Name: Jun Nitto

Japanese Language Education Course (Undergraduate)
Study Abroad Period:　August 2023 - June 2024
Host University: Uppsala University, Sweden




１．University where I studied

I studied as an exchange student at Uppsala University in Sweden. It is the oldest university in Scandinavia, has many Nobel Prize winners and hosts thousands of international students every year. Support for international students was excellent, with a free shuttle bus to the airport arranged for our first day in Sweden and a welcome party where we were treated to traditional Swedish food.



２．Living

Basically, I bought food from the local supermarket and cooked for myself. Prices were more than 1.5 times higher than in Japan, but I enjoyed Swedish food culture such as fika. When I wanted Japanese foodstuffs such as miso, I dropped in the AM store near the Stockholm station on my way, so I didn't have any problems with them. I lived in a dormitory called Kantorsgatan, where the kitchen and bathroom were shared by only a few people, so it was clean. Many international students live in Flogsta, but if you don't like to party with large groups of people on a daily basis, you have the option of choosing other housing, as I did. I was very happy with the green areas around the dormitories, which are ideal for walking and cycling as a hobby. The town has a well-developed electric and biogas bus system, and transport links were excellent.



３．Study

In each faculty, there were many classes offered in English, with a variety of unique teachers. The opportunity to discuss various aspects of education with international students from other countries was meaningful, and my pessimistic view of my own country was greatly shaken, enabling me to objectively assess each country's methods. My interests have also changed significantly, so I think studying abroad can deepen your understanding of your specialized field, but you can also enjoy the changes that occur within you once you live in a different culture as a foreigner.



４．What I gained

In addition to life in the city of Uppsala, I had many opportunities to travel around Europe. For example, when I visited Estonia in Eastern Europe, I was able to experience first-hand the history of colonial rule through the written word, museums and architecture, which cannot be seen from photographs alone. I thought about world history as if it were my own, and I was able to feel the emotions of historical events. I was also interested in the arts, so I enjoyed operas, famous artworks and church performances in Europe. After returning to Japan, my interest and appreciation of Japanese art, traditional culture and history had increased more than before my study abroad.



５．Advice

What you gain and experience through studying abroad will be different for everyone, but each of you will have a special experience. Talking to people from different backgrounds will enrich your imagination and make you wonder how and what various people are thinking and living in the world. I believe that this will rewrite your own sense of what is normal and allow you to relax and live the life where you want, how you want.