“Meeting and learning together” University students from Ukraine now, December 20, 18:41
Following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, Japanese universities are accepting more than 400 Ukrainian students and others to help them continue their studies and research.
When I interviewed the students about their current situation, I found that through mutual learning, there were changes in both the Ukrainian and Japanese students.
(Good Morning Japan Caster Jiro Inoue / Director Takumi Nagano)
From Ukraine to Japanese University
Twelve Ukrainian students attend Toyo University in Tokyo.
One of them, Alina Polyachenko (20), who everyone calls "Ari", is learning about Japanese society and other things.
When Ali started learning judo in Ukraine when he was 16 years old, he fell in love with Japan and went on to study Japanese at a university in Kyiv, the capital.
Then came the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Ali experienced the bombings that hit Kyiv and later that day she fled to another town where her mother and sister lived.
Ali:
"The explosion was loud and really scary. Even if the war ended tomorrow, my opinion about Russians would never change. They take what is happening for granted. Then I don't want to think about them. War is unjustifiable."
While living as a refugee, Ali heard that a Japanese university would accept Ukrainian students.
Tuition fees were waived, and there was support for housing and living expenses.
When Ali hesitated to evacuate to a safer place, his family told him, ``Don't worry about us.
Mr. Ali:
“It was hard for me to go to Japan by myself while leaving my family in an unsafe place.
Japanese students who supported
Nene Koto, a first-year graduate student at Toyo University, who was studying a Japanese teacher training program to develop specialists who teach Japanese to foreigners, recalled when Ali came to the university in May this year. I remembered it well.
Ms. Nene Koto:
“I was really nervous, and I thought I was worried. We can live in Japan without worrying about personal danger, but just being in a different country means that there is danger every day. I think it would be very scary to think about it, and it made me sad to think about it."
Originally, Nene had a quiet and withdrawn personality, and due to the corona crisis, the number of opportunities to meet friends at the university has decreased significantly, so she has been spending days in a depressed mood. rice field.
“I couldn’t go out and meet my friends, and for various reasons I was really depressed. "
Nene-san speaks quietly and deeply.
However, seeing Ali's anger and anxiety, he says something changed.
"I can't do big things, but I can do even small things. So I thought I'd do it."
Nene decided to support Ali in her studies.
During class, they study together in pairs and help Ali, who still doesn't understand Japanese well, from pre-class preparations.
Ali talks about his first impression of Nene.
Ali:
“When we met for the first time, he brought me chocolate to eat with me.
Let's go on holidays together
In order to help Ali study, Nene decided to learn Japanese through Japanese culture and life, and let people know about Japan's good points.
Even on my days off, I went out to various places with Ali.
The guide was a conveyor belt sushi that Mr. Ali had never experienced in Ukraine.
Ali, who is interested in food culture, was hooked on conveyor belt sushi.
She likes tuna and shrimp.
Also, I went to an aquarium to see capybaras, which I love.
We fed the capybara, who said, "I like things that are gentle and kind," and had fun with them.
Nene Koto
"She's a very funny and playful ant, so she's inspiring me a lot. I didn't think we'd get along so well.Ari's parents think, 'Do what you can do in Japan.' I'm thinking of having Ali experience Japanese life and culture for the people in Ukraine who couldn't come to Japan to study."
As people say, "You've changed."
Nene says that after meeting Ali, the people around her began to say that she had changed.
“When people tell me that I’ve changed the most, it’s my positive attitude. People say that I’ve changed little by little, or that I’ve grown, and I think that’s true.
The symbolic event was a lecture by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In July 2022, it was held online with universities that accept Ukrainian students.
Nene voluntarily raised her hand and asked the president a question as a student representative.
“Please tell us what the president expects from young researchers from both countries for the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
President Zelensky
: “Being friends and communicating openly is the best way to learn.”
Nene, who met Ali and gained a lot of experience, says that she has found a future goal that she had lost sight of until now.
Ms. Nene Koto:
“I would like to become a Japanese teacher and be able to teach all over the world.
I want to teach Japanese in Ukraine
Ali's study abroad will end in March 2023 and he is scheduled to return to Ukraine.
What Ms. Ali wanted us to see is the traditional costume she brought with her from her native Ukraine.
It was given to her by her older sister, and the blue color means peace.
Mr. Ali also says that he found his future goals from his experience in Japan.
Ali:
“I want to go back to Ukraine and become a Japanese teacher. I also want to translate and interpret Japanese.
“It is important to communicate with each other.”
On the 5th of this month, Ali celebrated his 20th birthday.
The birthday present from Nene was a manga that they both love.
"Someday when I can read perfectly in Japanese, let's talk together again," he said.
Ukraine and Japan.
The two, who would never have met had it not been for the Russian invasion, are now experiencing irreplaceable mutual learning.
Ms. Nene Koto:
The event that led to our meeting was ironic, called the war. So it's a matter of course, but I have to say what I want to convey, and I think it's important to communicate with each other while confirming that I didn't understand. ”
Ali:
“Our lives have changed, and people all over the world live in different worlds. I believe that by doing so, we can discover what is important to us and set our goals in life.”
Over 400 students from Ukraine.
Each should have experienced new encounters.
I wanted to believe that the friendships of young people nurtured through mutual learning will eventually become a powerful force that embraces the world.
Announcement room announcer
Jiro Inoue Joined the station
in 1998 After working for the noon news, etc., he will be a newscaster for good morning Japan on weekends and holidays from 2022.
Post-invasion reports on Ukrainians and Russians
Ohayo Nippon Director
Takumi Nagano
Joined in 2017 After working at Yamagata Bureau, current position since 2021 Covering
themes such as the situation in Ukraine and education