Rice subsidy- From the Parents and Guardians of Japanese Students to the International Students in Oita University

(Oita Godo Newspaper, February 7th 2009, evening paper)

On February 6th 2009 at Oita University, rice subsidies were presented to international students who are suffering from the impact of global financial crisis and the appreciating value of Japanese Yen as well as the decreasing amount of money send by their parents from overseas.

The parents of guardians of Japanese students donated around 100 kilograms of rice to the "international students who are in trouble". The management of the university also contributed 213 kilograms of rice. The bags of rice were presented to the hopeful international students from China, Korea, Malaysia and other countries. There are forty-one students from nine different countries and each student was given three kilograms of rice. Then, the students expressed their gratefulness to the parents of guardians of Japanese students by writing thank-you letters to them.

Because of the global financial crisis and the appreciating value of Japanese Yen, the lives of international students who depend on the money their parents sent from overseas have been affected badly. According to a Korean short-term exchange student Chan Sie Jae (22 years old), due to both the appreciation of Japanese Yen and the depreciation of Korean Won, the depreciating value in Won is about 4 percent. "I am reducing the frequency of eating out, so the rice subsidy is indeed a great help", he said. A student in Graduate School who is studying Civil Engineering, Kim Deru (29 years old), also from Korea, said that he cancelled the internet connection in his room to save money. "This year has been difficult for me. "With the help of rice subsidy, I will manage to survive this month without having to buy rice", he said happily. Most of them live in the university's dormitory and cook by themselves.

Oita University has a total of 171 international students coming from 21 countries in the world. The university is thinking of a way to support the international students.

Comment: Due to the global financial crisis and the appreciating value of Japanese, many international students who are currently studying in Japan have been suffering. Also, the parents and the sponsors of the students who are working in their countries and supporting are suffering as well, because their earnings become less significant against Yen. I think that in universities in which international students are studying now, have to start considering support plans or subsidies to help the students, such as increasing the tuition reduction or subsidizing the needs of their daily lives.

NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama

Indonesia

APM2, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University