GEC Exchange Student Program

The Shinshu campus in Matsumoto has a very pleasant atmosphere. I'm not much for very big cities like Tokyo, so I very much enjoyed the smaller scale of the campus, and the city around it. I liked how everything on Matsumoto campus is close by, like Coop and the library. The library is big enough and has good heating/air conditioning. The collection is a bit old (especially the non-Japanese language part), but serviceable.

2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

The first semester I was in intermediate level, which gave me a solid review of the things I had already studied - but better. Compared to home there were a lot of class hours, and sometimes a little repetitive, but you can learn very much in there. The second semester I was in upper-intermediate level, and the class structure was different; we got to choose more ourselves. This semester I especially found it interesting that we were allowed to choose classes in the regular faculties, with Japanese students. It was great to experience the methods of Japanese professors towards Japanese students, and the way of examination.

2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

At first, I had to get used to life in Japan, because it's so different from home. But with help from friends and time I began to like it, especially in Matsumoto. Nature is close by wherever you look (also on campus), and the air you breathe is clean. All four seasons are beautiful here, and I'm definitely coming back sometime.

I made lots of friends, both foreigners and Japanese people, and got to join a Taiko group (Kaendaiko) which I've always wanted. Of course there were irritations, but in the end, I didn't want to go home.

2009-2010 S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

Of course my Japanese has improved a great deal. I even took a course in economics in my second semester, which I never thought I would be able to do. But other than that, I have also made many great friends.

The most important thing that I learned from my stay at Shinshu University, is that no matter where they live or what language they speak, people are the same on the inside everywhere. I used to believe different cultures produce different people. Now I know that that those differences are not so great as the similarities all people share.

2009 Fall -2010 Spring V.B.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

Make good use of your time in Japan and have lots of forgettable memories and precious friends!

2021 Fall -2022 Spring, J. C.（Taiwan/Fu Jen Catholic University）

Try to meet as many as Japanese students as you can. participate in the University life and don't just hang around with the other exchange students.

2010 Spring, R. R.（Australia / Curtin University）

Go. Do everything in your power to go, especially if your field of study is Japanese, because you will get a valuable experience that you can't get anywhere else. Speak as much Japanese as you can (even with friends from the same country!), otherwise you'll never become fluent. Think as little as possible about home; make new friends here, build a new home for this year. If you want to join a club, do it. It's the easiest way of making Japanese friends. They're shy at first, but that doesn't mean they don't like you. Travel as much as you can, because every region in Japan is completely different. And lastly: Have fun! Give it your all, because you'll never get a chance like this again.

2009 Fall -2010 Spring, S.H.（Belgium / Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

The Voice of International Students of GEC at Shinshu University 2022, vol.2 (English Subtitles) >>> Click here to watch