P | Hong Kong
Intensive course, 2011

It’s really difficult to make decision for Japanese overseas study. Beside work, I kept thinking “Have to do something”. I resigned my job in October. And I came to Kobe alone to start the new life and study. At first, it was difficult to learn the Japanese. To understand more, I reviewed the notes and understood the Japanese subtitles by watching TV dramas. In a while, I knew a bit more grammar. Kobe has a relaxed life. There are so many stylish cafe. I loved to take a coffee break at cafe in weekends. Kobe is near the countryside like Arima-Onsen and Kyoto. I visited Kyoto in November. I wore Kimono and walked under lovely autumn leafs. The view was so beautiful and of course I did some shopping. Three months have passed since the study began in Kobe. It came to be able to have so many happiness moments. All teachers and friends are so gentleness. I have no regard to make this decision. Thanks so much. I bought cook books in book store in Kobe. Since I back from Hong Kong, I keep reading the cook books and Japanese news on internet. I join N3 JLPT on July this year. Hope I can pass the test.

Isabel Chu | Hong Kong
Summer course, 2009

The summer of last year, I came from Hong Kong to Kobe of Japan, joined a summer course at Communica Institute. I was staying at homestay family for 16 days. I quickly woke up and had my breakfast every morning, then went to school. There are many activities at school because it was a summer course. Communica teachers, summer course classmates including me have been to Nada Go-go which a factory producing Japanese traditional wine is. We are very excited because all of us had bought many souvenirs. My mother of homestay family is a Etegami teacher. Etegami is a kind of Japanese painting method on postcard, paper or fan etc. I had been a volunteer with my homestay mother at her Etegami lessons in weekend at Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, also at Sport centre. I was having a very busy time! My most favorite day is the Firework festival in Kobe. All teachers and classmates wearing Summer-Kimono to watch the firework show, everybody was enjoying the Japanese look and we all looked beautiful. All teachers in Communica Institute are nice and kind-heart persons, I enjoyed having lessons with them, went out for visiting different places in Kobe, teachers are looked like as our friends more than our teachers. We can be friends, of course! Although this is a short summer course, Communica Institute had provided a Graduation for us; it had frightened me up because it is so unbelievable! After I went back to Hong Kong, I keep contact with my homestay family members until now. I always buy lots of present to my homestay family members because I love them and miss them so much. I also keep contact with the teachers of Communica Institute by sending letters and emails. This year, I went Kobe to visit my homestay family, teachers and everybody I know in October. It was a short trip for 8 days but I was lucky to see all of them living with a healthy and happy life as usual. Look forward to seeing all my friends in Kobe again soon!