The Spring Gathering for International Students was held on Wednesday, April 26th, 2023, and it was cohosted by the Faculty of Human Sciences and Sport Sciences. This academic year, we shifted gathering from June to April in the hope that new students will get used to their new environment and deepen their friendship with fellow international students sooner in their time at Waseda. A total of 73 people, 44 students and 29 faculty/staff and other members, participated in the event.
In past three years, due to the restrictions by COVID-19, it had not been possible to hold the event with face-to-face eating and drinking. For the first time in three years, we were able to hold the get-together in a standing buffet style.
Spring Gathering Schedule
18:00～:
Opening Remarks:
Professor Yumi MATSUBARA, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Faculty of Human Sciences
Welcome Speech:
Professor Shigeo ISO, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Faculty of Sport,
Toast:
Professor Hiroyuki MISHIMA, Senior Dean of Faculty of Human Sciences
Activities
・Presentation on home country by Ms. Jiaming ZOU from China and Ms. Samanta Jurkowska from Poland
・Vocal performance by Ms.YU, Muzi from China and Ms. Agomoni Sarkar from India
・Dance performance by Ms. Madina Komekbay from Kazakhstan
・Self-introduction by new students & exchange students, MC by Associate Professor Mikimasa OMORI, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Faculty of Human Sciences
For the evening’s entertainment, there were performances by a selection of international students. First of all, Ms. Jiaming ZOU, a master student at the Graduate School of Sport Sciences, presented on Chinese culture and Ms. Samanta Jurkowska, a master’s student at the Graduate School of Sport Sciences, talked about Polish role-playing games.
Secondly, Ms. Muzi YU, a non-degree student at the Graduate School of Human Sciences, performed a song titled “Tropics Love” and Ms. Agomoni Sarkar, a doctoral student from the Graduate School of Sport Sciences, performed a song “‘Boro asha kore”'(with a lot of hope) in East Indian Bengali.
Both of them wore traditional costumes.
Thirdly, Ms. Madina Komekbay, a Kazakhstani exchange student at the Faculty of Human Sciences, performed a traditional dance from her home country. We thank the students for their contributions.
Finally, first-year undergraduate, graduate school, and exchange students introduced themselves briefly.
Many international students expressed their joy at the event, saying that they had made new friends. Many faculty members and staff also participated, and it was a good get-together for the international students who were able to interact not only with each other but also with the faculty and staff, confirming the support system for their study and daily life support.
We thank everyone who participated! The next gathering is scheduled for the Fall semester, and we hope you will join us again next time!
