When I was a kid, I used to
read Japanese manga. I really loved it, especially Miko, maybe most of you
aware of this manga telling about a miserable yet joyful life of a reckless
young teenage japan girl called Miko. Believe me, because of those days of reading
manga all the time, I even tried to drew manga my self. You know how it looked
like? It was more like a hay man. So, later I learned that it was not my thing,
and I decided to stop trying doodling manga like a fool. But, it somehow
dragged me to think how wonderful Japan is. In addition to that, the junior and
senior high school I went to had this Japanese language course which enforce me
to study Japanese characters, cultures, and basic language. Later I learned all
of that is so beautiful. It was held by my heart that someday I would go to
Japan and enjoy all of Sakura’s amazing magnificence.
But as a I grew up, the image
of Japan and the hope of stepping my foot on maple leaves in autumn slowly
scattered. Well, I became reasonable actually, since there were still a lot of
things I should prioritized more.
It suddenly came to my life
that I might stand a chance. On the second quarter of my college, there was
this student-exchange offer from my faculty. My faculty is engineering science,
and they somehow cooperate with an institution that accommodates and enhances
eligible and potential student among Asia to visit and study in Japan, in order
of student exchange. This institution called Sakura Science Program.
Before
I proceed, let me tell you briefly about this Sakura Science Program.
So, in my acknowledgement, japan
scientists gathered up to create an institution called JSIT and CFAI, they
generate a student exchange program called Japan – Asia Youth Exchange Program
in Science, or more known as Sakura Science Program. This program is basically
different from other student exchange, or from the meaning of student exchange
itself, where as far as you might know student exchange is where two countries
exchanging students in order to learn about science or cultures, etc. Sakura
Science Program enhances and giving chances to students in Asia, like Thailand,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Korean, Indonesia, etc, so they can come to Japan
fully accommodated in order to learn about Japan’s technologies, sciences,
innovation, development, and cultures so they can utilize it as a contribution
to develop their regional countries when they get back there.
Pretty
amazing, huh?
The course of this program ranges, and the
offer that came was an exchange to Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan for 8
days. All backed up and accommodated.
I
am the type of person who dislikes ambitious competition like this, I’d rather
not trying instead competing with my other people. I just despise the feeling,
really. When I first heard the news, I said to my friend that I was not
interested even they advised me to give it a try. Until finally, my lecturer
elaborated the prerequisites before joining this program including GPA minimal
at 3.00, organization experience, and TOEFL score minimal at 500.
It all fitted in me. Well, I must say that I was a little bit intrigued. To be
frank, who were not? You would get a full accommodation included money,
tickets, hotel, and transportation. Not just that, you could enjoy Japan – one
of the most developed and powerful country in the world, all free!
Other than above
prerequisites, we also had to write a full and original essay about Japan and
why you should be chosen in this program, or you can call it cover
letter. This two were a determining factor on whether you get in or not.
I did not realize how it
happened but what I remember was that I straightly wrote on an essay, for which
this had to be completed if you wanted to join. I was writing about Japan and
its technologies in science and their innovation, and also cultures. Of course,
before I wrote I did my research. A brief research, actually. However, I wrote
it truly from my heart, since i
I did not put an enormous
hope, I thought it might necessary for me if I ever learned how it feels like
to be joining competition or anything like this. Moreover, there were a lot of
my friends that were joining this competition to, and speaking frankly, it did
not bluff me at all, since I was not ambitious on this.
The
next thing happened was I submitted it.
Days by days passed, turned into weeks. I even
forgot that I had submitted my portfolio for this student exchange program.
Until finally one night I was in my grand mother’s room and I realized I left
my phone in my room. When I took it, a lot of messages bumping in. I opened
them one by one, and my eyes glanced at those messages from my friends saying I
got accepted in Sakura Science Program and they were all congratulating me. I
still remember how my heart skipped a beat as I felt a glimpse of happiness
running all over my body.
So,
the dream of enjoying Japan that I had been having for like years since I was a
kid, was finally coming true.
P.S : If you are interested
in joining this program, you should kindly check this out = http://ssp.jst.go.jp/EN/
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