Short Journey with Exchange Student from Thailand

Short journey with exchange student from Thailand 03/04/06

1: the aim of short journey with students

Everyone who has been abroad feel so relieved when he is accepted by natives and taken care of by them. From my personal experience, as I went to New Zealand last summer, while I studied English there, I was taken care of by a host family, which made me relax and comfortable to live. Therefore, I will never forget what I’ve experienced and learned there. To make the best use of my experience, I became a member of Osica (Overseas Student Intercommunicative Associations) where I can take care of foreigners who come to our University to learn medical treatment from overseas. This time, we welcomed students from Thailand, and took care of them for about two weeks. As this was my first experience to make a plan to go somewhere with students, I at first was so upset, but gradually, with best help of Mr.Hosaka, I could manage to do that.

One of the means for OSICA members to have a communication with exchange students is short journey so that members made a plan to go for sightseeing with student while they are studying medicine at hospital. As they were so busy during a weekday, Mr.Hosaka and I went to their dormitory at night, and used to have discussion. Finally, we decided where to go which I hope students could enjoy it.

Below are the record of places where we went with students. This record will help us to offer a great hospitability to students from overseas from now on. Thank you.

2: Our planning for going somewhere to see the sights

10th March (Mon) ~13th March (Thu): they had been studying at hospital all day.

14th March(Fri): they had studying at hospital morning, but no studying in the afternoon.

Places where we went: Asakusa, Ueno Park, Okachimachi

Time: 13:00 pm~20:30 pm

Today’s participants are Mr.Tsuchiya, Mr.Sato, Nakano

In the afternoon, approximately about 1:00 o’clock, as they had no study at hospital, we went to Asakusa and ueno by train. It took approx 40 minute’s from Oomorichou station to get there. We appointed them in front of their dormitory at 1:00 pm. Today’s participants were Mr. Nakano, Mr.Sato, and Mr.Tsuchiya. We went, at first, to sensouji temple and took some photos there, and then walked around Asakusa for about 2 hours or so. We went along together, but as they wanted to do some shopping around there, we promised to meet in front of kaminarimon at 4:30 pm. After we met, we went to Ueno to look around ueno Park by cab. It took about 20 minutes for us to get to Ueno from Asakusa. At ueno Park, as we had a plenty of time, we took photos and took short break. At Ueno Park, as the flowers of cherry tree have not been in bloom, students regretted that they could not see full-blown sakura tree. Under that tree, we took some photos. After we spent about one hour at Park, we walked to Okachimachi station to have dinner. But we could not a good place to eat, because it cost a lot to have dinner at the restaurant at Okachimachi. Therefore, we went to McDonald’s where it cost so cheap to eat. After we enjoyed talking there, we headed off to Kamata station. After 20 minute’s ride on JR lines, we finally got to Kamata station where we met Mune, and had a discussion where to go this weekend with Mr.Tsuchiya, Mr, Sato, and exchange students. After 30 minute’s discussion, we each parted, and headed off to their own home.

Picture1 is taken in front of Kaminarimon with exchange students. Left side: Bob Tsuchiya, U-ta Sato, Pathomporn, Mannewan taken by Hiroyasu Nakano.

Picture2 was taken under ume tree at Ueno Park. From left side Pathomporn, Maneewan Hiroyasu, Uta taken by Bob tsuchiya.

15th March(Sat) They are free all day.

Participants are Mr.Sato, Nakano

The places where we went: Kannai, China town, strolling the center of Yokohama

Time: 10:00 am~ 22:00 pm

This picture is taken by stranger. At Uminomieruokakoen.

This is a Picture taken by stranger At Akarengasouko. You can see the Yokohama bay-bridge with a blue light.

As that day was Saturday, they were free, and had nothing to do, so we planned to go to Yokohama. Mr. Sato and I arranged to meet students at 9:00 o’clock in front of their dormitory. As they woke up late, we waited for them at computer room. About 30 minutes later, students came to the computer room so that we headed off to Yokohama. Unfortunately, it was rainy and foggy all day. At first, we went to Umeyashiki station, after about 40 minutes’ ride on train, we arrived at Yokohama station. There, we transferred Keikyu train into JR train and reached Kannai station at approximately 11:30 am. First, we went to China town and took some photos in front of main gate of it, and we had some Chinese dishes there at 12:00 pm. After we enjoyed walking in China town, we headed off Small Park which is called”Uminomieruoka koen“by cab. As that park is situated on the top of hill, we could watch Yokohama-Bay bridge, and Yokohama bay, and Marine tower. Though it was rainy and foggy, the views were not clear. We took some photos there, and walked along to graveyard for foreigners who died between the war occurred about over60 years ago. Then we went to cafeteria to have a short break. After we enjoyed eating cake, we headed off to Land-mark Tower by bus where I anticipated that I could see a fantastic view from the top of it, but unfortunately, as it was rainy all day, the views from it were not so clear. However, students were satisfied with going up to 69th by the fastest elevator. After that, we went down and decided to meet again at 5:00 pm. After 5:00 pm, we went to Cosmo town where we could enjoy a ferris wheel from which we can view all around Yokohama. About 6:00 pm, we had a dinner at small shopping moll, after that we went to Akarengasouko where we took some photos and had a good time seeing the night view from there. After we enjoyed watching that, we went to Yokohama station directly from Akarengasouko by bus, because they wanted to look for some electric goods at Big-kamera. After looking for it, we headed for to Yokohama station again. About 30 minute’s ride, we got to Kamata, and we parted.

16th March (Sun), they are free all day.

