【August 2/4】Thoughts about International Students Cafe

Eunji: Hello! I am Eunji from Korea! Let’s do an easy self-introduction!

Ana: I am Carolina from Brazil. Anyway, you can call me Ana! Right now, I am in the first year of the Law Faculty, in the EMP program.

Eunji: thank you very much, and nice to meet you!

Ana: Nice to meet you!

Eunji: Before starting and to break the ice, what are the foods that you like the most?

Ana: I really do like the Brazilian Stroganoff and the Feijoada!

Eunji: Stroganoff? Feijoada? What is it?

Ana: It’s a bit complicated to explain, but Stroganoff is a dish made with chicken, milk and potatoes.

Eunji: I see! I have just googled it and it seems really delicious! I would like to try it out!

Ana: Yeah, you should!

Eunji: Thank you very much! Well, from now on, I would like to ask you something about the International Student Café. In what department are you in?

Ana: Currently I am in the Kifes department. Since I am an EMP student, I could attend last year’s festival, and I was impressed by the Kifes exhibition, so I decided to apply for it. Moreover, I knew already Kifes, the Japanese Staff (NIchiStaff) Department and Event department, and I remember that compared to Kifes, Nichista department seemed busier, so I decided for the Kifes: I do not like too much to be really busy (ahahah).

Eunji: Oh, I see! Yeah, Nichista seems definitely busy! (ahahah). Well then, and what kind of activities do you do in Kifes?

Ana: Kifes is about dance! We choose the music, and we try to make a dance that can have a meaning according to the music. So, as a team, you can encourage people through the dance, making new friends and enjoy! Within the Kifes, there are three departments: dance, costume and background departments.

Eunji: There is even a department in charge of the background!

Ana: Exactly! And it is really special!

Eunji: Does it have something to do with creating a background for Zoom?

Ana: Not exactly. Actually, we are creating a background for a face-to-face event! The reason is that we still don’t know whether it will be held online or in-person, but in this last case we would need the background to use, so we are making it.

Eunji: Ohh, wow! Can’t wait to see it! Then, I would like to ask you another question. What made you decide to apply for the International Student Café?

Ana: The reason is that right now I am still in Brazil. When I thought about getting involved in Soka University life last year during the Covid-19, it was thanks to the Soka University festival and the International Student Café activities. Soudaisai was an amazing experience last year as I was able to make many friends, even though I am not in Japan. I think that due to the Corona outbreak, it is really hard to make friends and join the classes. So, I applied for the International Student Café because I wanted to build friendships in the current situation where I cannot come to Japan yet.

Eunji: Thank you very much. I see… I think it’s really hard to make new friends through Zoom. I believe that the International Student Café is the best place to build friendships for those students who couldn’t come to Japan.

Well, the next question is: “it must be hard not being in Japan, so how are you overcoming this difficulty?”

Ana: Well, the toughest thing is the time-zone. Here in Brazil the classes start from 21 p.m. until 1 a.m. Anyway, since it has been my decision, I have also decided to face this difficulty. Also, I have friends here in Brazil who are living the same situation; so, we share our feelings in order to encourage each other! Therefore I know I am not alone. I also feel like I have to support my friends too, and since nobody is alone, I think we can overcome this hardship together.

Eunji: Wow, your words really moved me… I also really do believe that no one is alone, and that we can win against this difficulty encouraging each other. Let’s meet in Japan soon!

Well, now the last question. Can you please share your future determination?

Ana: Well, my determination is to keep being motivated. Sometimes, it happens that my motivation goes down, and thus I am not able to encourage people around me, and that I will not be able to give a good contribution to the Soka University Festival and to the International Student Café. I want to support people around me making them happy, and I want to contribute to make them have fun, so I want to keep my motivation high and do my best.

Eunji: Wow, you moved me again! You have a really beautiful heart… I want you to come to Japan soon!

Ana: I want to go there soon! I want to meet you there!

Eunji: Me too! Once the Corona has ended and you came here, let’s definitely meet up! Then, I really want to thank you for today’s interview! I did enjoy it!

Ana: I really enjoyed it too!

Eunji: Thank you very much!