Thank you Takayama International Education Foundation

At the end of 2013, it is a time for 過去を振り返る kako wo furikaeru reminiscing. 

And here, I reminisced of the helping hand that pulled me up when I was at the deepest trouble.

Source: http://takayama-foundation.or.jp

I would like to say thank you and dedicate the 2014 new year message to the 高山国際教育財団 Takayama kokusai kyouiku zaidan Takayama International Education Foundation or briefly known as TIEF.

Thank you for helping and supporting me.

What's more, this website is also made possible by TIEF.

Without TIEF, I would not have made this website.

Money Problem In Japan

I went to study in Tokyo in Oct 2009.

勇敢な私 yuukan na watashi Courageous me (some say silly me) went there with all the money that I spent 5 years saving.

The money I had wasn't much given the high expenses that the city demands.

Tuition fees, food, accommodation, and transportation took a big chunk of my money away.

As a new student in Japan, I had no qualification and the proper documents to apply for a part time job.

So, there was no income.

After 6 months, my money almost dried up.

If it went on like that, I would had to give up studying in Japan. 

Whatever leftover money I had would be used to buy myself a plane ticket home.

It would have felt like a 大失敗 daishippai complete failure.

Glimmer of Hope

Glimmer of hope

Coincidentally, right at the time of need, came a glimmer of hope.

TIEF is offering scholarships to Asian students.

That was the only hope I had.

With my lousy Japanese at that time, I tried very hard to complete a composition to tell why I needed that scholarship.

I wrote and rewrote. Threw it away. Wrote and rewrote. 

Over and over again.

To make it perfect.

Second glimmer of hope came when I passed the first round and qualified for the second round - the interview.

Gosh, even an interview in English would made my heart pound out of my chest, what's more in Japanese.

Again, I cracked my head to figure out what they would ask me.

Wrote the answers. Threw it away. Wrote and rewrote.

Memorize. Threw it away. Memorize and re-memorize.

Sure as it was. Interview almost took my heart out of my chest.

I somehow survived the interview.

A week later, the results were out....

It was the best news I heard. Music to the ear. Hot fire in the cold winter.

The happiest moment in my life. TIEF gave me a 奨学金 shougakukin scholarship.

How It Changed My Life

Sunflower blossoming on a sunny day

It was like water during drought when I got the scholarship.

Like sunflower blossoming on a sunny day.

With the financial assistance, I completed my studies and return home feeling proud and happy with myself.

I joined a multinational Japanese company.

With my new skill, I used my Japanese language skill to link between the local people and the Japanese people in the company. In Japanese, it is called 架け橋 kakehashi a bridge.

Next year, I will join an American multinational company, and my Japanese language skill will be an asset when dealing with Japanese counterparts.

I hope to improve my Japanese language skill further and play a bigger role in the future.

It was not just money.....

Besides monetary support, TIEF provided me an opportunity to learn about not just the Japanese culture but also Asian culture from other countries.

During each 例会 reikai regular meeting, we would learn something new about Japanese/Asian culture.

Students of different country and cultural background share their experience and knowledge in one common language - Japanese. 

Magical, isn't it?

Thank you note

There are really so much to talk about how TIEF had made a difference in my life.

To keep it short, I end it here. If you wish to know more, put it in the comment.

ありがとうございました　＆　明けましておめでとうございます

arigatou gozaimashita & akemashite omedetou gozaimasu

Thank you TIEF & Happy New Year 2014.