Student Voice:[CRPS] Impacting Indonesia through Sustainable Urban Management

Welcome to the Student Voice Series. The series interviews students at our English-medium programs. Once a month, the International Admission Office will release an interview with our students. We hope these interviews can be helpful to you when thinking about choosing to come to Ritsumeikan University. 

Post by International Admissions Office

Miranda from Indonesia

 

I have always had an interest in studying abroad after high school, which led me to look at university options outside of Indonesia since I was in tenth grade. I started considering Ritsumeikan University and the CRPS major during my time in the eleventh grade because I found that the CRPS major offered by Ritsumeikan University is unique. Ritsumeikan University also provides a lot of scholarships and financial aid options for the students, which was a plus point. It also has a multi-disciplinary approach and covers a wide range of subjects so that I can develop my interest from a wide range of perspectives. Furthermore, I like the idea of studying in an international community, being immersed in so many differences in a diverse community.

Through CRPS, I get to learn more about my interest in sustainable urban policies. I also discovered my interest in other topics like information and communication technology. CRPS’s multidisciplinary approach gives you a space to develop your interests further while also learning new things, a characteristic that I very much appreciate. I think it would not have happened if the degree program is more restrictive.

 

 

 

Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?

 

My move to Japan in September 2017 marks the first time I lived outside my hometown and away from my family and friends for an extensive period. Like many other first-time international students, my family and I had so many questions and concerns about living in Japan. One of the things that I was most concerned with was the language because I did not speak a word of Japanese when I arrived in Japan. I was also concerned with managing my time and whether I can live on my own after living with my family all my life.

Luckily, the Ritsumeikan University admissions advisor in Indonesia gave my contact to another Indonesian student, before my move to Japan. He also introduced me to other Indonesian students who became dear friends to me—having people from home helped with adjusting to my new life in Japan. Other than that, living alone has definitely “forced” me to be more disciplined with how to manage my time. It was challenging at first, but over time, it became a new habit for me. Honestly, I am proud of the progress that I have gone through and the changes that I experienced since I live alone in Japan. I learned that living alone in another country gives you a chance to learn more about yourself in a way that I have never experienced before. With time, I realized that if I want to learn and adapt, any challenges became more natural to overcome.

 

 

What do you like to do at your spare time?

 

Since my third year, I am also enrolled in a seminar. Each year, CRPS offers four to five seminars led by faculty members from a diverse educational background. There, 3rd and 4th-year students can choose from and learn further about topics that they are interested in. My seminar peers and I focus on the impact of technology on everyday lives and possibilities of technology transfer. In my current research project, I am trying to find out the effect of the overflow of information during the COVID-19 pandemic on the citizen’s perceptions of the government communication process. In pursuing that topic, I had to learn new things such as crisis communication theories and how quickly information spreads on social media platforms. It is still in its earliest stages, but I am excited about the possibility of discovering more about this topic.

What is your career plan after graduate RU?

What have you presented at the PS Academic Festa?

I had the opportunity to present my research proposal in the 2017 PS Academic Festa. At that time, I was a freshman who wanted to enroll in the field research project in Bangkok, Thailand. I had created a proposal to study the impact of gentrification on a cultural community in Bangkok, so I presented that in the 2017 PS Academic Festa. My professor selected my project as a representative from my batch and worked closely with me as I revised my presentation.

As a freshman, it was my first time presenting in front of a mainly Japanese audience, so I was very nervous. However, I remembered having my friends and peers there supporting me, and they cheered the loudest when I finished presenting. My proposal helped me gain a place in the field research project to Bangkok the following summer. Sadly, I could not pursue my proposal because of several underlying reasons. Still, the opportunity to present my proposal in the PS Academic Festa was memorable enough to remember that proposal by.  

How are the relationship with your supervisor and classmates? 

CRPS is an international program, so we have students and faculty members from different ethnicities, countries, and regions around the world. It is fun to make new friends from different cultures, and I especially like it when I get to introduce some of my Indonesian cultures to them. I have had nights where I cooked some Indonesian home-cooked food for my friends, and seeing them enjoying it was special. Not only that, I like how in CRPS, we highly respect differences and diversities amongst us. In my experience thus far, any questions and comments to the differences amongst us were mainly out of curiosity and in no way is trying to belittle a particular ethnicity nor culture. It gives us an excellent opportunity to learn in such a diverse community.

CRPS has small classes, so interacting with faculty members is easy most of the time. They also welcome any question and will try their best to answer them. My seminar peers and supervisors also have a great and professional relationship. I appreciate how we give each other constructive feedback and comments that will help in pursuing our research. My supervisor often pays attention to the details that I have missed during my progress reports. Hence, his comments and feedback tremendously helped me in continuing my research.

 

Tell us about how you find the accommodation and how your general life in Japan is.

I have never lived in the university dorm because it was not built yet during my enrollment year. The university helped me find my first apartment in Japan, which I stayed in for the first six months since my arrival in Japan. After that, my senior helped me find a new apartment within walking distance from the university. At that time, my Japanese level was not sufficient to go and find apartments without anyone’s help, so the process was quite challenging. Some of my preferred apartments also was not available for non-Japanese tenants, which apparently is common in Japan. Eventually my senior and I found my current apartment which is suitable to my preferences. I guess the stars were aligned because after quite a challenging process, I managed to move into an apartment that I really liked.

Life in Japan is an exciting learning process. Like many other things, I have had tremendous days and challenging ones. Nevertheless, I liked the challenge of that living alone in Japan has brought me up more. It has also given me new friends, some of them so dear to me that I consider them my second family.     

Do you do a part-time job or any other activities within RU or outside RU?

I am currently a student library staff on the OIC campus. Previously, I have also worked as an Educational Supporter (ES); it is like a teaching assistant position. Other than that, I am currently a committee member of the Indonesian Student Association in Japan—Osaka-Nara chapter, a position that I have held since November 2019. I am also member of the International Student Ambassador here in Ritsumeikan University.   

Message in English/Bahasa Indonesia

Living in Japan as an international student gives you a chance to discover more; more about yourself and more about the world around you. It's an exciting ride, so come and join us! 

Jangan takut untuk mencoba belajar di luar negeri. Pelan-pelan dan sedikit demi sedikit keluar dari zona nyaman itu menyenangkan sekali!