Hello, I am Korn from Thailand. I am from the third batch of Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) and I have just started studying in Tokyo Tech from April 2018.
When I was younger, I had two chances to travel to Japan. The first one was in 2010, and then second one was in 2015. In both times, I was really impressed with the Japan railway system. I have always been interested in trains and railway system since I was a child and my dream is to improve the railway system of Thailand.
I wasn’t planning to study in Japan in the beginning, but my high school teacher told me about the MEXT scholarship and it got me interested. After further researching about studying in Japan, I found out that I can also study in an international program and that is how I found GSEP.
GSEP program gives us a chance to study in Japan with minimal knowledge of their language. Japanese language is the main obstacle for anyone that is interested in Japan’s university. Still, learning the language will be useful in your daily life in Japan.
When I first arrived in the university campus on the orientation. I was very excited because of the diversity in this university and in GSEP. I made friends with students from Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. I even made friends with Thai people from different school and background than me. The university campus is very clean and also feels like a place that I can learn new knowledge.
Apart from academic activities, I can also participate in many extracurricular activities. There are many clubs and circles in the university that we can join. I joined the Railway Club. The club members are all Japanese and that gives me a chance to speak Japanese with them and also to make Japanese friends. Actually, one of my hobbies is solving Rubik’s cube and I am quite good at it. In Thailand, I’ve joined in many Rubik’s cube competitions, and I am happy I can also do that here in Japan. It gives me a chance to make new friends.
After being in Japan for 3 months, I have learnt and experienced many new things. My view about this country has been widened and I can appreciate both the good and quirky points of this country. I am truly grateful to the Global Scientists and Engineers Program of the Tokyo Institute of Technology for making all of these possible.
Written by Itthikorn Jittaveeroj
Edited by Eden G. Mariquit