<\/p>\n
When I signed up to study English in Cebu, I wasn\u2019t looking for a best friend.
I wasn\u2019t even sure what I was looking for.<\/p>\n
Like many people in their late twenties, I was just\u2026 tired.
Tired of the routine. Tired of feeling stuck in my comfort zone. Tired of using \u201cI\u2019m not good at English\u201d as an excuse not to try.<\/p>\n
I had always been curious about studying abroad, and after watching a few YouTube videos and reading countless blogs, I chose 3D Academy.
It looked friendly, affordable, and not too intimidating. That was all I needed.<\/p>\n
When I arrived, I was nervous but excited. I told myself, \u201cIt\u2019s only three months. Just study hard, practice English, and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
What I didn\u2019t know was that this experience would give me something far more valuable than English.<\/p>\n
It gave me my best friend.<\/p>\n
When I opened the door to my dorm room at 3D, a young woman was already unpacking her suitcase. She looked up, smiled shyly, and said, \u201cAnnyeonghaseyo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled back, bowed slightly, and said, \u201cHajimemashite\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She was from South Korea. I was from Japan. Neither of us had strong English skills. Neither of us really knew what to say. So, we both smiled a lot.<\/p>\n
That first week was quiet.
We said \u201cgood morning,\u201d \u201cgood night,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m going to class\u201d in very simple English. We nodded, laughed awkwardly, and took turns cleaning the room. We ate our meals together in silence, too nervous to speak.<\/p>\n
We weren\u2019t unfriendly. We were just\u2026 shy.<\/p>\n
But slowly, something began to change.<\/p>\n
One night, she was studying vocabulary on her bed and pointed to the word \u201cconfidence.\u201d
She asked, \u201cWhat this mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to explain with my broken English: \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 like\u2026 you believe yourself. You strong\u2026 inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled and said, \u201cOh! Yes, I want that.\u201d<\/p>\n
From that moment, we began helping each other more. We would check each other\u2019s homework, quiz each other with flashcards, and write new words on sticky notes on the wall.<\/p>\n
We began to walk to class together every morning. We sat together during meals. Slowly, our silences turned into small conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, I tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour teacher kind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! We talk about\u2026 movies.\u201d<\/p>\n
We were learning\u2014not just English, but how to be brave in a second language. And we were learning together.<\/p>\n
By the end of the first month, we weren\u2019t just roommates.
We were becoming friends.<\/p>\n
We talked about food, family, funny mistakes in class. She told me she wanted to be a nurse. I told her I wanted to work in travel.<\/p>\n
We shared photos from home.
We listened to each other\u2019s favorite music\u2014K-pop and J-pop and old American love songs.<\/p>\n
One rainy night, the power went out for an hour.
We sat by the window with our phones as flashlights and talked about our fears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI afraid to speak English outside,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d I replied. \u201cBut here, I feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded.
\u201cBecause we same.\u201d<\/p>\n
That moment felt simple\u2014but it stayed with me.<\/p>\n
By our second month, we were inseparable.<\/p>\n
We would talk late into the night\u2014sometimes in full English, sometimes with gestures and laughter, sometimes in a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Google Translate.<\/p>\n
We talked about love, anxiety, family pressure, future plans.
We even talked about things we\u2019d never told anyone before.<\/p>\n
She said, \u201cYou listen with heart.\u201d
I told her, \u201cYou make me brave.\u201d<\/p>\n
We helped each other grow.
She corrected my pronunciation with kindness. I helped her understand confusing grammar points.
Together, we celebrated each tiny victory.<\/p>\n
When she passed her mock TOEIC speaking test, I screamed louder than she did.
