Exchange semester in Kyoto, Japan to study.

Johanna Szabó Start Date: Aug 17, 2021 - End Date: Feb 16, 2022
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Kyoto, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Johanna Szabó Start Date: Aug 17, 2021 - End Date: Feb 16, 2022
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
I am Szabó Johanna, a 20 years old first year BA student at ELTE (Eötvös Loránd
Tudományegyetem), Budapest, Hungary. I am majoring in Oriental Languages and
Cultures, specializing in Japanese and minoring in French.
I received a scolarship to Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan after my first year at university.
This programme focuses on improving Japanese
language skills in several aspects: listening, speaking, writing etc. What is more is that I will  participate in several interesting courses such as Japanese Politics, Japanese
Society, Culture and the Lectures for Humanities are similar to the lectures I
currently have to undertake at my home university. This academic exchange
program would allow me not only to improve my Japanese language competences
but to finally see with my own eyes what I have experienced in my readings
throughout all these years. I would like to gain a hands-on experience in the
Japanese lifestyle as I am convinced that this opportunity would bring me closer to
the exact topic for my thesis. I am extremely interested in Japanese art during the
Heian period, especially in painting and architecture. Due to the fact that the Heian
period dates back to the relocation of the capital to Heiankjo (present-day Kyoto) I
believe that there is no better place for me to spend my exchance semester than
Kyoto. It is home to the most beautiful architectural monuments from the Heian
period which have been preserved and cherished to this day. I find the way the
Japanese approach their own traditions and these outstanding cultural monuments
very special. After graduating I would like to earn my living as a Japanese and
French teacher in Hungary. I strongly believe that during my semester in Kyoto I
would gain knowledge from the native tutors and that I could use in my future
teaching. I want to make memories which I will never forget and which I would
happily share with my university peers and my future students. What is more is
that I would be honored to represent Ritsumeikan University in Hungary, build
friendship and strengthen connections between Japan and Hungary. As for my
financial situation I come form a middle-class Hungarian family. My father is an
entrepreneur and my mother is a university professor. My parents can only cover
up to 200/usd per month.

After graduating from secondary school I started working in summer, 2020 and since then I have been saving up money for this
exchange program.

However the flight will not be supported by the university which unfortunately the most exepensive among all the expenses. 

I would highly appreciate and be the most grateful if you could contribute to my exchange semester and help me pay for my flight to Japan and my way back to Hungary.

The support would definitely be awarded from my side.

Thank you in advance,
Johanna:)


 
  • Kyoto, Japan