Despite speaking four languages and having worked in three different countries, Rosma A Majid wasn’t satisfied. The onset of the pandemic prompted a period of self-assessment for the economics grad, who had been in her Tokyo-based position at a publishing firm for five years.
“The world is changing and so are the skills that will be needed. So I decided to quit and go back to studying. These two years would also give me time to think about what I really want to do to contribute to society,” says Rosma, who’s now taking her Master’s in International Business and Economics in Stuttgart, Germany.
Her journey around the world started in her freshman days.
“When I found out NTU offers Japanese as an elective, I rushed to secure a spot in my first semester, and moved up the levels in later semesters. In all, I completed five of the six Japanese courses available!”
Rosma’s keen affection for the Japanese language and culture didn’t go unnoticed by the “sensei” at NTU’s language school, and she was picked for an enrichment programme that took her to various parts of Japan in her second year. A six-month internship in Ho Chi Minh City in her third year only affirmed her globetrotting ambitions.
Her proficiency in Japanese landed her a permanent job at A+U Publishing, which specialises in bilingual (Japanese and English) periodicals. Within two years, she was posted to the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. If mastering the language was the first hurdle, adapting to local working customs was the next.
“I learnt kuuki wo yomu, or how to ‘read the air’. The Japanese way of speaking is quite indirect and there are unspoken implications, so you need to be on your toes and not say or do anything that might offend a co-worker. Also, when presenting an opposing point to a senior colleague, it’s better to say it in a roundabout way.”
Undergrads at NTU have the world at their feet, says Rosma. “NTU offers many programmes where you can gain exposure and build a network abroad. Keep your eyes peeled for these and take advantage of them. And I can’t stress this enough, learn the native language of the country you intend to work in, at least to a level where you can make a trip to the doctor on your own!”
Click on the other profiles below to continue reading
This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
