Life at GRIPS
Dawa Wangchuk
| Program | Public Policy Program |
|---|---|
| Country | Bhutan |
| Agency and Position | Policy & Planning Division, Ministry of Education (Planning Officer) |
My Life at GRIPSGRIPS to me was like a temple where I was taught all the wisdom and tactics I would need to face the challenges of today's world. Equipped with learned professors, a state-of-the-art library, and other facilities, GRIPS guides students to higher strata of analysis, communication, and interpersonal relationships. Indeed, I found GRIPS to be a unique environment where-thanks to the student body's abundance of competent government officials from a variety of countries-I could learn about the culture, politics, governance, and systems of many different countries. Furthermore, educational trips organized by GRIPS to various historical sites helped me to learn and know Japan better. I am proud to be a part of GRIPS and will do my best back home to fully apply all the knowledge I acquired during my year of policy studies in Japan.
Differences between life in Japan and BhutanLife in Bhutan and life in Japan have been two different experiences for me. My life was cool and easy back home in Bhutan with family, friends, relatives, and neighbors sharing and helping each other. Outside my regular 9–5 workday, I used my time for my family, rituals, pilgrimages, sightseeing, praying, and other activities. Regular duties at the office went smoothly, characterized by flexibility, horizontal working relationships, and support and advice from my seniors. Furthermore, our culture, traditional etiquette, arts, and religion tied us together.
Japan, in contrast, is a very advanced and high-tech nation, where remote controls and switches seem to monitor most activities. People are hard-working, honest, and punctual but often inflexible too. I found it difficult to adjust to the environment of skyscrapers and traffic jams, the subway, the noise of airplanes overhead, and the crowds of people. Communicating with people was the most difficult part because I cannot speak Japanese. I felt caught in a whirlpool of cultural shocks. Even so, my student life-going to GRIPS with a school bag early in the morning and listening to long lectures of 90 minutes to 3 hours, taking intensive closed book examinations of 2 to 3 hours, writing term papers all through the night, and participating in other cocurricular activities at GRIPS-often made me feel young and energetic. The experience that I gained from Japan in the end is immeasurable and will always be a part of me.
Message for Prospective StudentsGRIPS is a great place to learn, where what you gain from your study depends entirely on your effort. Don't miss out on the opportunity to fully utilize the library facilities and the course materials, and to participate in various seminars and workshops. Learning a few basic Japanese words and phrases before coming to Japan and taking the Japanese classes offered by GRIPS at the beginning of the academic session would make life in Japan easier. Actively participating in field trips organized by GRIPS will provide you with a broader view of life in Japan. Making friends and exchanging views with your fellow students, who will come from many different countries and have different cultures and backgrounds, will provide you with great insights into the challenges of today's world. I encourage you study at GRIPS; I am sure that the knowledge you gain here will bring you closer to your desired destination.
Fahd Rehman
| Program | Public Policy Program |
|---|---|
| Country | Pakistan |
| Agency and Position | Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives (Management Associate) |
My Life at GRIPSGRIPS is a platform for international exchange of ideas, cultures, and lifestyles. Where else could you get an opportunity to learn about so many countries without actually traveling to them? The well-equipped library provides excellent resources including the latest editions of books, high speed Internet, and CDs of world databases. In addition to providing every student with a personal computer, the computer lab is equipped with laptops for on-campus usage. The faculty members are qualified and dedicated with years of professional experience to their credit. It is up to the students to take advantage of all these resources.
To give students a break from their hectic studies, GRIPS organizes special sightseeing tours. These tours bring students closer and promote friendships among them. In addition, the Student Councils organize splendid evening functions that provide students an opportunity to display their cultures and hidden talents. After years of professional life, I found it a unique opportunity to be with peers from all over the world in an environment that combined study and recreation. In short, I found GRIPS to be a fine institute that provides graduates with high hopes and opportunities for a bright future.
Living in JapanWhile the majority of GRIPS students live in dormitory rooms in Odaiba, some students stay in apartments elsewhere. Not living in the student housing during my study at GRIPS was a combination of effort and exposure. It was an effort because I had to arrange number of things within my financial means: an appropriate residence located close to the subway station, furnishings for the apartment, and everyday meals (which meant taking time out for cooking).
It was an exposure because I came across many new things. While living in student housing can mean being exposed to few elements of Japanese culture, I lived in a typical Japanese neighborhood. On Sundays, people in the neighborhood sometimes walk by wearing kimono. The restaurants serve traditional dishes such as sushi and customers eat using chopsticks. Japanese is the main language spoken even in big superstores, which made me improve my limited Japanese vocabulary. In addition, everyday life included dealing with the local people and gave me a good impression of their good nature and decency. Apart from these everyday activities, I kept myself busy searching for new sightseeing places in and around Tokyo. Specifically, my visits to Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Shinagawa Aquarium, Mount Tsukuba, and Ueno Zoo were the most enlightening from the point of view of exposure.
Message for Prospective StudentsGRIPS is an evolving policy institute in the Asia-Pacific region that will become a hub for policy debates, conferences, and seminars in the near future. The syllabi and courses are always improving to give excellent opportunities to students who are motivated to add value to their professional lives. As GRIPS has the potential to become one of the leading policy institutes in the Asia-Pacific region, I would encourage prospective students to become part of the GRIPS family of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.
