【June 4/4】Listen to SUJ student about FSA events (PhD Student Edition)

Minju: Hello! Thank you so much for accepting the interview despite your busy schedule!

Luiz: Oh, yes! Don't worry! Thank you very much!

M: First of all, people who will be reading this interview want to know more about you, Luiz, so please introduce yourself!

L: Okay! So, my name is Luiz Mormille, but please call me Luiz. I'm from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and I lived there all my life before coming to Japan. Now, I'm currently a third year PhD student in the faculty of science and engineering. My research is in the build-up an artificial intelligence or mostly known as AI. My hobbies are traveling and playing the trombone. I like to eat almost everything, my favorite food is lasagna and what I dislike the most is cinnamon.

M:Oh- cinnamon!! Isn't there cinnamon in Churros?

L: Yes, I can't eat anything with cinnamon. Cinnamon goes into snacks, coffee, or other places, but I can't eat it.

M: Oh, really? Also, you said you enjoy traveling and playing the trombone?

L: Oh, yes! Traveling and playing the trombone are my hobbies!

M: Is there any country or place you have been so far that you particularly remember?

L: Let me see… I would say that the first trip that had the biggest impact on me was to Japan before becoming a student. However, since I'm in Japan already, maybe that's a boring answer. So, I think that the trip I liked the most was when I went to England. Especially when I was in Manchester, I had a chance to go sightseeing the surroundings. I also could watch a Manchester United football match, since I'm a big football fan. That was a moment that I really enjoyed. Anyway, I like traveling a lot because I like to meet new people, learn new cultures and eat local food.

M: Wow! That's awesome!

L:Then, I learned trombone because I joined a band in Brazil called Ongakutai, and I'm starting to practice the trombone again after coming to Japan. I think I should not talk about that in this question, but I kept playing the trombone because of the FSA events!

M: Oh, that's amazing!! It's a different instrument, but do you know the mellophone?

L:Oh, yes! I know!!

M: I've played mellophone in Korea before, and a friend who I met at that time was a trombone player, and when I heard that it was trombone, I felt like, "Oh, that sounds great!”

L: Oh, were you a Korean Kotekitai? (Drum and fife band)

M:Yes, I was! (Laughs)

Well then, can I start with the interview?

L: Sure! Let's go!

M: Nice! There have been about two FSA events so far. Which one did you enjoy the most and why?

L: Until now, there have been the friendship festival and the sports festival, right? I think the sports festival has been the funniest for me! Of course, also the friendship festival was really fun and I spent a good time together with others. But in the sports festival we had a group for a whole week where we could send messages and interact with each other a lot. This is the reason why I really liked the sports festival. Especially after 2 years of Coronavirus, when we had a few chances to interact with people. Even though it lasted just one week, it was a good experience for me.

M: Oh, did you feel better through this sports festival?

L :Sure!!

That was challenging to the point that we could not do it individually, and so we had to rely on each other in order to achieve it.

That's why I felt much better!

And, more than the exercise, the important thing was the awareness of the importance of doing exercise.

M: I'm sure about it! I'm really glad that we were able to do exercises that normally I am not used to doing!

Let's move on to the second question: is there anything you think you have learned from the events of the Foreign Student Association?

L: Does this include all previous FSA events or only the two events this year?

M: This year's FSA event!

L:Oh, yes! I think that one important thing that I’ve learned is becoming aware of the importance of taking care of my health during a moment like the one we are going through. We can do a lot of exercise but we may not eat healthily sometimes. So I think It's important to be careful with that. In my opinion, the most important thing about the FSA events is that we have a chance to get together with people from different backgrounds, and thanks to that I always learn something from others, even though sometimes we may disagree with something. Through these events, moreover, I could also get to know many people that I would have been harder to know - I'm a PhD student, and sometimes because I have to study a lot, I do not have the chance to meet many other people.

Lastly, I think I could also learn more about the spirit of the Soka University and of its founder, Daisaku Ikeda, through the events.

M: The reason why we do our best in organizing these events is the desire to connect all the foreign students, so I'm really happy that you have shared this thought with me!

L:Thank you!

M: Now, let's move on to the third and last question! From now on, there are still many events about to come, such as ICAF, General Assembly Meeting or Forever Party. What event are you most interested in?

L: Well, I always participate in the ICAF and Forever Party!

This year, I couldn't do it in the ICAF because I didn't have much time, even though initially I was planning to do that. Anyway, I would like to actively participate in the Forever Party!

During my experience here, I think that it was in Forever Party and ICAF that I had a chance to keep playing the trombone.

I brought my trombone from Brazil, but I didn’t know if I could play it. And I didn't know where to play it! But then I got that opportunity participating in ICAF and Forever Party.

Also, thanks to these two events, I performed with two friends of mine, who now have become my best friends!

So ICAF and Forever Party...It's really hard: love both!

M: Then, I can’t wait to see your exhibition for the Forever Party!

L: Count on it!

M: That’s all from the interview. Thank you very much for your time Luiz!

L: Oh, thank you so much for giving me this chance!

Through the interview, you made me remember many beautiful memories. I’m really happy!

Thank you! Bye!

M: I'm sure that SUJ students and juniors who are about to enter Soka university will be definitely encouraged by your interview!

Bye bye!