Hello, my name is Najma Kuno. I am a Thai student currently studying Bachelor of Communication (Hons) in Corporate Communication at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia.



I am from Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat Province, Thailand, a town located at the border near Rantau Panjang, Malaysia. Because of this, I have been somewhat familiar with Malaysian culture since childhood.



In 2022, I visited Kuala Lumpur for the first time. As a child, I thought Malaysia would be similar to Kota Bharu and predominantly Muslim. However, after taking the KLIA Express to NU Sentral, I was very surprised. It was completely different from what I had imagined. Seeing people from diverse ethnicities, religions, and cultures living together was my first real experience of multiculturalism.



My first year at university was a time of adjustment. During the first semester, I lived in a university dormitory with Malaysian and Indonesian students. Since there weren't many international students in my university, I spent most of my time with the local students.



Initially, communicating was quite difficult because my English wasn't fluent, and I didn't speak Malay at all. However, since most of my friends communicated in Malay, it became easier. I was constantly exposed to the language and gradually learned it until, within a few months, I could communicate in Malay within two months.



During my first year in Malaysia, the country was reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also the first Merdeka celebration after the reopening, which gave me the opportunity to witness the scale of the event and the cooperation of many sectors during the National Day celebration. I felt truly amazed by the experience.



I also had the opportunity to shoot an Eid greeting video that was featured on the university's Instagram account. In addition, the International Office Of UPTM regularly organized activities for international students, giving us many opportunities to connect, participate, and engage with the university community. These activities made me feel welcomed and helped reduce my homesickness.
             
Participating in EMGS activities was extremely important and enriched my experience. I had the opportunity to meet students from many different countries and universities, and exchange ideas and conversations with them. It was a wonderful experience. I am very impressed with my experience studying in Malaysia.