This is a phrase I'm still using at least every week, even though it's been more than three months now since I moved to Fukushima. This Exchange Program really is an unbelievable experience to me, and there's still a lot of moments where I can't believe that this is truly the life I'm living right now. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity.
When I first arrived in Japan, I had no expectations at all - not about the country, not about Fukushima and not about what my study program would be like. But I would soon figure out many things.
Already on the shinkansen to Fukushima, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of what the Japanese landscape has to offer. Coming from the flat Netherlands it's of course easy to love the mountains Japan is mainly made up of, but I also just love the rice paddies, all the orchards, the traditional Japanese houses with the black roofs, the temples and shrines that you encounter literally everywhere, the meandering rivers with a scale of wildlife and the little bamboo forests that sometimes pop up out of nowhere. I already know I am going to miss these views so so much when I go back home...
Also overwhelming was the kindness I was welcomed with as soon as I set foot on Japanese ground. The Japanese are willing to help with honestly everything and seem to have made others their needs a priority more than their own, quite opposite from the European mindset that I was familiar with. I was impressed, and still am very often. I really hope I can return being more like that as well.
Then, getting out of the shinkansen for the first time in Fukushima, I immediately knew I was so happy and glad to stay here, out of all the university cities Japan has to offer for international students. I love the rural environment so much more than the big, loud and flashy rush Tokyo for example has to offer. The citizens of Fukushima seem much calmer and overall happier, and take the time to strike up a little conversation with you when they're interested.
I have to make a little connotation there, because what I also found out very soon, was that here in Fukushima, a lot less people master the English language than in a city like Tokyo. In the beginning that made it sometimes very hard for me to get already just simple things done, like sending postcards home. But on the other hand, this way you are really forced to step out of your comfort zone and just try as hard as you can, and you will see that your Japanese language skills grow very fast this way. Plus, as I mentioned above, the people here are very patient and always willing to help, so that it never feels like you're causing trouble by not having mastered the language that well yet.
I am very happy with the Exchange Program that Fukushima's University has to offer me. It is very convenient that you can shape your own semester by choosing the courses you think would suit your own studies the most. I am mainly taking Japanese courses, and I love seeing how fast you can learn the language with these classes and the help of the very kind and patient sensei's.
Even as an international student you are also very welcome to join some of the many 'circles', the student clubs, Fukudai has to offer. There is a calligraphy club, iaido club, traditional and contemporary dancing club, tennis club, hiking club and even a 'circle' that takes care of the cats that wander around the university. I joined the cheerleading club, and it was an amazing experience. I have to admit that I was very nervous to do so, since I've never done cheerleading and the girls of the club were not that skilled in English, but nevertheless it worked out perfectly. I had the best time practicing and performing a Christmas show with them and they taught me a lot of Japanese in the meantime. I really recommend joining a student club when you're studying here, even when it's just for one semester! The students are all very kind and you will surely find yourself some very good Japanese friends.
Speaking of that, the International Office also provides every international student with two 'buddies', two Japanese students that are there for you as soon as you arrive in Fukushima and help you with things like visiting the town hall. The buddies also organize a lot of fun activities to do with them together, like a Welcome, Halloween and Christmas party, picnics and barbecues. And when it was my birthday in my first week in Japan, they even threw me a birthday party in the dormitory! I am very grateful for the buddies and the events they organize and am very happy to call some of them my good friends by now. It will absolutely be very hard to leave them all behind when my semester is over...
The International Office itself also organizes amazing events for us international students. We've been to Yamagata with a very big group, where we visited the temple complex of Yamadera and went on a boat ride, we've made a bustour around the area of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, we've gone apple- and yuzu-picking, worn a yukata at a traditional tea ceremony, taught English to elementary school students, joined in on a traditional Japanese autumn festival where we walked in the parade, carrying a 'mikoshi' together with the locals, and so I can go on for a while. One other event that I really loved, even though I was really nervous beforehand, was the Homestay Experience. Every international student stayed over for a weekend at the house of a Japanese family in the city of Date. Together with the family you would cook and eat and go for fun activities that they'd picked out for you. It was a very wholesome experience, and I am happy to say I am still in touch with my homestay family by now.
The last aspect of studying in Fukushima that I want to point out is living in the dormitory for international students, the 'kaikan'. Here you have your own room including a little bathroom and kitchen space, but the building is also provided with a common room with a much bigger kitchen and a projector. The common room really has been my living space the past few months. It's perfect for studying, cooking with a group of friends, playing games or table tennis, or watching a movie. Together with a couple of friends I've also organized a Halloween and a Christmas party in the common room, and they were very fun. I love living together with people from so many different cultures. Everyone teaches you something else about the world; it really broadens your view on the world. You will be surprised by all the different kind of people you will call your friends after some time in the dorm, or maybe I should say 'you will call your family'. Oh, how I will miss them all when I'll leave...
Also an unreplaceable part of life at the 'kaikan' is the beyond sweet housekeeper - right now that's miss Cecilia. She takes care of all the international students like they're her own children and really makes the dormitory feel like a home. My life here in Fukushima would be very different without her, that I know for sure.
If I had to give any kind of advice it would definitely be to take on as many opportunities as possible to go and see places in Japan. I have so far traveled to Kyoto, Nara, Nikko and Tokyo, and I would definitely recommend visiting these places, but you can also find beautiful spots way closer to home already. Aizu Wakamatsu is perfect for a weekend trip, stopping by Tsuruga Castle, Ouchijuku, Lake Inawashiro and a hot spring bath in for example Higashiyama Onsen. Sendai and Koriyama also have a lot of sightseeing spots to offer, and even closer to home there's Iizaka Onsen, with not only some amazing big onsens, but also the more approachable foot onsens, for whoever is not that comfortable in a real one. And of course I would recommend the stunning Yamadera complex, but you will anyways encounter many beautiful temples and shrines on your adventure in Japan.
In Fukushima self I love walking and biking along the Abukuma River, visiting the lit-up gingko trees at the Azuma Sports Park, going for karaoke at for example the Maneki Neko and trying out many nice places to eat. So far, I really love the gyoza's at Gyoza No Kacchan, Kusabi's ramen, Café Rob's fluffy pancakes, soba from Juwarisobakai, the foamy matcha latte's at Yuwae, cocktails at Jam Student Bar and of course Sushiro's sushi. Please try them out; I hope you will love them as much as I do!
福島大学への留学案内・年間スケジュール
