Students Voice

My experience in the JYPE program has been incredibly rewarding and enlightening. Among the most appreciated opportunities have been the lab experiences as well as the ability to travel through the country and explore a culture so different from my own. I have truly fallen in love with this country, the people, the language, and the customs. All of it resonates deeply with my own perspectives on life.  The research opportunities have given me an invaluable opportunity to immerse myself in the lab environment and interact with current masters and graduate students in order to gain insight into what my own experience may be like in the future. I have also learned a tremendous amount about the subject of Quantum Optics and feel much better prepared for potential studies going forward.  Overall my favorite part of the program was the people. I was able to meet so many Japanese and foreign friends that will stay close to me for the rest of my life. I shared many incredible experiences and enjoyed watching as we all grew together. I now know that anywhere I travel in the world, I will have a friend to meet.

I am really happy that I chose Tohoku University and Sendai for my exchange year. It’s been a life changing experience for sure. I have had the great opportunity to be a part of my lab and to learn from one of the best professors in organic chemistry. My lab mates at my lab have helped to introduce me to Japanese culture and showed me a lot of Japanese life that I would not have experienced otherwise. I met so many amazing people during my year in Sendai and made many new friends. My language skills have been improved and I feel like this year really has made me grow as a person. Sendai is a great student city; there are lots of things to do when you are not at the university. I loved the nature of Tohoku. The university was very welcoming and helpful when I came to Sendai. We got a lot of information about life in general in Japan. The way we were treated by Tohoku University was really comforting and prepared me for my year abroad. I really enjoyed the courses that I chose, Japanese, Japanese culture and Geophysics.

The Individual Research Training provided me with the opportunity to gain a first-hand experience in research. The knowledge gained would definitely give me an edge when I am doing my Final Year Project back in my home university. My Professors and laboratory members provided me with valuable guidance throughout the whole research and I am delighted to have been a part of my Laboratory. JYPE courses were also interesting and they equipped me with knowledge in various fields that I had no prior background in. The period of time where I stayed at Tohoku University and in the lovely city Sendai may be short, but the memories created by the wonderful people I met here, will surely last a lifetime!

I have very much enjoyed the time that I have spent studying at Tohoku University. It has been a wonderful experience. I can honestly say that this has been the most important, most beneficial part of my college career. Getting the chance to conduct interesting research, learning to live in the wonderful city of Sendai, and making friends from all over the world are what have made this such a great time for me. My research greatly increased my deeper understanding of my major. Learning to live in a culture different from your own is quite exciting. Once I adjusted to life here I found it very enjoyable. This experience of adjusting to a different culture is one of the most important things that I have learned here in that it will allow me to adjust to life wherever I end up working. Finally, I have learned so much from the many friends here in Japan. Living abroad is not just about adapting yourself to another society, but about learning to live and be friends with people who come from entirely different backgrounds. My Japanese and International friendships that I have made here have helped me to do just that.

The JYPE program was a fantastic opportunity for a few reasons.

Firstly, and most importantly, it is a great chance to make a lot of amazing friends. I know, thanks to the JYPE program, I have made some lifelong friends both within the program and outside of it. Second, the JYPE program is a great opportunity to get first-hand experience in your field. For the majority of universities, the undergraduate program only has a limited practical component, and next to zero research component. During the program I was afforded an opportunity to do actual research on a very new and very competitive field, and as a result I might be given the opportunity to be co-author of a paper on my research! Thirdly, Tohoku University is a very prestigious school. Just mentioning that I’m a foreign student at Tohoku University to the Japanese people I meet inspires awe in them!

Lastly, studying abroad has given me a once in a lifetime chance to really explore my independence and has been a time of self-discovery. I have learnt just as much about myself and my relationship with my colleagues, my culture and my identity as I have learnt about my major.

It is a really good experience for me to spend a whole year in Sendai. I experienced four seasons in Sendai. I really learnt a lot through this exchange opportunity. I had to take care of myself and live alone. It was the first time for me to live in a dormitory. I had to cook for myself, clean the room & clothes and take care of myself for everything. It was not so easy to get used to at first, but it became more comfortable afterwards! Also, I had tried a lot of new things during my exchange period. It was my first time to do my own research. It was my first time to try many Japanese-style stuff like food, sports, ski, to have homestay in Miyazaki etc. I also had a chance to make a lot of new friends and also develop close relationship with all of them. Studying in Tohoku University is also a great experience. Staying in Sendai is comfortable and staying in the dormitory is cheap and convenient for going to school. All in all, it was really nice to have a chance to be an exchange student in Tohoku University by joining the JYPE program.