(Update) What are you doing now…..? Vol.011 – Taisei Hamaguchi (EIC 2012 & 2013)
Hi GIC (EIC) Members,
Here is our latest update of Taisei who was featured in our October, 2019 blog (see below)
Thank you Taisei for your time and willingness to share your updates with everyone.
Our best wishes and that you wish to contribute to the Vietnam community will come true one day.
Latest update of Taisei – December 2022
Name: Taisei Hamaguchi
EIC Year participated: 2012 & 2013
Hometown: Yokohama
Past: Studying in a high school near the sea and seems to be majoring in marine education and loves traveling!
NOW: Waseda University and Exchange program in Vietnam
What I have been doing since the last blog
When I wrote my last blog in 2019, I was a high school student. In 2021, I graduated from high school and enrolled in Waseda University. I enrolled in the School of International Liberal Studies, which is called SILS. In the faculty, most classes are taught in English and assignments are required to be submitted in English.
Having never studied or lived in a foreign country, it was sometimes hard for me to take lessons and complete assignments in English. However, I try my best to remember the EIC slogan, “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.”
In my faculty, it is basically required for the students to study abroad for a year. Students can choose to study in a variety of countries around the world, and I chose Vietnam. This is because I became interested in Southeast Asia after going to Indonesia for the 4th OST and then to Vietnam for a school trip in high school. The experience in OST had a great impact on my life.
What I am doing now
I started my studies in Hanoi, Vietnam in September of this year. The program I have chosen is a Vietnamese language study abroad program, so I am currently working hard on my Vietnamese language studies. Vietnamese language is difficult to pronounce, so there were many times when I could not communicate at first, but I feel that I am improving day by day. I will be studying in Vietnam until next June, so I will do my best to improve my Vietnamese language as much as possible.
What I want to do in the future
Thank you, my Vietnamese and Chinese
For me, Vietnam is becoming a second home country, so I would like to contribute in some way to Vietnam. I have not decided what form of contribution I will make, so I will be looking for it from now on. I am currently studying Vietnamese, and I believe that the better my Vietnamese improves, the easier it will be for me to communicate and interact with Vietnamese people. Therefore, I plan to continue studying Vietnamese even after my study abroad is over. I am very excited to see how Vietnam, my second home country, will grow in the future.
========== (Below) Blog posted in October 2019 =========
What I did before
I participated in EIC in 2012 and 2013. I also wanted to participate in EIC in 2014, but I couldn’t. This was because I was studying to enter a private junior and senior high school. I studied so hard and I passed the exam. I entered Zushi-Kaisei junior and senior high school which I wanted to go to.
What are you doing now?
As I wrote above, I’m in Zushi-Kaisei junior and senior high school. My school is famous for marine education because my school is near the sea. lt takes only 1 minute to go to a beach! That’s why my school is famous for sailing club. Also, I belonged to sailing club when I was in junior high school. Sailing is not the only activity held in the sea. When I was in the third grade of junior high school, we had to swim 1,500m in the sea! All students in my grade can swim 1,500m because we practiced very hard to swim 1,500m since the first grade. In the senior high school, I don’t belong to any club. I’m enjoying my hobbies and studying very hard now. On the other hand, I participated in some Kumon events after I entered junior and senior high school. I participated in EIC 15th anniversary event, GNI and 4th OST in Indonesia. I’m also a member of EIC Cafe Kanto.
Why did you choose the things you are doing now?
I wrote that I don’t belong to any club in senior high school. This is because I wanted to have more time to do my hobbies such as traveling. As a result,I have been to 46 prefectures in Japan!（One more left is Nagasaki）Not only domestic traveling, I also like overseas traveling. That is why I first decided to participate in 4th OST in Indonesia. It was very precious experience for me. I made new friends there and I found that it had a great fun. After I participated in 4th OST in Indonesia, I became a member of EIC Cafe Kanto. Participating in Kumon events makes me comfortable. It is no exaggeration to say that it is part of my life.
How EIC influenced your life?
Before I participated in EIC, I was not confident whether I can speak English or not.
However, the experience of talking with camp leaders in English made me confident. I was glad when camp leaders understood my English. This experience was also helpful when I went to New Zealand when I was in junior high school.
In New Zealand, I did homestay and I had to speak English during my homestay. Thanks to experience in EIC, I could speak English with confidence and I could tell what I want to say to my host family. I learned it is important to have confidence from EIC.
Next challenge
I’m in the second grade of senior high school, so I have to study to enter a university. I haven’t decided yet which university to go, but I want to study language, history, and geography in a university. On the other hand, I want to participate in Kumon events as much as possible while I’m studying hard to enter a university.
Message to EIC family:
Try whatever you want to because you if you don’t try you will never know the result!
Thank you so much for your time reading my blog!
If you like this article, click the heart button!
Taisei! i am so happy to read about your update! Seems like you are having a great time in Vietnam! please recommend me some of your favorite place to have Pho!