Exchange Student Program The Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement
with 96 universities in the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into this agreement with the Soka University in 1988, and De La Sale in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are dispatched.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in
Asia, many Soka University students came here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is launched in Kalayan
College where Dr. Abueva, a friend of President Ikeda, serves as principal.
File 028: December 2008
Michiyo Kaneko (De La Salle University)
Hi, my name is Michiyo Kaneko from Soka University, Japan.
I'm on my junior year under the business administration department.
I have studied at De La Salle University in Manila as an exchange student since May 2008.
What brought me to the Philippines
As When I attended the entrance ceremony in Soka University, Ikeda-Sensei encouraged us to study foreign language. Actually, I've been wanting to study abroad since I was in high school. It had all been a dream till that moment and after hearing such words of Sensei, I've decided to make that dream a reality.
Also, fortunately enough for me, I was able to join the Intensive English
Training Program at the University of the Philippines (U.P) when I was
in my freshman year. This experience had a great impact on me. Because
no sooner had I arrived at the airport in the Philippines, that the distinctive
humidity and strong sunlight wrapped my whole body – given that I traveled
during the dead of winter in Japan.
I was totally surprised at Philippines because everything I saw had a huge
impact on me such as people selling food in the streets, colorful jeepneys
running here and there – all of which is of course, characteristic of the
Philippines, but were all new to me then. Without knowing it, I naturally
came to like the Philippines.
And the most I love about the Philippines is her hospitable people. I had
many opportunities to know the personality of many local people. For instance,
we had a cultural exchange with the students of University of Manila. My
partner even cried when we had to part ways. It was indeed an unforgettable
memory which made me realize that even with a fleeting time or moment;
one can make a true friend.
Moreover, I was also able to observe that students in the Philippines had
their dream and desire to study. This prompted me to desperately want to
apply for an exchange student program slot in Soka University and I chose
De La Salle University in the Philippines.
Life in the Philippines
with my friends
with my Japanese friends
Now I've been here for about six months and somehow coped up and got used to things. However, in the beginning I was nervous whenever the classes have started and was always anxious of whether I could make friends and catch up with class discussions. I found it hard to adapt myself in my new environment for the first three months despite that the students especially those who were taking Japanese major were kind and welcomed me. I also felt lonely when I was alone. Filipinos speak Tagalog when they talk among themselves and I could not understand them at all. In addition, and as a matter of course, classes are taught in English and my classmates are so active in class while I could not participate as much as I wanted to that I felt isolated from the class. I sometimes couldn’t make myself understood and it pained me.
There was even a time when I almost cried out of frustration in one of
my business classes. This was because there were quizzes in class and the
result would affect our final grade. I got a poor result that I've never
got in Soka University on the first quiz. From that time on, I had to make
up for my poor score; because if not, I'd fail my class. I studied harder
than before and I was able to get a high score in the second and succeeding
quizzes. I passed the class altogether in the end.
Whenever I face difficulties, Ikeda-Sensei's guidance always inspires me
to move on ahead. Although I chanted daimoku every day, my daimoku became
a mere habit like brushing my teeth with no concentration and strong belief.
I reconsidered about this attitude of mine, and then came across Ikeda-Sensei's
guidance that goes, "No matter what deadlock we may find ourselves
in, as long as we center ourselves on daimoku, we will definitely overcome
any hardship in life. Remember that our current sufferings are a source
of growth and development", and "sitting upright, reciting and
chanting sonorously". I then chanted earnestly and came to the conclusion
that there are no walls that I cannot overcome with the Gohonzon and Ikeda-Sensei.
The more I spend time here in the Philippines, the more I really feel that
Filipinos are friendly, warm-hearted and cheerful. If I talk to my classmates,
they willingly answer my questions and help me out as best they can. They
call out to me "Hi, Michiyo!" every time we meet in school with
smiling faces even though we have but talked a few times before. The English
class that I took in the first semester was for freshmen. Initially, I
could not feel at ease because they are loud and they remind me of my elementary
days. I didn't think we could understand each other due to our age gap
but it turned out that it was only my narrow-mindedness. We did a number
of group activities throughout the semester and I was able to make many
good friends.
Thanks to the Filipinos, I realized how important family is. I've observed
that people in the Philippines treasure family ties while in the Japan
of today, this relationship is regarded less important compared to how
it was being given credence to before.
My Determination
with my parents
One day, I met a child who asked me for money. He was a little child and held out his hands in front of me and even touched my body while doing so. I gave him a coin because I felt I had no choice at that time. I was with a Filipino friend then and he told me that if children got money that easily, they might use it to buy drugs which would make them feel no longer hungry. Having heard this, I felt as if I knocked my head hard against a wall. I felt a sense of helplessness for them. In retrospect, my personal problems seemed to be very small and trivial compared to them. It is a serious problem in the Philippines that there is an incalculable disparity between the rich and poor. There are no clear answers to the questions in my mind as to how this situation can be changed and what I can specifically do for it. Nevertheless, I want to contribute to the happiness of the people in the Philippines. I am thus committing myself to study even harder so that I can become a capable person who can accomplish this.
I deeply appreciate my parents who send me constant encouragement. They
always respect my opinion and were even willing to send me abroad for my
studies. Not to mention, I appreciate Ikeda-Sensei and Ms Kaneko Ikeda
from the bottom of my heart. Because without them, I'm absolutely sure
that I’m not what I am today. I cannot help emphasizing how I am fortunate
enough to meet Ikeda-Sensei and the Soka Gakkai. I've decided to devote
myself to repay my great debt of gratitude to Ikeda-Sensei, Ms Kaneko Ikeda
and my dear parents throughout my whole life.
