タイからの留学生のケーオさんが日本の印象を書いてくれました。
彼女の自己紹介は次号のＰＴＡ広報誌「ＲＯＮＤＯ」に掲載されます。

What’s your honest impression about Japanese life and culture ?
　　So far my impression of Japan has been very good. I came to Japan because my main subject of study is Japanese. I wanted to learn more of the language from native people, and so far I haven’t been the slightest bit disappointed.
　　Before I came to Japan I imagined the country as maybe more special, like those night time photos of the neon-light seas of central Tokyo. When I arrived, I found that Japan is more normal and down-to-earth than most people outside Japan think.
　　People in Japan are very helpful. For example, the first time I had to use the trains in Japan, it was very overwhelming and difficult. That was, until some people just came up to me and gave me a very good explanation on how to use the trains.
　　It has been easy to make many new friends. My friends have been happy to introduce me to different places around Osaka, and if there is a word in Japanese I cannot understand, they will work hard to teach me.
　　I’ve also noticed, that women in Japan are unbelievably hard working. They might have a job of their own, while on the side they keep up the whole household. Rarely do I see my host mother in the same place for more than a few seconds.
　　Another thing is, that when I go around the big city of Osaka, I don’t feel the least bit afraid for my safety. In general, people in Japan seem very honest. I rarely hear of criminal activity like thievery, which is much more common in Thailand.
　　Life in Japan feels very comfortable. For example, many shops are open all around the week until very late hours, and there are vending machines around every corner.
Kaew
(要約）
　今のところ、日本の印象はとてもいいです。日本人から日本語を学びたいと思っていて、期待通りに生活は進んでいます。
　日本の人々はよく助けてくれます。例えば、電車の乗り方がわからず、困ったときは、乗り方を丁寧に教えてくれました。
　新しい友達もたくさんでき、大阪を案内してくれました。私がわからない日本語があると一生懸命に教えてくれます。
　日本の女性は信じられないくらい働き者です。自分の仕事をして、家事もします。私のホストマザーも常に動き回っています。
　大阪のような大都市に行っても、治安に対する不安はありません。日本の人々は正直であるように思います。タイではよくある窃盗などはめったに耳にしません。
　日本の生活は快適です。例えば、多くの店が遅くまで毎日開いていますし、角には自動販売機があります。
ケーオ
　　

フィンランドからの留学生のマッツくんが日本の印象を書いてくれました。
彼の自己紹介は次号のＰＴＡ広報誌「ＲＯＮＤＯ」に掲載されます。

What’s your honest impression about Japanese life and culture ?
　　Japan has treated me very well so far, and most of the time I am enjoying myself to the fullest. Life in Japan is of course very different from my life back home in Finland, but that was to be expected when I first embarked on this journey. I think I had pretty realistic expectations, and thus no difference has really surprised me.
　　School in Japan is certainly way more though then it’s Finnish counterpart, but all the personnel and students at Hibarigaoka-Gakuen have been wonderful to me. I’m very happy that I’ve been able to make so many new friends in this school, and I hope I’ll be able to make some more as the rest of my time in Japan flows by. I’m always happy to get to know new people (This is hint for you all, that if you happen to see me stumbling around, grab me by the sleeve and talk to me!)
　　The bottom line is, that I am having a great time in Japan, and I have no reason to believe that this fact is going to change during the next 6 months. On the contrary, I feel that my days just keep on getting better and better as my knowledge in Japanese language and culture grow.
Mats
（要約）
　今のところ、日本の生活を楽しんでいます。フィンランドの生活とは違いますが、わかっていたことではあるので，それほど驚いていません。
　日本の学校はフィンランドとは全然違うが雲雀丘学園の人たちはとてもよくしてくれます。この学校で友達がたくさんできてうれしいし、これからももっと友達をつくっていきたいです。新しい人と知り合いになるのが楽しみです。（見かけたらどんどん声をかけてください。）
　本当のところ、日本の生活はとても楽しいし、これからも変わらないでしょう。それどころか、自分の日本語と文化についての知識が増えるにつれてますます日常生活が楽しくなっていくように感じます。
マッツ