11.2015 Archives
11.16.2015
Activity Report 1 (2015 outbound: Universitas Indonesia)
Takuro Maeda
College of Business Administration, 4th year
Apa kabar? `Apa kabar` means how are you in Indonesian. Hello, my name is Takuro Maeda, and I am studying at the Universitas Indonesia through the AIMS study abroad program. I am currently in my senior year studying Business Administration at Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, Ibaraki. I would like to describe to you my everyday life in Depok. To give you a better idea, I will use 4 examples: Margo City, Moffee, Traffic Jams, and the dormitory.
Depok is a city of Jakarta, and is very, very big. In Depok, you can get anything and everything what you need. I think that Depok is convenient because it is a big city. One example of its convenience is a large shopping mall called Margo City in Depok. The Margo city shopping mall is about a 10 minute walk from the dorm. There are a lot of students there because it’s located near other universities as well. I also go there to get things over the weekend.
As you may already know, Indonesia is one of the biggest coffee producers and exporters in the world. I enjoy a nice café to drink coffee and relax. Here in Depok there are some really good cafés. My favorite is called “Moffee”. I like the taste of their coffee, and also the atmosphere. This is one of my favorite places in Indonesia. I go here around 3 times in a week, and the owner is really nice.
From now, I would like to introduce one of Jakarta’s most famous problems, traffic. Before I came here, I learned about basic business logistics at Ritsumeikan University. So of course I knew about Jakarta’s traffic jams, but actually it’s even worse than I could have imagined. I still remember the first day that I came here. It was rush hour, so there were tons of cars, bikes, and people! My Indonesian friend told to me, “Around here, it can be very dangerous. Car accidents happen often, should be careful ya!” That is when I realized how important it is to pay attention. There is a lot of traffic just in front of the dorm, so if you come here, please pay attention and take traffic seriously.
Lastly, I would like to describe the dormitory. It’s called “Margonda Residence Dua” and is really nice. The room is not that huge, but I like how clean it is. Also it’s located near Universitas Indonesia, so it is very convenient. There is a swimming pool, but I have never gone swimming in it…maybe I will later.
Today I described my everyday life in Depok, but there is so much more to explore here. Next month I plan on writing more about “Campus Life at Universitas Indonesia”! See you later.
11.16.2015
Activity Report 1 (2015 outbound: Universitas Gadjah Mada)
Masashi Umemoto
College of International Relations, 2nd year
Campus life
College of International Relations, 2nd year
Campus life
The University of Gadjah Mada is one of the top universities in Indonesia, so many of the students here are very intelligent. Especially when it comes to FEB, the Faculty of Economics and Business, where all of the classes are held in English. The language barrier leads to a great, educational experience. Almost all of the students are thinking about becoming entrepreneurs after graduation. Some of them have already started their own business, even though they are still freshman. You can see and understand their strategies and plans for the future.
Students are not only involved in academics, but they also belong to clubs. I ‘m a part of the softball club here, and teach freshmen how to play. Although some members can’t speak English at all, it is awesome to see them improve. This club also motivates me to study Indonesian to better communicate and teach softball.
Additionally, I’ve noticed that a lot of people love Japanese culture and language. For example, many students come to the Japanese class that I am teaching even though they receive no credit for taking the class. Also, the University of Gadjah Mada has Japan week once a month! You can eat various kinds of Japanese food there, and so many students are cosplaying. I’m sure that your experience at Ritsumeikan University can benefit the people of Yogyakarta (Jogja).
11.16.2015
Activity Report 1 (2015 outbound: Chulalongkorn University)
Kenta Imaizumi
College of Business Administration, 3rd year
College of Business Administration, 3rd year
Firstly, my dormitory is located right next to the campus! It only takes 5 minutes to get to the campus by CU shuttle bus, and it takes 20 minutes to walk to Siam, which is central Bangkok. Although I am sharing my room with a Japanese roommate, there are other types of rooms, such as for one person, two people, or even a family. My dormitory is quite new and has many facilities and services, such as a study room, dining room, and 24-hour maintenance services. A big difference between Japan and Thailand, in regards to dormitories and apartments in Thailand, is that there is no kitchen. When it comes to college students in Japan, cooking for ourselves is common, however, students in Thailand do not usually cook for themselves. Because of this, there are many restaurants and stands that are selling cheap and delicious food for students around the University. I usually eat from stands serving food around the dormitory. When I went to this kind of stand for the first time, its appearance was a bit scary, but I am getting used to it now!