The participants are Mr.Hosaka, Mr.Tsuchiya, Mr.Sato, and Nakano

The places where we went: Toukeiji, Jyouchiji, Zeniaraibenten, Koutokuin, Tsuruokahachimangu Time: 9:00~22:00

On March 16, we went to Kamakura for sightseeing with two oversea students from Thailand. We really had a good time there. Sentences below are our travel record. I hope that this travel record will be a tribute for our good memory.

At first, we gathered at Kamata station at 10:00 am. Then, we went to Kitakamakura station by train. After getting off, we reached a temple called“Toukeiji”. This “Toukeiji” is famous for harbor for women who could not put up with their husband’s behavior about 200 years ago. In addition, this temple has a very beautiful garden filled with Plum trees. Two oversea students seemed to feel those trees. Therefore, I did. After that, we went to “Jouchiji” which is made for holding a memorial service for Munemasa Hojou who died young. At that temple, we only saw the gate of the temple, didn’t go inside. Then, we began to climb the hill opens to the shrine called “Zeniarai benten”. That hill was so steep that we felt very tired when we reached “Zeniarai benten”. “Zeniarai benten” is known as a god of money. It is said that if we wash our money with water wells from spring in that shrine, we can get double or three times money. So, two students from Thailand were washing their coins, I bought talismans for my family there. From there, we went to “Koutokuin” where a huge statue of Buddha is. Compared with one in Nara, that statue is smaller. But we could go into the statue. Inside the statue was dark and there was a steep and narrow stairs. Therefore, it was a little frightening to go upstairs. Did two women think so? I don’t know. Because I didn’t ask them. The reason why I didn’t was I thought that if I say, they probably laugh. This is a trivial thing. But frightening. So, go to next.

After that, we walked to Hase station and took a train to Kamakura station. As two women said afterwards, Kamakura was really beautiful. On the street, it was filled with nice stores and beautiful trees. In Kamakura, we went to “Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu” and had a lunch. At Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu, wedding ceremony which was Japanese style was being held. We were watching that for a while. After watching, we did shopping in Kamakura. Then, we took a train and went back to Kamata station.

This is a picture which was taken at Koutokuin.

In this little trip, we walked long distance. So, after going back to Kamata.We were very tired. In spite of it, two women from Thailand invited us to their dormitory and standed us handmade Thailand food. That was very hot, but delicious. Then, we (Four Japanese students) made Okonomiyaki for them.

They seemed to be very glad to eat that. So we did! During dinner time, we talked a lot about many things such as difference between Thailand and Japanese medical students. They said that there is not so much difference between Thailand and Japanese student at brain level. But Thailand medical students have less free time than Japanese medical students do do. To be frank, I was surprised. Because I thought that as medical students in Japan are far busier than the students who are in other faculty, Japanese medical students are busy enough. But my thought was wrong. Seeing all over the world, medical students are studying hard everyday! Now, we Japanese medical students must study harder! I really hope that felling will continue in my mind forever and want to say thank you to two Thailand students. As said in Foreward, we really had a good time with them!

I hope that we can meet again sometime!

17th March~20th March: They have studying at University.

21st March (Fri), the Participants are Mr.Tsuchiya, Nakano

The places we went:Zojoji temple, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, Yasukuni shrine, Sony Building Time: 10:00 am~22:00 pm

On March 21, just like our little trip to Kamakura, at first, we gathered at Kamata station in the morning. Then, we took Keihin Tohoku line to Hamamatsucho station. After that, 10 miuntes’ walk brought us to the temple called “Zojoji”. In that temple, there were many people and priests, in a word, very crowded. So, we went out of there and had a lunch at Tokyo prince hotel. Food was delicious. Two oversea students seemed to be satisfied with having break. Having lunch, we went to Tokyo Tower. But we didn’t go to observatory, top of it. We just looked around under the Tokyo Tower, and they bought souvenir for their families and took some photos there. Next, we walked to Onarimon station and took Tokyo Metropolitan Mita line to Jinbocho station. At that station, we changed a train and went to Kudanshita station by Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku line. From Kudanshita station, we entered the Imperial Palace. I remember that the Imperial Palace was really huge and beautiful. Perhaps exchange students thought the same way as we. As there were a lot of flower blooming, they took some photos in front of that. Having a moment there, we went out of there and walked along the moat of that and reached Yasukuni shrine. In Yasukuni shrine, we saw the main temple and ate soft cream in souvenir shop to have a little break. After we finished visiting Yasukuni shrine, we walked to Ichigaya station. From there, we took Yurakucho line to Yurakucho station. Getting off at Yurakucho, Nakano and exchange students went to Sony building at Yurakucho. As Tsuchiya had a class at driver’s school, he parted from us. After arriving at Sony building and asking clerk which floor has big show, and then, clerk told us that floors from 2 th up to 8 or 9 th is under construction, so that customer cannot see and enter until it is complete. Therefore, we had to give up going to see the big show. Underneath the building, there was a small plaza which is often called Sony Plaza, and that is famous for selling foreign goods. They seem to have an interest in that, so Nakano took them to the Plaza which they seemed enjoyed. After we hada good time there, we went to Gotanda station to meet tsuchiya again, because we needed to have a dinner with him. Gathering at that station, we had a dinner in sushi shop. After we enjoyed eating dinner, we headed off to Gotanda station and took Tokyu Ikegami line to Kamata. Tsuchiya brought students to Kamata station. At there, he parted.

22nd March（Sat）: As exchange students met two guys from Thailand who has lived in Japan, we don’t have to go somewhere with them. They need to buy some eletoric goods at big, huge electric shop. As their friends seem to speak Japanese, they could buy MP-3, Compact Disc Player, Watch, and Camera. According to the report which exchange student wrote, they went to Shinjuku to buy some goods with their friends. They seem to enjoy shopping with two guys from Thailand.