Satsuki Kurimoto

Looking for an international tertiary education that would also develop her English language skills, Satsuki Kurimoto chose New Zealand, enrolling for a Bachelor degree programme at the International Pacific College.

Now returned to Japan, she has developed a career in law, is currently working in a large law office in Tokyo as Personal Assistant to a Partner lawyer. Her job includes paralegal work and thanks to her time in New Zealand some translation to produce international companies' Securities Reports.

"My New Zealand education helped me gain extensive English skills, which has been one of the most obvious advantages in my present career. As part of my studies, I interacted with a lot of friendly New Zealanders as well as people from various countries, and that was why I could enjoy learning English. Even more specifically, the internship programme that I did in my final year in New Zealand helped me to understand what it is like to work in an international circumstance, while helping the personal assistant to CEO of the Palmerston North International Airport.

Spending more than three years in a multicultural environment was beneficial and interesting, and I think New Zealand is an ideal place to gain intercultural communication skills. From my education, I learnt that there are various ways of thinking and perspectives which are often based on her cultural background. I also started to recognise the Japanese culture existing within myself."

Ensuring the most of her time here, Satsuki extended her education outside of the classroom and embraced a New Zealand lifestyle that included so much of the outdoors. "I really enjoyed the natural environment and all the great activities tramping, bungy jumping, watching rare species such as Kiwis and wetas, farm stays... I loved taking walks just around where I lived, I loved seeing the huge beaches around the country and I loved the weekly tramping with my friends. New Zealanders are friendly and most of them seemed to be ready to accept different cultures. Maori culture is very interesting to know, and I learnt that it has an important meaning in terms of New Zealand history."