When it comes to the atmosphere around campus, as I mentioned before, there are many restaurants and stands nearby making it a vivid and lively place. Also, the central Bangkok area, Siam, is surrounded by businesses and facilities, giving you an atmosphere of the latest and greatest.
During the rest of my time studying abroad in Thailand, I want to adapt to life in here and interact with other international students through the international environment provided by the CU I House!
11.16.2015
Activity Report 1 (2015 outbound: Institut Teknologi Bandung)
Hiroya Suefuji
College of Business Administration, 3rd year
College of Business Administration, 3rd year
Hello, my name is Hiroya Suefuji and I would like to describe college life at the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia. I was surprised in regards to students' English ability, especially their ability to speak when I first came to this university. On the other hand, most Indonesian people in Bandung cannot speak as much English as the students can. Because of this, I use a little Indonesian and body language to communicate. Also, there are many group activities in classes. I have to concentrate in class and be a part of the class. When I joined a group activity in class, I felt that ITB students are very smart because they make quick, high quality decisions. I need to catch up with them before I return to Japan. Life in Indonesia is very exciting for me!
ITB students are very kind and friendly when they communicate with me. I also learn a lot of Indonesian playing futsal with my friends, talking in the cafeteria, meeting people in the smoking area, and so on. When we play futsal, we can become closer and talk about anything! Also, I can make new friends every day. On the other hand, it’s difficult to remember their names because I meet so many new people and the pronunciation is very difficult. I truly enjoy this activity.
I thought that the Muslim religion was very strict before I came to Indonesia, however, Indonesian men love joking around just like Japanese people do! When I tell them about Japanese culture, habits, and everyday life, they are surprised and interested. This gives me a chance to communicate with people often.
I want to communicate with many Indonesian people as much as possible and go to many places, because I want to learn more about Indonesia. Above all, I will study management as much as I can. It’s not easy studying management in English, but I’m sure that I’ll improve as a person through this experience. I’ll do my best to learn as much as possible during my time here at the Institut Teknologi Bandung!
11.16.2015
Activity Report 1 (2015 outbound: Thammasat University)
Erika Kondo
College of Economics, 4th year
College of Economics, 4th year
My Points of Improvement
1 My Happiness
I would like to tell you about my experience here using “foods”. I love eating so much that my friends say, “You always look happy when you eat!” So for me, Thailand food is like the Japanese saying, “ichi-go ichi-e”, meaning to “treasure every encounter”. There are so many different kinds of ingredients and food to try! It helps me to enjoy trying new things. If I leave my room, I have the chance to try traditional Thai food, completely different than what I ate it in Japan. Also, the same food doesn’t always have the same taste because the university cafeteria, restaurants, and street venders have their own styles and flavors. That’s why it is fun to try new places, meet new people, and try various foods! I feel fortunate that I get to taste food that Thai people eat every day. Going out to eat with my Thai friends shows me what food is popular. However, at the same time, I keep in mind how delicious Japanese food is. Studying abroad in Thailand has shown me how important it is to try something new because it helped me gain experience and knowledge. These 2 months taught me what it means to be beyond borders.
2 My Kindness
I like street venders in Thailand, and I love trying different ones often! It gives me the opportunity to speak the Thai that I learned in class. I never give up, even if I make a mistake! There are not many foreigners in Thailand, however, I’ve found that Thai people have a strict but kind way of communicating. Through this experience, I feel that I can show more kindness towards others. When I feel helpless, I remember everyone’s compassion and it gives me peace of mind.
