Commencement

I didn't log in my blog for a long time...

At first, last Sunday, I graduated from my university.

In Japan, females like to wear kimono (strictly speaking, this is called hakama. We wear kimono and put 'hakama' which look like skirt on kimono) for commencement. I also weared it. This is my own kimono.

(This is the first time to show my picture on the blog.)

I studied in my home university for 4 years and in St. Cloud state university as an exchange student for 1 year. In total, I stayed in 2 universities for 5 years, graduated with 186 credits.

I thank my parents, who gave me chance to study in Japan and in the States, and my friends for their friendship=)

I will start to work from April 1st as a member of society, not student anymore.

I will have many difficulities after I start to work. It'll take time to get used to my job but I want to enjoy with them. I want to be a person who tries to enjoy even if it's difficult time.

안녕 from Seoul, South Korea

Today is the 7th day of my staying in South Korea. So far, I met many Korean friends and made new friends from other countries in hostels.


I will write my travel diary later here.


Today, I'm staying in the 6-bed room in hostel. Other travelers, three Japanese senior students, already left this room to go back to Japan. Now, I'm alone in this room. I remember how fun it was to spend time with my Korean friends so far...I feel even kind of nostalgic...(I don't know how to say this feeling in English.) ah, maybe, I should just say "I'm really missing you guys".


I've got 4 more days left including today. I'm gonna make myself enjoy more!!


At last but not least, I really thank you, my Korean friends, who gave me many good memories!!

The last month as a student

It's already March...Today, many high schools have commencement. One of my cousins graduates from high school today.

Here, March is the end of academic year. Many students graduate from their school and enter new world.

I'm also graduating from university on March 22th. From April, I will start to work.

As I wrote here before, I was working on my dissertation from last August to Feb 2nd. You can see my grad thesis next to books.

During working on dissertation, I read many books and papers again and again. Furthermore, I could not have finished my thesis without you guys' help and encouragements. If you gave me some help for my research your names are on my acknowledgement page in my dissertation. I sent my paper to my prof at St.Cloud state university where I studied. Information she gave me deepened my research.

Again, thank you so much to everyone who gave me much help and encouragement.

After submitting my paper, I decided to throw away books and handouts used in classes. Now, I've got some spaces on bookshelf.

Tada~~~These are the books and handouts I threw away. So many!!

Finishing the last paper remarks the end of my studying in university. Then, many students are enjoying their long free time before they start to work. Most of them go to travel (we call 'graduation trip' in Japanese).

Many students like to travel with their close friends. But, in my case, my friends already graduated from university last March while I was studying in the U.S. So, I decided to travel alone.

I was really wondering which country I should go---Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore.....After long thinking, I chose South Korea. The direct flight from Akita to Seoul is available. Now, Japanese yen is strong against Korean won.

From tomorrow, 2nd, to 12th, I'll be in South Korea. I know it's really long stay but I won't get such a long holidays after starting to work. Therefore, I'm gonna enjoy staying in South Korea as much as I can.

Of course, I wanna go some sightseeing spots but I'm also interested in places Korean people use in their life such as supermarkets.

I wish I can have safe trip=)