Contact
Mr. Ravi Teja Vedantam
- From
- Hyderabad, Telangana
- Degree
- 2nd-year student, Graduate School of International Management, International University of Japan
Message
Please give a short introduction about yourself.
I am from the city of Hyderabad, Telangana. Located in the South Central part of India. Before coming to Japan, I graduated from University in California. I chose Japan for my further studies because I wanted to learn about a new culture, become fluent in a new language, and wanted to adapt myself in an environment that completely unique from the western point of view.
What is your favorite thing about IUJ, Niigata?
My university is located in the countryside, which offers a very different experience from a place like Tokyo. It is very quiet and extremely beautiful. Being surrounded by pristine forests, mountains, and rice fields, IUJ offers impeccable conditions to focus solely on studying and nature provides students with peace of mind. That itself made IUJ my favorite place to be in. I love nature, and IUJ has plenty of it.
In what ways has your impression of or Japan changed since coming here?
Japan is exactly as I had imagined. I learned about Japan from various sources, such as media (anime, games, movies etc) and research (documentaries, internet etc). I knew what to expect after getting here and it delivered. It is as unique as I had imagined. What¡¯s amazing is that Japanese living near my university seem to welcome international students with open hands.
What attracted you to choose as a place to study?
I chose IUJ because of its diversity. Here, there are people from all around the world, and I experienced all cultures without ever having to leave my university. Since my field is MBA, communication is of utmost importance in any given case, and what¡¯s more better than learning to adapt with people from different backgrounds? I think IUJ offers the best view possible to have a real understanding with global point of view, and I can use this experience in my career very effectively in terms of communication skills.
In what ways did you adjust to Japanese culture?
I used to be a vegetarian before coming to Japan. But, I made up my mind to experience everything that Japan has to offer. I fell in love with Natto, Green Tea, sushi and what not. I eat everything. I no longer make eye contact with American soft drinks, or fast food in general. In Fact, I lost 15 Kilos in one year because I was eating much more healthy food than I was in India or USA. I love Onsen, temples, shinkansen and any form of Japanese culture as a matter of fact. I have never been this happy in my entire life. Every aspect of Japan makes me regain my faith in becoming a better person than I used to be before. The nature, clean air, and people¡¯s mentality really elevates my quality of life. And, I made plenty of Japanese friends and learned to speak Japanese which makes living in Japan that much more interesting.
Please write a message to students or researchers in your home country who may be thinking about studying in Japan.
Most people from India who studies abroad usually choose countries like USA, Canada, UK or Australia. Mostly because of the language compatibility. That being said, these countries tend to be very expensive and students need to work extensively to pay for tuition fees. However, Japan has relatively inexpensive tuition fees and it also offers scholarships more often, making it easy for students to focus on education rather than forcing them to pay their fees or student loans. Moreover, Japan offers everything that those above mentioned countries offer. It is one of the safest countries to be in. In my opinion, Japan should be your top priority if you are considering studying abroad. Learning Japanese language is fun and the support system offered by universities to stay relevant is top notch.