“I am very grateful for being part of Kawashima Laboratory.” 

It’s the right place to study! 

Riska SHABRINA
Department of Functional Brain Imaging
Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer

Hi! I’m Riska and I’m from Indonesia. One of the few things I prepared before leaving my home country was to learn Japanese. Honestly, I thought that by learning Japanese, I would feel more confident living in Japan, but when I arrived in Sendai, I was more astonished than anything else. Everyday and everywhere, I hear everyone conversing in a way just like the tape recorder I listened to in my Japanese language class back in Indonesia. Suddenly, everything came “alive” when I was asked, “おなまえは なんですか,” or “ありがとう ごぜいました” in Japan.

In my lab, I noticed that everyone has their own unique way to make things more conducive to their studies, but having the right place to study is also just as important. This is why I am very grateful for being part of the Department of Functional Brain Imaging and I am also thankful that everyone is so supportive and kind, especially Professor Kawashima who inspires many people including myself to always to do my best in my studies. Around me there are also secretaries and lab mates who give me a lot of new insight, knowledge and help if I face any difficulties. Unconsiously, I believe that this unseen support also adds to improving my study habits better as I can have more confidence to do my best.

In addition, although I am a Muslim and a foreigner, I feel very comfortable living in Sendai as I am here with my family, who also encourages me and supports me to do my best even if I sometimes face some language barriers. I found it similar in the case with my son and his friends from Indonesia who also lives here, who have difficulty speaking Japanese. I know that growing up in a place where your native language is not spoken can be difficult for anyone, especially children, and I wonder how these life experiences changes the human brain. I have so much to be thankful since I came to Kawashima Laboratory ten months ago and being part of this great world-renowned institute, and I would like to humbly thank everyone for such great learning and living experiences at IDAC!