VOICES OF STUDENTS

“For those of you looking to research your major, the JYPE program in Tohoku is one of the best opportunities to do so. If you show that you’re willing to work like the master students you’ll have a good chance to further your study. I was allowed to have a paper published and present at a conference, which can look really good when you go back to your home university. To those of you who want to enjoy the life in Japan, there are more than enough opportunities in Sendai. Best thing to do is to make a lot of friends, Japanese or foreign alike who have lived there long enough, to know what goes on in Sendai so you can keep up with traditions.”

Daniel Barret SILVA
(University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S.A.)

“An eventual part of the JYPE program is our labs where I enjoyed very much and where people taught me many important things. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to experience this country and people from all over the world. I met awesome friends.”

Hermann Ludwig PAULENZ
(Hochchule Bremen, Germany)

“Tohoku region has a lot of mountains, farms, and Hot Springs, which are so beautiful, but meanwhile downtown of the Sendai is quite big, so I think it’s quite good combination. People in JYPE were from many different countries, so it was good experience to meet them. People in my lab was so nice, we did a very interesting research. I spent great time in Sendai and I will never forget it.”

Gyu Hyun SIM
(Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea)

“The JYPE program has allowed me to do all of these things and much more: I enjoyed living in University House Sanjo because the facilities were very nice and the location convenient. The range of classes offered was good and I feel like I have learned much academically. Joining the lab was a great experience in itself, as I have never been a member of a lab. Aside from JYPE, coming to Japan has been an eye-opening experience. Obtaining an in depth look into Japanese culture has given me a sources of comparison for the positive and negative aspects of my own culture. In JYPE I also met people from all over the world, and we have all become good friends. I will never forget my time in Japan through JYPE.”

Luis Alexandro ALMANZA
(University of Arizona, U.S.A.)

“A perfect year! Individual research training, as a lore of JYPE, has brought me a new way to research myself. As I learnt, thinking by myself will be my brief in the future years. During this year, I’ve studied not only the regular courses and numerical simulation, but also how to live in Japan, how to get on well with Japanese, etc. That’s the essence of JYPE program, I think.”

Xiang SHEN
(Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China)

“This year in Japan has been one of the best in my life. I got to learn the Japanese way of life both in and outside the classroom, while in the meantime deepening my understanding of different cultures from all around the world. The people in my laboratory were a great help, and the project I was working with turned out to be interesting as well.”

Teemu Arijoutsi KARVONEN
(Oulu University, Finland)

“My time here in Sendai has been truly unforgettable; I’ve learned a great deal about Japanese culture and the language, made friends that will last a lifetime, and have overall thoroughly enjoyed my study abroad experience. I am very grateful for all of the opportunities given to us, particularly; I feel that I benefited a lot from the lab experience: I was welcomed so warmly by my professors and lab mates. They were always willing to help me, whether it was lab related or not. I am very grateful and feel so lucky to have been able to meet and work with those in my lab. They have really made my study abroad experience great. Also, all of the students in the JYPE program have enriched my experience here. I’ve learned a lot about other cultures from the unique experience.”

Valerie Yumi Sau-Lan CHUN
(University of Washington, U.S.A.)

“One year experience in Tohoku was great. I came here expecting to learn about Japan, but now I found myself with many friends from all over the world. Also, joining laboratory was great experience. I could learn from experiments, other lab members and group seminars. Tohoku in Japan was great choice. One year in Japan would be unforgettable memory in my life.”

Hyun KYUNG
(Seoul National University, South Korea)

“This year has been a unique experience in many senses. The laboratory gave me the chance to learn self-motivation and responsibility and it has been specially interesting for gaining lab experiences. Finally, life in general and all the people I have met made this exchange year one of my best years in life.”

Jon David GORCHON
(INSA Toulouse, France)

“I’m very grateful for the experiences awarded by this program. Scholastic concerns aside, the real focus of a program like this is to learn and grow, while interacting with students all over the world. Sendai, Japan, the Japanese people, and the students in this program have opened my mind to a great many things.”

Colt Daniel BENDER
(University of California, San Diego, U.S.A.)

“The past year of exchange studies has been very interesting and rewarding. JYPE provides a good curriculum by including both language studies and laboratory participation. While the lessons give knowledge of language and culture for an outside perspective, the laboratory participation gives an opportunity to experience the language and culture in more natural way by participating in normal studies and other activities with the other participants of the laboratory.”

Carl Gösta LEONARDSSON
(Uppsala University, Sweden)