When I had my first full conversation with a teacher without asking, \u201cCan you repeat?\u201d, she hugged me.<\/p>\n
Our English wasn\u2019t perfect. But it was ours<\/em>.<\/p>\n And it was enough.<\/p>\n As graduation day approached, we started talking about the future. One night, she said, \u201cAfter 3D, I think\u2026 my life change.\u201d<\/p>\n I said, \u201cMine too.\u201d<\/p>\n We cried.<\/p>\n We made a promise: On our last day, we walked to JY Square, ate mango ice, and took a photo outside 3D. \u201cWe came to learn English. Back home, life got busy again. Every weekend, we called each other\u2014first in English, sometimes in Japanese or Korean, but mostly in laughter. A few months later, I visited Seoul for the first time. The next year, she visited Japan. My family welcomed her like a daughter. We\u2019ve now visited each other four times.<\/p>\n We still talk every week. But now, we do it together.<\/p>\n People often ask me, \u201cDid your English improve at 3D?\u201d<\/p>\n I say, \u201cYes. Very much.\u201d<\/p>\n But then I add: I used to be afraid to speak. And I know that real learning doesn\u2019t happen alone.<\/p>\n It happens in friendship. In listening. In trying. In laughing. In forgiving.<\/p>\n It happens when two girls from two countries share one room, one goal, and three unforgettable months.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re thinking of coming to 3D Academy, come with an open heart. The most beautiful part of this journey isn\u2019t just grammar or vocabulary. My roommate wasn\u2019t just a classmate. And every time we talk\u2014even now\u2014I feel grateful for that tiny dorm room in Cebu.<\/p>\n Because inside that room, between laughter and flashcards, between rice bowls and late-night talks, something truly magical happened.<\/p>\n We learned to speak. <\/p>\n It\u2019s common at 3D Academy to have international roommates. You\u2019ll use English as your shared language, which helps both of you improve naturally through everyday conversation and support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Yes. 3D Academy offers gender-specific room assignments by default. Female students are assigned female roommates unless a different preference is requested in advance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Many do! Sharing a room encourages daily interaction, and students often build lasting friendships through studying together, sharing meals, and late-night chats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s completely normal. Most students feel nervous in the beginning, especially when communicating in English. With time, kindness, and shared effort, comfort grows naturally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Yes. Daily conversations with your roommate give you real-life speaking practice. You learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and how to express yourself more freely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s quite common. Many students from Japan and Korea choose 3D, and mixed-nationality room assignments are often encouraged to promote English use and cultural exchange.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n If any issue arises, 3D\u2019s staff is available to mediate or reassign rooms if necessary. However, most conflicts are minor and can be resolved with respectful communication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Yes, if you and your friend both apply and request to stay together in advance, 3D will do its best to accommodate your request depending on availability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n While there\u2019s no strict rule, English is encouraged as the common language. Speaking English helps both you and your roommate improve and builds stronger communication skills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Yes! Many students build lifelong friendships. Some visit each other\u2019s countries, continue practicing English online, and stay connected for years after graduation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Absolutely. 3D provides a safe and respectful environment for all students. Female students often report feeling comfortable, supported, and empowered during their stay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testimonials-real-voices"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMonth 3: Sisters, Not Just Students<\/h2>\n
She would go back to Seoul. I would return to Tokyo.<\/p>\n
After graduation, we would meet again. In Korea, in Japan, anywhere. And we would keep practicing English together.<\/p>\n
We posted it on Instagram with the caption:<\/p>\n\n
We left with friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nAfter 3D: Staying Connected<\/h2>\n
But we didn\u2019t lose touch.<\/p>\n
We shared job updates, relationship struggles, and family news.<\/p>\n
She took me to her favorite caf\u00e9. We ordered in Korean, but talked in English the whole time.<\/p>\n
She gave my mother Korean snacks. My mother gave her matcha cookies.<\/p>\n
We still help each other grow.
We\u2019re still learning.<\/p>\n
\nWhat 3D Really Gave Me<\/h2>\n
\u201cMore importantly, I learned how to connect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now I speak, even when I make mistakes\u2014because I know connection is more important than perfection.<\/p>\n
\nFinal Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t worry if your English isn\u2019t strong.
Don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re shy.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the people you meet along the way.<\/p>\n
She became the sister I didn\u2019t know I needed.<\/p>\n
We learned to listen.
We learned to be brave.
And we became best friends.<\/p>\n
\nFrequently Asked Questions About Roommates and Friendships at 3D Academy<\/h2>\n
What happens if I\u2019m assigned a roommate who doesn\u2019t speak my language?<\/h3>\n
Can I request a female roommate at 3D Academy?<\/h3>\n
Do roommates at 3D usually become friends?<\/h3>\n
What if I feel shy or awkward at first?<\/h3>\n
Can living with a roommate help improve my English?<\/h3>\n
Is it common for Japanese and Korean students to room together?<\/h3>\n
What if there\u2019s a conflict between roommates?<\/h3>\n
Can I choose to room with someone I know?<\/h3>\n
Do I have to speak English all the time with my roommate?<\/h3>\n
Do students stay in touch after leaving 3D Academy?<\/h3>\n
Can female students feel safe and supported at 3D Academy?<\/h3>\n