>>>From Korea to Waseda
Yoon Song Lee
Freshman, the School of International Liberal Studies
I came from Korea this spring to study at the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS). It was a recommendation from my mother—who graduated from a Japanese university—that brought me here. For someone who could not decide on a major at college, SILS, which allows me to put myself in an international environment that is not far from my home and offers a range of courses, was also attractive to me because I will be able to find my areas of interest or future dreams while learning at school.
I like trying out different restaurants with my friends on the days I don’t have classes. This is me trying to cook okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) by myself at an okonomiyaki restaurant.
Currently, I am taking politics, economics, and psychology classes. As I study with people with diverse backgrounds, I began wanting to learn intercultural-related fields in more depth. I have not yet discovered my future dreams, but someday I want to do something that helps protect the rights of women living overseas.
Is eating while you walk bad manners? Surprising Japanese customs In Japan, I often see people eating crepes and other food while standing at the stands where they bought them, and they don’t eat while walking. When I first came to Japan, this surprised me.
One of the hardest things for me studying and living in Japan is the use of polite Japanese. I feel it is very difficult using different speech when talking to my friends and to those who are older than I or who are my superiors. In the meantime, a wonderful experience for me in Japan is eating Japanese food. I think Japanese food is really delicious and have been enjoying a variety of tastes since I came here.
As you can see, I am enjoying every each day of my life studying abroad. If I have an opportunity, I want to realize my dreams in Japan after graduation. I cannot wait to see what my future holds.
