My name is Michkasov Alexey. I am a third-year student at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Department of Far East of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. I did my spring internship at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.

I spent 6 months in Japan and learned a lot during that time. It was an amazing journey for a man for whom Japan was the first country to visit. The most surprising fact for me was that on the day I arrived in Japan (March 14), Sakura blossoms began to bloom in Japan. If I talk about what I learned on this trip, I think I could write an entire thesis, but I will try to keep it short.

The most important thing I learned was independence. I lived alone and had to take full responsibility for my life. Paying bills, preparing food, doing paperwork, and so on, it was all up to me.

I learned how to build new connections, now I have friends from at least 15 countries, and this makes me very happy. Now, when I go to Europe, Africa, South and North America or Asia, I have friends with whom I can stay and visit.

Another thing I learned in Japan is to create my own budget for the month. I received a Jasso scholarship (80,000 yen per month), and this scholarship was enough for me. I learned how to budget and handle money, so I was even able to save and buy myself a new laptop.

If we talk about studying at the University of Tsukuba itself, it was something incredible. My Japanese and English skills have increased several times. I was also surprised by the busy student life at the university: there were a huge number of different festivals, events and concerts.

I really enjoyed living, studying and traveling in Japan, and I am very grateful to Al-Farabi Kazakh National University for the opportunity. It looks like it was the best summer of my life, filled with travel, new meetings, friendships, as well as new impressions and experiences.

Student of the Far East Department Michkasov A.