My name is Yuki Kusanagi. I am a student at Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, studying political science and sociology. Although it was my fifth time visiting Malaysia, this study tour with UTAR definitely became my best memory in Malaysia. When I previously visited Malaysia with my family, whenever I had questions about the history or culture of Malaysia, my family would not know the answer, so my questions would float in the air. However, this time, I could ask all of the questions I had about Malaysia, and I got literally paragraphs-long responses from UTAR students.
As a student curious about multicultural coexistence and social inequalities, visiting places such as Batu Gajah Town, the orphanage, the Islamic school, Pangkor Island, and the Indigenous People’s Village allowed me to explore the reality of Malaysian people, which cannot be grasped simply by searching on Google.
Most importantly, I was amazed by the warmheartedness and hospitality of UTAR students. They gave us their kindness by cutting tropical fruits for us after dinner, introducing us to diverse Malaysian food such as Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, and Satay, and responding patiently to my endless curiosity. Although it was a short 10-day programme, we fostered a tight-knit friendship, and we still call and text each other frequently. I would like to say “Terima Kasih” to all UTAR students, staff, bus drivers, people who prepared our food, and every single person involved in this study tour.