Wasi, Bagaspati from Indonesia -April 2012 admission

I have just started my study in Global Engineering in Kyoto University since April 2012. This is my new experience for both having a trip outside my country and studying abroad. Although I felt so nervous at first, I am enjoying my life in Kyoto now. There were a lot of things that I have learnt since a couple of months ago, both in academically and non – academically. Besides, I have met some new friends from different countries; especially Japan, China and Korea. Moreover, I also became friends with other students from Indonesia. Surprisingly, there are a lot of Indonesian people living in Kyoto. They taught me how to behave here, shared their experience, invited me on a trip, and sometimes I also learned Japanese language from them. I had a lot of fun, and I can never, ever, forget what I experienced and got.

Being a student in Kyoto University with all of my new friends is very interesting. They are very kind and nice. At first, each of us was hesitating to make conversation. However, as the time goes by, there was no more hesitation. We were chatting, joking around, sharing information, and other positive things we had done. Besides, I also had a responsibility as a student for not to forget study. The lectures are great and interesting. Well, some are difficult and harder than the other ones, however, the lecturers are very kind. They always have a time for the students to ask if the lecture was hard to understand. To be honest, they care about students very much.

Besides the responsibility as a student in Kyoto University, as a Muslim, I do have the other responsibility of prayers and also about the food. At first I had worried about missing these important elements; however then, I came to know that there is a mosque near Kyoto University, so I could have performed prayers there. In the same building also, they sell the food that Muslims could eat. So that, being Muslim is not as difficult as I thought before, because there is a place for doing prayer, buy foods and also the Muslim community as well. In fact, a lot of Japanese people welcomed us with warmth.

To conclude my story above, I enjoy living and studying in Kyoto. The scenery, atmosphere, friendship, everything is very comfortable. And if you are a Muslim who wants to study in Japan, please do not be afraid to come. Living in Japan as a Muslim, is not as difficult as you can imagine.