a magic word "Ryugaku"?
There will be an explanatory session of exchange program for Nichidai students planning to apply for abroad studies. I was asked to make a brief presentation for the prospective exchange students. Of course I'm very pleased to make my statement to my fellows, but there is a problem. "What should I talk?" I am expected to speech about "lives and studies in Sweden" according to an organizer. I have fifteen minutes for the presentation including questions and answers.
Lives and studies in Sweden? Before mentioning that, I actually have tons of complaints to international bureau of Nichidai. In a nutshell they have leave-them-alone policy to irresponsible degree. They don't have so much information of each exchange place, Sweden especially. For instance, during staying in Sweden, I was emailed by a student coordinator of Stockholm univ. A student coordinator is person to take care of coming international students; advising which courses to take, organizing dormitory rooms, and so on. And the coordinator said to me that she was in sort of trouble for interpretation of info from Nichidai and asked me to visit her office. When I dropped by her place, the trouble turned out to be quiet striking for me. She showed me transcriptions of next exchanges, and questioned "could you explain the semester and degree systems in your university?" In a word, she didn't understand what is written down in the transcriptions; jurisprudence "A", economic law "B", fundamental study "A" and so forth. "Why they took various courses simultaneously? Aren't they law student?" said the coordinator. That was what striking. She didn't know anything about courses in Nichidai, even the system itself. She continued "What is fundamental study? There are no descriptions for those courses. Aren't they law students? So then why did they take lots of courses other than law?" I was shocked and couldn't make my answer for a while. It was that surprising. No appropriate information of what prospective students have studies! Then, how could it possible for them to take proper courses in abroad.
I have a friend who gave up her study opportunity in abroad. She couldn't have much credence on Nichidai's international bureau for almost same reasons. She lost her precious chances, but I can sympathize with it in a sense.
"Ryugaku", which means "studying abroad" in Japanese vocabulary, must be a magic word. Ryugaku gives indispensable experiences regardless of tough or sweet. Ryugaku was nourishment for me to grow for a better human being. However, in a Nichidai, Ryugaku is practiced with little knowledge. It is the reason why I'm being asked to make a presentation of live and studies in Sweden. Then, coming back to the first question "What should I talk?" Anyhow, what needed is, first of all, a mutual understanding and exchanging information of both college systems.
Lives and studies in Sweden? Before mentioning that, I actually have tons of complaints to international bureau of Nichidai. In a nutshell they have leave-them-alone policy to irresponsible degree. They don't have so much information of each exchange place, Sweden especially. For instance, during staying in Sweden, I was emailed by a student coordinator of Stockholm univ. A student coordinator is person to take care of coming international students; advising which courses to take, organizing dormitory rooms, and so on. And the coordinator said to me that she was in sort of trouble for interpretation of info from Nichidai and asked me to visit her office. When I dropped by her place, the trouble turned out to be quiet striking for me. She showed me transcriptions of next exchanges, and questioned "could you explain the semester and degree systems in your university?" In a word, she didn't understand what is written down in the transcriptions; jurisprudence "A", economic law "B", fundamental study "A" and so forth. "Why they took various courses simultaneously? Aren't they law student?" said the coordinator. That was what striking. She didn't know anything about courses in Nichidai, even the system itself. She continued "What is fundamental study? There are no descriptions for those courses. Aren't they law students? So then why did they take lots of courses other than law?" I was shocked and couldn't make my answer for a while. It was that surprising. No appropriate information of what prospective students have studies! Then, how could it possible for them to take proper courses in abroad.
I have a friend who gave up her study opportunity in abroad. She couldn't have much credence on Nichidai's international bureau for almost same reasons. She lost her precious chances, but I can sympathize with it in a sense.
"Ryugaku", which means "studying abroad" in Japanese vocabulary, must be a magic word. Ryugaku gives indispensable experiences regardless of tough or sweet. Ryugaku was nourishment for me to grow for a better human being. However, in a Nichidai, Ryugaku is practiced with little knowledge. It is the reason why I'm being asked to make a presentation of live and studies in Sweden. Then, coming back to the first question "What should I talk?" Anyhow, what needed is, first of all, a mutual understanding and exchanging information of both college systems.
