International students share their first impressions of Kazakhstan
Thomas Mizushina and Naoya Matsuda are students from University of Tsukuba who came to Kazakhstan through an exchange program between the Japanese university and Nazarbayev University (NU). They are studying political science, international relations, and engineering, with Naoyaalso learning the Kazakh language, El.kz cites press service of Nazarbayev University .
“Although the words sound quite different, the structure of Japanese and Kazakh languages is very similar. I have often heard from Kazakhs that it is easier for them to learn Japanese than English or other languages. I think this is also true for Japanese people – learning Kazakh is not that difficult,” shares Naoya Matsuda.
University of Tsukuba is one of Japan’s leading universities, located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Founded in 1973, the university is known for its innovative educational programs and interdisciplinary approach. Thomas, who is studying political science and international relations, hopes to learn more about Central Asian politics at NU, while Naoya will study engineering in English, a subject he had previously studied only in Japanese.
“I have met many Kazakhs interested in Japan, but not many Japanese people know about Kazakhstan. Despite the existing agreements between universities in both countries, there are still few Japanese people in Kazakhstan. I really like Kazakhstan; Kazakh tradition and culture are very rich. I hope our relationship will become even stronger in the future,” says Thomas Mizushina.
He adds that he really enjoys the hospitality of the Kazakh people, while Naoya is thrilled with Kazakh cuisine. “I love beshbarmak. In Japan, we also eat horse meat, but it is very expensive. Here, people eat horse meat regularly, which is perfect for me. Overall, I love eating, but Kazakh food is especially great,” Naoya enthusiastically shares.
The students also have many hobbies. For example, Naoyaplans to become an active participant in sports clubs at the university. The Japanese students admitted that they were most surprised by the weather in Astana. Despite it being August, they find themselves dressing warmly.
“For us, coming from Japan to Kazakhstan is a big step, but one must be open to new experiences. I am sure I will spend this time interestingly and productively,” says Thomas.
Naoya adds that the most important thing to be prepared for while studying at NU is improving English, as all students speak it at a high level.
NU has exchange agreements with leading universities around the world, such as Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, University of Toronto, University of Lorraine, Sabancı University, and others. For instance, in the fall semester of 2024, 13 students from Germany, Japan, and Singapore arrived at the university. Additionally, 6 Japanese students came for a short-term program at the School of Mining and Geosciences and have already visited various mining enterprises in Kazakhstan.
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