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Ms. VARSHNEY, Deepali
- Degree
- Graduated from the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
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While engineering is still every 2nd Indian’s choice, I was perhaps way too adamant about choosing a different path. After doing my BA in Japanese at Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), I decided to study further, instead of getting a job. I applied to three different universities in 3 different countries – Australia, Japan and UK. I should admit that Japan probably would not have been on the list if I hadn’t studied the language during my undergraduate. Before I started studying the language at University, my only contact with Japanese culture was origami – something I was obsessively into since junior high school.
As Indians, we perhaps often take it for granted that we speak English fluently and can get into universities in UK and Australia easily. Something similar happened to me – I got into all 3 universities and had to decide. The fact that I studied the language for 3 years and that Japan is a country with a completely different culture as that of India, lead me to Waseda University for an MA in International Relations.
During my 2 years of Tokyo life, I learned so many things that I probably would not have experienced in India or any other country. I was studying at Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda, which attracts foreign students from all over the globe. There are people from countries here I would not have ever been curious of if I had not met them at all. I am happy that I got to be in such an international environment and got to know so many people and their cultures.
Talking of cultures, the fact that I lived in a share house for a long time instead of a dormitory, also helped me meet people of different countries. I learned to cook Japanese food, got a better understanding of the everyday things that Japanese people do, and got assimilated better in this country, all thanks to my share mates. I am sure it would not be different even if you chose a dormitory – being with people from different cultures is way too fun!
As Indians, we perhaps often take it for granted that we speak English fluently and can get into universities in UK and Australia easily. Something similar happened to me – I got into all 3 universities and had to decide. The fact that I studied the language for 3 years and that Japan is a country with a completely different culture as that of India, lead me to Waseda University for an MA in International Relations.
During my 2 years of Tokyo life, I learned so many things that I probably would not have experienced in India or any other country. I was studying at Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda, which attracts foreign students from all over the globe. There are people from countries here I would not have ever been curious of if I had not met them at all. I am happy that I got to be in such an international environment and got to know so many people and their cultures.
Talking of cultures, the fact that I lived in a share house for a long time instead of a dormitory, also helped me meet people of different countries. I learned to cook Japanese food, got a better understanding of the everyday things that Japanese people do, and got assimilated better in this country, all thanks to my share mates. I am sure it would not be different even if you chose a dormitory – being with people from different cultures is way too fun!