The International Dormitory: A significant factor in my decision to attend University in Tokyo

I decided to attend university in Tokyo, a city where people from many different walks of life come together, with hopes of broadening my future possibilities. I was attracted to Sophia University specifically because I had always been interested in English, and wanted to learn various things with English at the core of my studies.

Since junior high school, I have been focused on learning English. In high school, I participated in the John Nissel Cup, an English speech contest for high school students hosted by Sophia University. While I had no overseas experience, I was able to walk away as a prize winner, and the joy I experienced as a result is something I can still remember well. By participating in the John Nissel Cup and attending Sophia’s open campus at the Osaka Satellite Campus, my desire to study at Sophia University grew stronger.

One of my concerns about attending a private university in Tokyo was the financial aspect. When I was in high school, my friend and I estimated the cost of attending a private university in Tokyo and we were taken by surprise at how much we found it would cost each month.

However, I could not shake my desire to go on to Sophia University where I could study my interests, and therefore, Soshigaya International House, where I could meet international students, speak in English, and save on living costs, became very attractive. My family, who was initially worried about me living in Tokyo, was also relieved to be sending me to an international dormitory where other Sophia students would be living as well.

Once I had begun to live in Tokyo, I realized once again that this city has it all. Even using my favorite art of ballet as an example, there are many different performances, large and small, every day at some place or another. While Sophia does not have its own ballet club, there are many ballet clubs run jointly with other universities that Sophia students can participate in; while I continue to practice ballet, I can also expand my circle of friends who share my interests. This is possible only in Tokyo, where so many different types of people come to live. In Tokyo, there are also many restaurants to enjoy cuisines from all over the world. I’ve found Tokyo’s main attraction to be that it allows me to enjoy the things that I can not easily experience in my hometown.

Everyday Life at the International Dormitory: Experiencing the World in Real Time

Although I was looking forward to living in the international dormitory, I was at first worried about the language aspect. I had no experience living abroad and was not confident in the English ability I had gained in junior and high school. Nevertheless, I was the one who chose Sophia to study English, and I wanted to take full advantage of the international dormitory environment, so I decided I would try talking to as many different dorm residents as possible.

I have always been a shy person, and have never been good at opening up to new people. However, at my dormitory, it is normal to say “hi!” to those in passing; this friendly culture changed me before I knew it. I never thought I could chat with people I didn’t know and even enjoy my conversations with them, but the environment here has changed me so much. My dormitory friends, with whom I spend mornings and evenings, are now like family to me.

The students living at the international dormitory come from all over the world, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ukraine, England, and France, and are all of different ages. It is truly an international atmosphere, akin to studying abroad. Here, you really can say it’s a “small world.”

Here, I can experience all kinds of different cultures as part of my daily life. For example, I once saw a pot left unwatched on the stove in the shared kitchen that was starting to worry me. However, the unwatched pot belonged to a fellow dorm resident from Bangladesh, who told me it was “a traditional dish of my country that is eaten for all-day energy” and kindly shared the dish with me. If it were me and I saw a pot left on the stove, I would have panicked and rushed to turn it off, but that resident did not feel the same way. I think this is truly the best part of living in the international dormitory – even small things can show you the subtle differences in cultures and introduce you to previously undiscovered ones.

Embarking on Study Abroad to Know an Even Wider World

While the Department of English Studies provides ample opportunity to study global social issues, the international dormitory also provides a setting for residents to discuss these issues freely and casually with other dorm residents. Hearing opinions from viewpoints different from my own has allowed me to deepen my own learning of such issues.

For my second and third foreign languages, I am taking French and Indonesian, respectively. During dormitory meals and down times in the lounge, I often hear other residents speaking their native languages, and I greatly enjoy chatting with them to improve my conversational skills – those residents are also generous in helping me study before a language test!

Before living at the International Dormitory, I may have held preconceived notions that “Americans are like this,” “Indians are like that,” and “Germans are like that.” However, after actually living in a diverse environment, the most important thing one can do is to make an effort to know and understand others as they are, without being bound by preconceptions about a particular country. For me, this was a huge realization and a milestone of personal growth gained through living at the Soshigaya International dormitory.

As I started to meet people with different goals and passions for the future, I began to wonder what I too could achieve in time; I now feel ready to challenge myself through many different endeavors. I

In addition to studying French and Indonesian, I am still practicing my favorite language, English, specifically speech practice as part of the English-Speaking Society (ESS) circle. I have also decided to take a teaching course. I also plan to try to study abroad in hopes of broadening my horizons and seeing an even bigger world. I hope to cherish these feelings that first blossomed through dormitory life and carry them forward through all my experiences.

*Please note that the content of this article is current as of July 2023.