Looking back, my year in Japan was much more than an academic exchange. After spending one year studying and living in Fukushima, I can look back on an experience that has shaped me both personally and culturally. I had the opportunity to experience Japan not only as a visitor, but as someone who became part of a local community. Through spending time with both Japanese and international students, I was able to experience aspects of Japanese culture that would have been difficult to understand as a tourist.
One of the most important things I learned during my time abroad was that an international experience is defined not only by the places one visits, but also by the people one meets along the way. I was fortunate to travel to many different places throughout Japan and experience its culture, food, and landscapes. However, what made these experiences truly meaningful were the friendships and connections I formed during my stay. Everyday activities such as cooking together, travelling, participating in local events, or simply spending time talking and laughing with friends became some of the most valuable parts of my year abroad.
I also consider myself particularly lucky with the people I met because they gave me many more opportunities to use Japanese than I had initially expected. One especially important person in this regard was my karate teacher, who spoke only Japanese with me. Through him, I was also able to participate in a karate summer camp. After intensive training in the Japanese summer heat, we ate together, stayed overnight at a ryokan, and enjoyed the onsen. We even had small Hanabi gatherings in a parking lot where everyone could sit together and enjoy the evening. This gave me a small glimpse into Japanese life that I could not have experienced simply by studying at a university. They also gave me the opportunity to communicate in Japanese in everyday situations and helped me become more confident in using the language outside the classroom.
I was also very fortunate to experience Japan throughout all four seasons. From the rainy season to the intense summer heat and the extreme snowfall in northern Japan, the changing climate became an important part of my experience. I remember sitting at the Fukushima Fireworks Festival in the rain, hoping that the fireworks would not be cancelled, and eventually watching them despite the weather. I remember travelling throughout the Tohoku region, visiting beautiful onsen, trying regional food, and experiencing the heavy snow in Aomori.
The many festivals I attended were another highlight of my year. Being able to experience different matsuri and try the wide variety of festival food was one of my favorite parts of living in Japan. I would definitely recommend that future exchange students actively look for festivals and attend them together with their friends. One of my few regrets is that I did not see as many fireworks as I would have liked. With some planning, however, there are many opportunities throughout the year to experience fireworks and other seasonal events. Travelling does not necessarily have to be expensive either. With some planning, even simple options such as sleeping in a car can make it possible to explore more of Japan while keeping costs manageable.
Living abroad for an extended period also helped me grow personally. Being far away from my family and familiar surroundings required me to become more independent, adaptable, and open-minded. Learning how to take care of myself and manage my own household was certainly a challenge, especially given the limited living space. At the same time, dealing with unfamiliar situations and communicating across cultural and language barriers taught me to become more confident and flexible.
If I could give one piece of advice to students spending a year in Japan, it would be to meet as many people as possible, both inside and outside the university. In particular, I would strongly recommend participating in as many university events and activities as possible. These are some of the easiest places to meet people, because everyone attending is already there with the intention of communicating, participating, and getting to know others. It is an opportunity that exchange students should make use of.
I experienced this myself during my second semester. I signed up for a university cooking class that I initially did not even want to attend because I was tired. In the end, I decided to go anyway. That one decision ended up having a much bigger impact on my exchange than I could have imagined. I met several people there, who then introduced me to their friends, and those connections continued to grow. From that day onward, I spent much more time with Japanese students and eventually formed friendships that became an important part of my life in Fukushima. Looking back, I am extremely grateful that I decided to go that day.
Above all, my experience taught me to remain open to unexpected opportunities. Some of my most valuable memories were not things I had planned before coming to Japan, but experiences that arose because I met the right people and was willing to join them. The places I visited were beautiful, but it was the people I met and the experiences we shared that made them meaningful.
My year in Japan changed my perspective on the world and taught me the importance of human connections. The memories I made, the challenges I overcame, and the friendships I formed will remain with me long after my return to Germany. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study in Japan and for the support provided by the Fukushima University. Without this support, such an extensive and meaningful experience abroad would have been much more difficult to realize.
日本で過ごした一年は、ただの留学ではありませんでした。福島大学で勉強しながら生活して、私は日本の文化だけではなく、自分自身についてもたくさんのことを学びました。
日本人の学生や留学生と一緒に過ごして、日本に住んでいる人の生活を少し経験することができました。
留学中に一番大切だと思ったことは、行った場所だけではなく、そこで出会った人も大切だということです。日本のいろいろな場所に旅行して、きれいな景色を見たり、おいしい料理を食べたりしました。でも、その経験をもっと特別にしたのは、一緒に過ごした友達でした。料理を作ったり、旅行したり、イベントに参加したり、ただ話して笑ったりした時間が、私にとって一番大切な思い出になりました。
私は出会った人にもとても恵まれていたと思います。思っていたよりたくさん日本語を話す機会がありました。特に私の空手の先生は、いつも私と日本語だけで話してくれました。そして、空手の合宿にも連れて行ってくれました。暑い夏にたくさん練習した後、みんなでご飯を食べたり、旅館に泊まったり、温泉に入ったりしました。駐車場で小さい花火をみんなで見たこともあります。このような経験で、日本の生活を少し知ることができて、日本語を使うことにも自信がつきました。
また、日本の四つの季節を経験できたことも良かったです。梅雨の雨、夏の暑さ、そして青森の大雪など、日本でしかできない経験がたくさんありました。福島の花火大会では雨が降っていて、花火が中止にならないか心配しました。でも、雨の中でも花火を見ることができました。東北のいろいろな場所に行って、温泉に入ったり、地方の料理を食べたりしたことも良い思い出です。
日本ではたくさんの祭りにも行きました。いろいろな祭りを見ることや、祭りの食べ物を食べることは、私の好きなことの一つでした。これから日本に留学する人には、できるだけたくさん祭りや花火大会に行くことをおすすめします。予定を早く決めれば、もっと多くのイベントに行けると思います。また、車で寝るなど、お金をあまり使わない旅行の方法もあります。
一年間外国で生活して、私はもっと自立することができました。家族から離れて生活することは大変でしたが、自分の生活を自分で管理することを学びました。また、違う文化や言葉の中で生活することで、前より柔軟に考えられるようになったと思います。
未来の留学生に一番おすすめしたいことは、大学のイベントにできるだけ参加することです。私は大学のイベントで一番多くの人と知り合いました。みんな新しい人と話したいと思っているので、友達を作る良いチャンスです。
私も最初は疲れていて、行きたくなかった料理教室に参加しました。でも、行ってみたら、そこでたくさんの人と知り合いました。その人たちがまた友達を紹介してくれて、だんだん日本人の学生とたくさん一緒に過ごすようになりました。今考えると、あの日に料理教室へ行って本当に良かったと思います。
この一年で、私は新しいことを怖がらずに挑戦することの大切さを学びました。日本で作った思い出や友達は、ドイツに帰ってからもずっと大切にしたいです。
最後に、日本で勉強する機会とJASSOのサポートに心から感謝しています。このサポートがなかったら、このような一年間の留学をすることはもっと難しかったと思います。福島大学での一年を通して、日本語の力だけではなく、自分自身の成長や異文化についても多くのことを学ぶことができました。
福島大学への留学案内・年間スケジュール
