Voices of International Students
NG RAY SHAN
College of Psychology, School of Human Sciences
From Singapore
What do you enjoy about Tsukuba (University of Tsukuba and Tsukuba City)?
Running along the rows of trees along Ichinoya at dusk is possibly one of the greatest feeling known to mankind. That, or cycling through seas of paddy fields flowing with the breeze. What's more, the school is unironically built in a forest, so the vibe is immaculate.
Now, you may or may not hear people say that there is nothing to do in Tsukuba. Do not listen to these people. They are lying. Tsukuba is full of wonders if you take the time to wander. Food is bussing, with portion sizes larger than your face. There's 宝篋山(Houkyou-san), which people often turn a blind eye to as these people are busy admiring the more well-endowed brother Tsukuba-san. Not to mention, there's also the Hoshino Coffee in Kenkyugakuen, which unlike other branches features a panoramic view of glowing green grass (before the harvest, that is). It's no Disneyland, but chilling around in Tsukuba with the people I love is where it's at.
What do you want to accomplish as a student of the University of Tsukuba during your study period?
Getting big and being free. Hitting the gym has been so important for me ever since leaving my home country Singapore. Beyond keeping my thoughts and feelings in check, I've come to realise that training is something that I can and will like to take with me wherever I might go. My favourite exercises are lateral raises and big bicep curls. It's crazy because though I have days where I feel down, I have learned that doing the lat raises also raises my spirits. In that very same way, in Tsukuba University, I look forward to learning what works for me, to become the best (biggest) version of myself that others can rely on.
Besides my renewed enthusiasm for the gym, I've also tried to challenge myself with new activities including mountain climbing. Hiking is something that didn't hold much significance to me back in Singapore, where the land is flat and the view's not particularly breathtaking. But by joining the hiking club, making lifelong friends, challenging ourselves physically and mentally, I have found my horizons broadening with every trip to brave the mountains. At this point, I could use the cliche about life's ups and downs, but sometimes the hardest things in life run their course on flat ground. That's why I've decided that I want to try running the Tsukuba marathon during my time here. Just for the lols.
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SRINITHI ASHOK KRISHNASWAMY
From India
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SACHI JOCHI
From Japan/India
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PING HUAN WANG
From Taiwan
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NGHI NGUYEN BAO
From Vietnam
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GUANGQI AN
From China
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HELIO NONOSE
From Brazil
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TAO LENG
From China
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INSYIRAH
From Malaysia
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ARAMAKI, CAUE SINGO
From Brazil
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SUHARMAN
From Indonesia
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NG RAY SHAN
From Singapore
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DU XIN
From China
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YINA SHIN
From Korea
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JOOEUN YOON
From Korea
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REN YIHAN
From China
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MENG LIYUAN
From China
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WU BOQIAN
From China
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YU, CHENG-HAN
From Taiwan
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PARK KIWON
From Republic of Korea
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CHEN MIN
From China
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CHAEYEON LEE
From Republic of Korea
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ELIZABETH BERGEN-BARTEL
From USA
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LIAO, HSIN-YEN
From Taiwan
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PAKORN WANGSUEKUL
From Thailand
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NGUYEN THUY ANH
From Vietnam
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LAN CHI
From Vietnam
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NADIA HASNA KARIMAH
From Indonesia
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HNIN OO
From Myanmar
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KAWTAR
From Morocco
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NA
From China
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AFSARI
From Bangladesh
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REZA
From Indonesia
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YOLANDA GRAÇA
From Angola
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ADOM
From Ghana
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SUDHIR
From India
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MIKI
From Mongolia/Japan
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AISANA
From Kazakhstan
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VITHOR SILVA
From Brazil
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CHINMAY
From India
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JEE
From Thailand
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ISLA
From Taiwan
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MIVE
From Turkmenistan
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LAURA
From Argentina
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SERGIO
From Colombia
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LENNY
From India
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ZHANAR
From Kazakhstan
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PENG
From Malaysia
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RAVI
From Nepal
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SUNITA
From Nepal
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ATOM
From Thailand