Living @ OIC I-House

Ritsumeikan University has three campuses in Kansai (Western Japan), among which Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC) being the newest one.

Community and Regional Policy Science Major (CRPS) that study at OIC, have the option of moving into the OIC International House (I-House) on their first year of study.

In this blog entry, CRPS student Sakshi shares with us her experience at the OIC I-House and journey as an international student in Japan.

One of the most influential phases of my University life has undeniably been the time spent in the dormitory.

I embarked on my journey of studying overseas at Ritsumeikan University in September, 2018 by stepping into the newly-built OIC International House (I-House), that came to become my home for almost two years. Having been raised in a typical South Asian Desi Family, this was the first time living alone and away from my parents. Therefore, I had prepared myself to be hit by waves of loneliness constantly. However, what I did not expect was that I would start enjoying it a bit too much.

The OIC I-House, 15-20 minutes away from the university campus, is located in the midst of Ibaraki City, near the City Hall. This prime location provides a convenient route to the major grocery store (Gyomu Supa, a cost-friendly supermarket of Japan and savior of university students, a 7-minute walk from the dorm), shops and is in the vicinity of a public park. Bonus points for the peaceful residential area it is built in, which might also be the most underrated aspect of this dormitory since it is not really easy (not at all) to find a quiet place in Ibaraki city (I swear) once you move-out.

The dormitory is a 5-story building with a patio, lawn and parking area. Each floor is divided into 5 large accommodation units where about 4-6 students live together. Every unit has 6 private bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 2 washrooms, and a common dining area with a luxurious, big kitchen. This type of concept was really interesting to me. While the dining area served as a place to bond over food or shows on television with roomies; the private bedrooms, with a small work table, ensured the peace and quiet required to prepare for assignments. In addition to that, the cooking area is a complete luxury (did I mention it before?).

If anyone asks me what do I miss the most from the dormitory, it would hands-down be the kitchen. For a person who cooks almost 3 meals a day, the kitchen was my best friend. If someone saw me in the kitchen a little while ago, chances of them finding me at the same spot again 2 hours later were pretty high. And what more does a cooking enthusiast need than a high-tech and hygienic kitchen? The cooking area is large and is amped with a straight state-of-the-art kitchen appliances and basic utensils. The refrigerator is spacious, that easily accommodates everyone’s commodities. It was my favorite place - the one place at dorm where I spent most of my time at.

Apart from that, the multi-purpose room on the first floor operated as a party spot where residents gathered to celebrate several occasions. This type of setting where we get to share space with people who we have never met before, certainly instills a sense of mutual understanding built on friendly foundation. Personally, living with students from all over the world, sharing common spaces with the ones with starkly different habits, spending time with those who had a distinct perspective of looking at things- made me respect the differences and similarities of culture, traditions and opinions a lot more. The best part was to realize that we are so different and yet so similar at the core.

It would be a lie to say that I never felt lonely, well I did miss my parents occasionally, but the bonds I built in my dorm made it exceptionally easier to go through those times. The friendships that I made here, I do not expect them to last forever; but one thing is for sure, that they have left an imprint on me and taught me something valuable, and for this I will forever be grateful

Here are some snaps of the beautiful times that I will cherish dearly…