My life in Kitatoshima High School
Riika Tyhtila
I came to Kitatoshima High School last year on the 1st of September. Then, for the first time I saw my classmates in 1D. Everybody tried to talk to me, and I was really happy. Before coming to school, I was a little nervous, if I could make good friends here. I wasn’t sure, if I could speak Japanese or if my classmates could speak English to me. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry about that, because everybody here is so kind to me. The teachers and my friends have helped me a lot in my Japanese studies, I want to thank everybody for helping me so much!
From the very first day, I have liked my new school very much. Almost everyday I learn something new about Japanese school life. There is a lot of differences between Finnish schools and Japanese schools, big and small. Sometimes I feel confused and a little tired, but most of the time I find it very interesting. When I go back to Finland, I think that I can teach a lot of things about Kitatoshima and Japanese school system to my friends and teachers back there. I have made a lot of good memories here, I think that I will never forget this year here in Japan! But, I have to go back to Finland when summer holiday starts, I will miss everybody here very, very, VERY much! So, before that I hope that I can have a lot of good times with all my friends. Let’s all work hard and enjoy our time here in Kitatoshima!
リイカさんは、平成21年8月にフィンランドから来日し、9月より北豊島高等学校で留学生活を送っていました。来日当初は在校生と簡単な日本語や英語でコミュニケーションを取っていましたが、徐々に難しい日本語にもチャレンジしながら、楽しい学校生活を送っていました。上に載せた文章は平成22年6月、フィンランドに帰国する一ヶ月前にリイカさんが寄せてくれたものです。
リイカさんの日本文化に対する好奇心旺盛な姿勢や、勉学に対する真摯な姿勢は、本校の在校生にとっても大きな刺激になったようです。7月17日には修了式が行われ、日本語で立派なスピーチをしてくれました。リイカさんの留学生活は平成22年7月で終了し、たくさんの素晴らしい思い出を持って、母国フィンランドに帰国しました。