Japan-Palau Alumni Series: Vol.23- Ms. Ekei Lalii Remengesau

Ms. Ekei Lalii Remengesau is an alumna of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship’s Research Program. Ms. Remengesau graduated from Waseda University and received her Master of Arts in International Culture and Communication.
 
Ms. Remengesau's decision to study in Japan was rooted in a long-standing interest in Japanese culture and language. Growing up around her half-Japanese grandmother sparked her curiosity about her heritage and deepened her desire to explore the culture further.
 
Before Ms. Remengesau went to Japan, she spent her high school years in Palau and America. She first attended Mindszenty High School in Palau until her sophomore year where she transferred to a different school and then ultimately graduated from Bishop Gorman Catholic School in Las Vegas, Nevada. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in 2013 for Communications at University of Hawaii in Hilo.
 
Her first time going to Japan was through a program at Soka University. Ms. Remengesau studied the Japanese language and culture for six months and after her studies were completed she received her certification in Japanese language. In addition to language study, she explored various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, such as the art of ikebana, the history and significance of the kimono, and more. While listening to native speakers was initially challenging, she gradually picked up vocabulary and became more comfortable navigating daily life. She now retains her fluency in hiragana and katakana and fondly recalls those first few steps into Japanese language learning. Ms. Remengesau shared that she was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Soka University program before enrolling at Waseda University, as the experience helped orient her and prepare her for life at Waseda and adjusting to Japanese culture.
 
Ms. Remengesau went to Japan for the second time when she applied for the research program under the Japanese Government Scholarship. Her thesis was on the preservation of the Palauan language through policy. Ms. Remengesau said that there were many tough times where she was homesick or was experiencing difficulty with her research but with the support of her family and friends, she was able to complete her thesis. She tells us that she was quite nervous when she had to present her 90 page thesis to her professors at Waseda University. Her favorite proverb is “nana korobi yaoki” which literally translates to fall down seven times, stand up eight and means no matter how many times you fall, always get back up or in other words perseverance is key.
 
Ms. Remengesau`s hobby is traveling. She has many favorite places in Japan, but she is especially fond of the neighborhood where she lived, Kichijoji. She loved walking through Inokashira Park and watching the rowboats float on the pond. She appreciated the neighborhood for its balance between the lively energy of the city and the charm of its quiet, almost quaint areas. When asked about her favorite foods, she mentioned kani miso (dish made of crab fat) and uni (sea urchin) among her top choices. Ms. Remengesau also recently visited Japan with her family. During the trip, she returned to Waseda University and took her two children to Tokyo Disneyland. She expressed her hope to visit again, as Japan is a place she deeply cherishes.
 
We asked Ms. Remengesau about her thoughts on Japan and Palau’s diplomatic relations and she told us that she hopes the bond between the two countries continues to grow stronger and that the younger generations also play a role in strengthening the diplomatic relations.