Sudhir m. Bobde
| Program | Young Leaders Program |
|---|---|
| Country | India< |
| Agency and Position | State Government of Uttar Pradesh (Secretary) |
My Life at GRIPSAs President of the International Student Council (ISC), I had the privilege of leading the ISC activities in the 2006–2007 school year. It was a truly educational experience in managing various activities for international (and also Japanese) students. The experience gave me insights into international ways of looking at things. It was sometimes a great challenge to hear out the diverse views of the members and arrive at a consensual decision. However, the mature and cooperative nature of the ISC members made it possible to find solutions to even the most complex situations. The proactive Student Office made our various activities a pleasure for everyone. The ISC arranged three parties despite the limited budget in costly Tokyo. Our publications team took care of editing and publishing the fortnightly GRIPS Tribune, the student newsletter. Sports and cultural activities were organized at Odaiba and were a huge success. Through the ISC, the international students build camaraderie on and off the campus. The ISC also works closely with the Japanese Student Council and it thus provides a great forum for cultural activities and exchange with our Japanese fellow students.
Message for Prospective StudentsStudying at GRIPS is a wonderful opportunity for you to develop an international perspective for interpreting various situations. It gives you a great occasion not only to showcase your talents but also further share, educate, and enrich yourself with international methods, traditions, and cultures. I appeal to you to come with an open, flexible, and proactive mind, eager to explore the international student activities both on and off campus. I am sure through such endeavors you will be rewarded with a broad international network of government officers and friends which you will cherish throughout your lifetime. I would also recommend you to bring with you representative items (costumes, souvenirs, recipes, movies, etc.) of your culture and country for sharing. Your active participation at GRIPS will make for international exchange that educates and enriches all those involved.
Veronika Malatova
| Program | Young Leaders Program |
|---|---|
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Agency and Position | Ministry of Finance (Head of Legal Service) |
My Life at GRIPSGRIPS is a truly international school, where I met students from all over the world and quickly became involved in friendly discussions on topics ranging from lecture content to daily life in Asia or Africa. The diversity of the student body is matched by that of the professors, who have many different backgrounds, life experiences, personalities, and nationalities. The school itself is modern and equipped with rooms to study, exercise, or even rest during breaks. All these facilities together with a very good library amount to an ideal place for study. Though the feeling of being a student again was not always pleasant, as I had to worry once more about essays to be written, presentations to be prepared, and exams to be passed, it was a great change after my eight-year working experience and I did enjoy it. I also got involved in student activities and became a member of the International Student Council as well as a member of the editorial team of our student newsletter, the GRIPS Tribune (browsing through a copy online will give you a sense of our life here).
Life at OdaibaYou may ask yourself how you would live and commute in Tokyo once you arrive, whether it is too difficult or stressful. Let me assure you that it is as easy as can be. I lived in a student dormitory in Odaiba, a lovely quiet part of Tokyo by Tokyo Bay. Being from a landlocked country, I loved walking along the shore, where I could even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji over the river. Some of my fellow students went running in the morning three times a week; I preferred to stay in bed.
By an automatic driverless train and subway line, and after a short walk through narrow streets lined with restaurants and bars, passing a florist and a dry cleaning shop with steam coming out of its doors, I was able to reach GRIPS in 50 minutes. Tokyo was not so big and threatening after all.
Message for Prospective StudentsLiving in a foreign country that might be culturally, geographically, and historically unfamiliar to you teaches you a lot about yourself, your skills and abilities, and your strengths and weaknesses. While studying at GRIPS, you also become familiar with the beautiful landscape and the lifestyle of Japan. Besides studying, you will find some time to make new friends and to explore Japan's rich cultural heritage. Living in this cosmopolitan environment is a great opportunity and challenge that you should not miss.
Rie Muraoka
| Program | International Development Studies Program |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Agency and Position | Not applicable |
My Life at GRIPSGRIPS provides an excellent study environment including a study space and laptop for each student, as well as shared facilities like the library, health services center, break room, and even a gym. The economics courses, though taught at a high level, are accessible even for students who have never studied in the field. Since GRIPS is located in the center of Tokyo, students can easily reach many organizations and institutions. I believe that GRIPS is one of the best schools where students can research policy studies at the graduate level in Japan. In addition, it is also one of the most international graduate schools in Japan. There are many opportunities to make friends who have various nationalities, backgrounds, and experiences. Such opportunities are hard to come by in most universities in Japan. Since I entered GRIPS, I have been gaining precious knowledge and experiences not only from study but also from interaction with my fellow students.
International Student ExchangeThe International Development Studies (IDS) Program consists of approximately 30 students, half of whom are international students from various countries and regions including Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. In our classes and group projects, we exchange information on our own countries and experiences regarding development issues. Therefore, we can obtain valuable information about various countries and regions not only from course materials but also from classmates. Although the IDS Program demands much study, free time-particularly after exams-does permit for social activities. For example, in April, students and professors gathered to celebrate spring at a cherry blossom viewing party, which is a common practice in Japan. We also refresh ourselves outside of school with occasional student futsal matches.
Message for Prospective StudentsThe IDS Program provides brilliant opportunities for you to study development issues with students who have various nationalities and backgrounds. I highly recommend this program for students who would like to study development issues in developing countries from an economics perspective and for those who want to study economics from the basics. Studying at GRIPS with various students provides you not only knowledge but also precious experience and friends.