【August 4/4】Thoughts about International Students Cafe

Minju: Hello! Thank you so much for the interview today! I'm going to start the interview now! First of all, please introduce yourself to the people who see this Thubasa!

Hee: Yes, hello! I'm Park Sunwoo from Korea. My nickname is Hee. Please call me Hee!

I am currently a freshman in the Department of Humanities in the Faculty of Literature and belong to the event department.

Minju: Oh, I see! I have a question. Can you tell us why you decided to your nickname is "Hee"?

Hee: Yes. Park sunwoo is my name and and the meaning of the “sun” in the middle is “sun”, so I chose "Hee" in Japanese!

Minju: Oh! Is that your idea?

Hee: No, actually my aunt can speak Japanese, so she turned it on!

Minju: Wow, that's amazing!

Hee: Thank you! (laughs)

Minju: (laughs) You told me earlier that you belong to the event department, please explain briefly about the event department!

Hee: I don't know the details because it's not yet before we start our full-scale activities, but what I feel so far is that Japanese and foreign students can enjoy it and make memories directly through music.

Minju: Wow! That's perfect!!

Now let's start with the first question in the interview. What made you decide to participate in this year's International Students Cafe?

Hee: I've asked my seniors about International Students Cafe, and I usually like to make things together, such as talking to other people and planning something, so I wanted to participate even before the application for International Students Cafe started. And I think they're all good departments, but I chose departments that are especially active and able to participate actively.

Minju: Oh, especially the part you were going to participate in before you applied is amazing!(laughs) Now, let's move on to the next question!You are in Japan now, but there are still foreign students who cannot come to Japan, and there is a possibility that this year's Soudaisai will be held in a hybrid form. What kind of place would you like to put your effort into in this situation?

Hee: For now, as a result of taking lessons online last year, I had a really hard time not in the process, but in psychological anxiety, so I would like to take care of my juniors of the Bekka, and I am also supporting them in Sinabro(Korean Student Association) this year. Also, it is still difficult for my classmate to use Japanese, so I would like to work together to improve our Japanese ability!

Minju: Oh, it's really amazing that you're thinking about your juniors and peers and putting them into action!

By the way, are other students taking classes online?

Hee: Yes, I don't think many of the other students are in Japan right now. That's why I'm worried.

Minju: Yeah, I know. It's hard to learn Japanese for the first time, but if they're online, they have to study harder. Hee, did you take classes online from the beginning when you were in the Bekka?

Hee: Yes, that's right. I took face-to-face lessons just for 2-3 weeks in November, but after that, it became an emergency declaration and became an online lesson again. It was a three-week dream.

Minju: Ah... If the classes were face-to-face, you can experience more things such as going to Soka High School or something, but it's too hard because of Corona.

Hee: Exactly.

Minju: I hope we can all meet in Japan soon! Here's the last question! What are your resolutions and expectations as a International Students Cafe staff this year?

Hee: First of all, I would like to plan my determination as an event department so that foreign students and Japanese students can overcome the difficult situation together through music and events in the event department. At the same time, what I look forward to the most is that I am working hard to prepare for the festival, but I think I will be very happy and energized to hear from many participants such as "This event was really good”. I must be Mutual Cooperation Relationship?! (laughs)

Minju: Oh, that's amazing!!(laughs) It's true that it's heartwarming and rewarding if the participants say it's good.

Lastly, please give a word of encouragement to Soka university students who can't come to Japan now.

Hee: All my friends who haven't come to Japan yet, especially those in Bekka. It's August now, so you're probably doing your vacation homework, but if you get pushed back, you have to do your homework all day, so don't get pushed back! And If you do what the teachers tell you to do, you'll do well. So let's all cheer up and meet in Japan! Adios-!!(laughs)

Minju: Oh, that's great! I'm looking forward to the day when the current situation will ease soon and we can meet everyone!

That's all for today's interview! Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule!!

Hee: Thank you very much!