Welcome to the Student Voice Series. The series interviews students in our English-medium programs. Once a month, the International Admissions Office releases 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
Sam from South Korea
Why did you choose Global Studies at RU?
I've always loved trying new things. I thought Ritsumeikan's Global Studies Major would be the perfect opportunity for me to meet new people and experience Japan. Plus, International Relations is a very interesting topic, and makes me eager to learn more and more.
Find out more about the Global Studies Major's 10th Anniversary
Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?
I was very concerned with the fact that I don't speak Japanese. Even though my classes would be conducted in English, I had a fear of the language barrier I would face in my everyday live.
All RU campuses are in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Shiga). How did this affect your choice to come to this area, out of all the other areas of Japan?
For me, the fact that all RU campuses are in Kansai was very appealing. Up until my first year, the only place I visited in Japan was Tokyo. As mentioned above, I thought it would be fun to experience Japan in a way that I've never tried.
About your studies...
Outline your course and studies. Give us an overview of your studies and course schedule from the 1st year to now.
1st year: It was mostly mandatory courses including Japanese, Academic Skills, Introductory Seminar and introductory courses for GS which are designed for 1st years. This is the time you learn your basic knowledge and build a foundation for your further academic achievements.
2nd year: This is when you start making important decisions. You can take Foundation courses, Core Courses, Area Studies courses, and General courses. Some of them could be more challenging, as it requires more work and thorough research. At this point, especially in the 2nd semester, it is essential to plan an appropriate schedule considering your course credits and think about what you want to endeavor in as preparation for the Advanced Seminar in the 3rd and 4th years.
Find out more about the Global Studies curriculum
Could you tell us what influenced you to choose this major?
I find topics such as International Relations and Political Diplomacy very interesting but difficult at the same time. So it naturally had me think it would keep me encouraged to learn if I majored in such an area.
Find out more at "What is International Relations?"
How are your relationships with your supervisor, classmates, and lab members?
Since there are a lot of people with various cultural backgrounds, it is always fascinating to listen to others.
About your life...
Do you do any other activities within or outside RU?
Not at the moment. But if possible, I would like to get a part-time job so I can improve my social skills in Japanese.
Introduce your favorite things or spots on campus.
Some of my favourite spots on KIC (the Kinugasa Campus) are the Hirai Kaichiro Library and Koshinkan, the home of the College of International Relations.
Have you lived in a university dorm? Tell us about your dorm life.
When I first came to Kyoto, I was assigned to International House Utano. Even though I was able to stay there for only 6 months due to COVID-19, I met a lot of good people and made some amazing memories.
Find out more about International Student Dormitories for Students at the Kinugasa Campus
University restaurant dish at the Kinugasa Campus
Did you have any difficulties when you started a new life here?
When I recently came back from my military service, all the administrative work including residence registration, insurance check, request for pension exemption, bank account check, and settling into a new house was a hardship for me.
To go into more detail, I left Kyoto in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and coming back to Kyoto after more than 2 years away was a challenge. I had too many things to do before the semester started, and I absolutely struggled for a few weeks. Since I had moved out from International House Utano, I had to find a new home in Kyoto, order appliances, and do all the administrative work, such as residence registration, insurance check, and bank account check all by myself. It was really difficult for me to complete all these tasks in Japanese. But with the help of my friends, I have successfully settled in Kyoto!
Could you tell us more about how your friends helped you?
I was very lucky to meet a new friend from one of my classes who speaks fluent Japanese. Even though he would've been busy with his first year first semester since he had just come to Ritsumeikan, he helped me a lot in terms of the language barrier and I was able to do things that I couldn't have done myself.
Thankfully, I was also able to make a lot of good friends during my dormitory life. These friends always motivate me to achieve academic success and give me positive energy in general. This time when I recently came back, they really helped me to adapt to Kyoto life just like when we were freshman and made me appreciate the people I have around me.
How have you managed your studies and military service ?
For most Korean male students, military service is one of the biggest assignments in their lives. I decided to start my military service after finishing two online semesters, as I felt that I needed a break. I considered this an opportunity to take a leave of absence for my military service and prepared the necessary paperwork for processing.
Anyways, what I want to recommend is, plan your leave of absence in advance, so it doesn't become a problem. And most importantly, during your military service, don't get hurt and try to use the time wisely so that you feel that the gap year has been an opportunity to improve yourself rather than a waste of time.
How were you able to maintain relationships with your university friends and classmates during your military service?
I was able to keep in touch with my friends, see how everyone is doing, and talk to them through Instagram.
Have your interests or motivation changed before and after military service?
Fortunately, I was given the great privilege to pursue my military service as a KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army) and was able to work with both U.S. and ROK officers and participate in a number of high-class training events and operations. As someone who majors in Global Studies and studies International Relations, I felt proud to be part of such an interaction between two countries. It encouraged me to think about how I should apply this experience when I further shape my academic path.
What is your career plan and goal/dream after graduating from RU?
I want to start my career in Japan. However, I know it requires a high level of Japanese language skills. Hence, I will try my best to improve my Japanese so that I can apply to many different companies.
Find out more about the Career Center
Message to Readers
Don't be afraid of coming to a new environment. Ease is a greater threat to your progress than hardship.
Message in Korean
일본어를 잘하신다면 더욱 편하겠지만 영어만 하신다고 해도 전혀 문제는 없습니다. 국제관계학에 관심이 있으시다면 도전해보시는 것을 추천드립니다.
