Thank you Indonesia
Thank you Indonesia
From Media Indonesia
My name is Yoshi. I spoke very little of the Indonesian
language when I came here from Japan a year ago. But after
attending the language course at BIPA (Indonesian Language for
Foreign Participants), Literature Department of UI (University of
Indonesia) under the student exchange program, I have gained
proficiency in the language. It is because, besides studying its
formal expressions, I also have been studying its various
colloquial expressions and even the slang.
Unlike the people in Japan, not to mention the people in other
countries, the people here are very hospitable and so easy to
make friends with. I am of the opinion that the hospitality of
the people of a country is a necessary factor in fostering good
relations with other countries in the world.
Since Japan opened its doors to the outside world after the
Meiji era, it has always looked to the West. Until today, many
people in the country still think that "internationalization" is
like westernization. It is also often associated within the
context of economic, political and governmental relations with
other nations.
I think understanding of other nations' cultures, especially
through the student exchange program, is indispensable in order
to foster good relations with other nations. A nation will face
problems with other nations if its relationships with other
nations is merely based on economics and politics.
I think the students who attend colleges in foreign countries
under the student exchange program will gain great understanding
of the cultures of the countries where they study. This is
because the students have to communicate directly with the people
of the countries.
It has taken me about a year to adapt and to understand the
Indonesian people. As a result many Indonesians even see me as a
local.
With this opportunity, I sincerely would like to express my
gratitude to my teachers and friends who have made my life happy
during my stay in this country.
YOSHIKAZU WADA
Depok, West Java