Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) student Kasumi Takahashi was already well traveled when she came to Vilnius. She worked in Argentina, studied English in Limerick, Ireland and traveled in Spain, France and Portugal. Now she is a student in MRU's English for Specific Purposes and the Second Foreign Language Bachelor's Degree programme. "I heard about Lithuania in Rosario, Argentina. I was working in a hostel in Argentina in 2016 and met many travelers, backpackers there. Some of them talked about Lithuania and said the Baltics are amazing," said the 22-year-old Japanese student. "No, I didn't meet any Lithuanians in Argentina. It was just other travelers talking about Lithuania and how there are many beautiful women there," she said. The comments about Lithuania led her to do some research on the Internet about the country. It was then that she decided that she wanted to study English in Lithuania. "First, I checked the Internet. I thought it was an interesting place to visit. I wanted to travel and to see Europe." "To study English in Japan is ridiculous," said the student who spent a year in Limerick brushing up on her English. What most surprised her in Lithuania were the supermarkets. Food in Ireland was more expensive than in Japan, the student said. "When I came here, I was very surprised that the food was cheap in Lithuania - much cheaper than in Ireland." She said what she misses most is raw fish - sashimi which is eaten in Japan with soy sauce. But, she does like the Lithuanian specialty - cepelinai. Her studies have been keeping her busy and she was not excited about taking Philosophy, a required course. She said she would rather just study English and other languages. "I like French class. It is the only class that I enjoy. I like learning French," she added. Her one-year stay in Ireland prepared her somewhat for studies in Lithuania, but not completely. The sub-zero temperatures in Vilnius this winter made it difficult . She said that walking through the woody areas near MRU, one has to be careful not to slip and fall. "I fell on the ice. The ground is frozen now," she said. She often remembers her time in Ireland and all the friends she made there. "In Ireland I had many firsts. It was the first time I was in Europe. It was the first time I found out about the pub culture and drinking beer. It was the first time I met international friends," she said. Takahashi said that people in Lithuania differ from the Spanish. "People are not so friendly here," she said, "not like the Western Europeans." She did say that her classmates at MRU were friendly. She is trying to learn Lithuanian and knows enough phrases to get around Vilnius, ask for directions. "I try to learn," she said, but for now she is concentrating on perfecting her English and French.