I am currently a university student majoring in Japanese language and culture. Studying in Japan and experiencing everyday life there has long been one of my personal goals. To make this aspiration a reality, I am highly motivated to participate in this program. In the future, I hope to live and work in Japan, particularly in an office-related role such as administrative or corporate staff. I consider this program an essential step toward developing the skills and experience necessary to achieve that goal.

My interest in Japan began in elementary school, when I practiced karate. During junior high school, my fascination deepened through exposure to Japanese culture, especially anime, manga, and other traditional and contemporary elements. Currently, I am studying Japanese at a university in Indonesia, where I am working to strengthen my grammar and overall language proficiency.

Through this program, I aim to further enhance my Japanese skills and prepare myself for a smooth transition to life in Japan. I believe that this valuable opportunity will allow me to move closer to fulfilling my long-held aspirations.

I arrived in Japan late March, and stepping out of Kansai International Airport was a total shock, It was around 9°C, a massive contrast to the scorching heat I’m used to back home in Indonesia. It definitely took me a little time to adjust to the cold.

My campus buddy only helped out with the very initial setup, so I ended up handling most of the admin stuff on my own like setting up my bank account, dealing with my residence card, taxes, and all that. Honestly though, it wasn't a big deal since I could understand the staff fine and communicate smoothly in Japanese.

In early April, we had the Entrance Ceremony. It felt super grand and elegant, especially compared to the somewhat dry ceremonies back home. Since I’m an exchange student, I had the freedom to pick only the courses I was genuinely interested in instead of taking a heavy load of required classes. I chose Business Japanese and Keigo, which will be super useful for my future career. I also took English to polish my skills, plus Korean. Mostly because I love K-dramas, music, and also manhwa (korean comic).

Campus life has been smooth so far. I’m naturally a quieter guy who values my personal space, so while I don't hang around campus all day or mingle constantly, I do have a solid group of close friends. Taking fewer classes means I spend less time on campus, but I’m not isolating myself, I just really enjoy my own time.

Financially, I’m being pretty budget conscious right now because I’m saving up for a new laptop for my uni work and final project. So far, I’ve mostly explored nearby spots like Himeji, Kyoto, and Osaka. Still, I feel so grateful every single day because living in Japan has been my dream since middle school, and now it’s actually happening! Since I love adventures, I definitely plan to explore further like visiting Tokyo, Kamakura, and some hidden countryside villages.

This is my very first time living abroad and being completely on my own. Managing everything myself and living off my own money took some getting used to. My parents are always ready to support me financially if needed, but I’m honestly proud of myself for standing on my own two feet so far.

Deep down, part of me still wants to stay a kid, but as the eldest child who will eventually lead my family, I know this is a huge step toward becoming a mature adult. I’m so excited to keep making the most of this exchange program and collecting unforgettable life experiences!