Contact
Ms. Ayushi Kanodia
- From
- Mumbai
- Degree
- Master's Program in Economics, SOKA University
Message
Please give a short introduction about yourself.
I am Ayushi Kanodia, from Mumbai. Mumbai is a beautiful metropolitan city on the west coast of India. It is known as the financial capital of India. I hold a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai. I am currently pursuing my graduate degree in Faculty of Economics: International Business Program at Soka University. I love dancing and want to travel all over the world! I enjoy meeting new people and sharing experiences. I enjoy adventure sports like Bungee Jumping, Parasailing, Paragliding and want to experience many more. Coming to Japan has been like a dream come true and it will be the path for many more to come. I want to work for organizations where I can contribute towards improving the education system. I believe that everyone has an equal right to be educated.
What is your favorite thing about Hachioji City?
Hachioji is one of my favourite places in Japan. It hosts the prestigious Soka University. It is a place of serene beauty where I feel connected with nature. I love the wonderful trees, the mountains, the clear sky and the beautiful view of the fall where we see the fall trees all around. There is greenery everywhere. The fall season here is exquisite. I am looking forward to experiencing spring. Hachioji is well connected to many parts of Tokyo, yet it is not as crowded as other parts of Tokyo. The bus and the train system is quite efficient and makes traveling easier. There are some wonderful yet affordable food joints near the University and the station. It is the best place to experience a change in weather. The people here are so warm and helpful. They go out of their way to help the foreign students and tourists. I tend to get lost sometimes because I don’t yet understand Japanese very well but the people have always been so supportive.
In what way has your impression of Hachioji City or Japan changed since coming here?
I first thought Hachioji to be a quiet and secluded place. I did not know what would I do here in my free time and I was worried about adjusting to the Japanese cuisine. But my perspective has changed a lot in the past couple of months. Firstly, it is a very safe place to live. I have found Hachioji station is a great place to hang out. It has some amazing restaurants, shopping centers and live events that are very entertaining. It not only is fun but gives me an opportunity to make new friends from all around the globe. Though the culture of Japan is very different as compared to India and it took me some time to settle but now I am absolutely in love with Japan. I have been able to visit the Mount Fuji, Tokyo Disneyland and many more places which were organized by the university. My favorite Japanese food is Okonomiyaki and Udon Noodles. The people here make an extra effort to help you out and that is something I learn from these people.
What attracted you to choose Soka University as a place to study?
It has been a long-cherished dream to study at Soka University. One of the many things that attracted me to study at Soka was the very beautiful campus. I used to see it in pictures and thought to myself, I want to study here one day. The infrastructure is excellent and the mesmerizing scenery around is a great relaxation factor. Moreover, I wanted to learn about different cultures and I feel Soka University provides many opportunities for that. The principles of the university really motivated me and I feel it is very important to learn Humanistic Education in today's times to bring a positive change.
In what way did you adjust yourself to Japanese culture?
Indian and Japanese cultures are very different from each other. I am very lucky to experience this new culture. The challenging part initially was the language and food. In India, I am used to eating vegetarian food, but in Japan I have experienced a whole new cuisine. There are many opportunities to learn Japanese at the university. During my initial days, I used to find public transport extremely expensive as compared to India. But everything is very well connected and travelling to different parts is very convenient. Another major factor is the punctuality and efficiency. This is something I am learning from Japanese people.
Please give a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be thinking about studying in Japan?
While Japan and India do share some core cultural values, most of the cultural practices and behaviors between the two countries are very different. I advise fellow students to always have patience, a positive outlook, a sense of adventure and a sense of humor. Japanese people are very kind people but the culture can be very complicated to understand. Japan is a technology hub as well as a very beautiful place. The system here offers many part time jobs for international students. Japan as a many tourist attraction that students can visit during their free time. The people are very helpful and supportive. I would encourage fellow international students to make a lot of friends from Japan as well as other countries. Also, the 2020 Olympics are to be hosted in Japan, a unique opportunity for international students studying here to visit.