News

Yan Soo Hyun
Second year student at the School of Education

Tanabata party at the international student house

I chose to study abroad in Japan because of my father who attended graduate school in Japan and now works internationally across the world. Looking up to him, I also wanted to study in Japan. My time here inspires me in many ways and in the background of my experiences is the Tanashi Student Dormitory.

I entered the Tanashi Student Dormitory for two reasons. One was to relieve my parents’ worries concerning my life abroad. The second was because I found the “international student house” description appealing. After entering the dormitory, I met students from countries around the world including Japan, China, Denmark, Switzerland, and the US. The dormitory’s unique programs gave me the opportunity to make friends from around the world and I enjoy communicating in a mixture of English and Japanese.

My worries disappear when I think about my friends at the dormitory. They give me the energy to do my best.

Wanting to push myself further, this summer I participated in a short-term study abroad program at the University of Washington in the US. My three weeks spent there made me realize the importance of learning English. The experience also broadened my understanding of other cultures. I realize international study and cross-cultural interaction can broaden one’s world thanks to my experiences at Waseda and the University of Washington. During the remainder of my time at university, I will make every effort to interact with people of different nationalities as much as possible.

At the University of Washington

*The Tanashi Student Dormitory is now a dormitory for student athletes. In 2014, Waseda University built the Waseda International Student House (WISH) in conjunction with the Nakano International Community Plaza. WISH continues to host the programs previously held at the Tanashi Student Dormitory.

Original article written in November 2013.