My professor in Japan is my hero

(J) After I obtained Bachelor of Economics at University of Dar es Salaam, I entered a master’s course of economics in the same university under SIDA* scholarship. And then, I started working at Bank of Tanzania, where I am working now. One day, one of my colleagues told me about one of scholarship programs for GRIPS*, which is one of universities in Japan. The scholarship was targeted to civil servants in the ministries at policy level. Thus, that awareness enlightened me with ideas of studying in Japan, which motived me to search for information on the internet, where I found the MEXT Scholarship. The day I found was only 10 days before the application deadline and I was supposed to go to a business trip after 7days. So, I took just 7 days to prepare all documents and asked my colleagues to submit my scholarship application documents to the Embassy.

(J) At that time while working at the bank in Tanzania, I was thinking I needed PhD degree. Regarding the place to study, I wanted to choose a completely different environment from here, Tanzania to get more exposure to different environment from the one grew up. America and Europe were not my first priority since our culture has many common elements as the ones from West because of our historical interaction. Besides, of academic advancement, I was interested to understand well global economics and cultural differences, and how are they related with level of civilization and development, and by what extent can that be adopted at my local environment. Given the cultural values and the level of economic development of Japan it was definitely a place I would like to live and learn.

(A) While living in Japan, language was not a barrier at all. Advancement of technology simplified communication when there was no common language. Even in the village areas, where majority used Japanese language, Japanese are very kind, such that if they do not know English, they would try to look for a person who speaks English or using devices to translate to help you. One day I could not find a place I was going to, I asked an elder person in the street if she knew the place. I could not speak Japanese well then, I only mentioned the name of the place I wanted to go. I was taken aback by the kindness of the elderly lady who chose to walk me to the entrance of the building I was going to, certainly it was a distance from where I met her. I was fascinated by Japanese ethics; politeness, consideration for others and readiness to help others. I do not recall any racist actions throughout my stay in different parts of Japan.

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My professor in Japan is my hero

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