University of Latvia
Short-Term Exchange Student
Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences

  After finishing high school in 2018 I was already thinking about some university to choose that has an opportunity to study abroad. I applied for the University of Latvia and then from the second year of study got a chance to study abroad. My choice fell on Yamagata University.
  My exchange study period started in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was at the door. I decided not to cancel my studies because of it and I do not regret anything. That was the biggest new experience in my life. I have never tried so much things in such a small amount of time. Living alone, managing everyday life, visiting so many places, working in foreign country etc. I think all these things helped me to become adult.
  Talking about the studies, I was a bit nervous because in my country during Japanese lessons teachers were speaking mostly English and Latvian. So I was afraid that my Japanese skill will be not enough to comfortably study. Like asking questions, understanding new grammar and other things. But I was wrong. Even though everything was in Japanese, Yamagata University teachers were so good at explaining things, so I got used to it very fast. All this year in Japan I was trying to get rid of my language barrier and I think I finally did it. Even if I make mistakes when I am talking it does not stop me. Many mistakes provide a lesson to be learned. I am very grateful to the Yamagata University for this seemingly simple but important thing. Also the atmosphere in the university motivates to study. I liked the design of the buildings, the way the classrooms look and how convenient everything is located.
  Because of COVID-19 clubs were closed for a long time, but I still had a chance to play basketball every week at university gym starting from second semester. Students were always kind and communicative to me despite my hesitation  to speak Japanese. It was also fun to play board games with different students and joining English camp, helping Japanese students to learn English.
  When I came to Japan, I thought that 1 year is a big amount of time, but in reality I find it not enough. I hope I will be able to come here again. That was an awesome journey and it motivated me to continue learning Japanese.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Short-Term Exchange Student
Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences

This year was such an unbelievable journey for me as an exchange student at Yamagata University. Although I had been living abroad for few years in the U.S., I still felt a little bit excited before coming to Japan; after all, Japan was a very unfamiliar country to me. Under the spread of Covid-19, I still made up my mind to come here. The tranquility of Yamagata, the beauty of Yamagata City, and the hospitality of the people in Yamagata made me feel at home.

I could not describe how grateful I am to be here in Yamagata. I have learned a lot and experienced a lot that I had never thought of before. If I have a chance to deliver a message to the future exchange students participating in STEP-YU within the precious and limited time staying here, I would divide it into three parts. First of all, stay healthy. Staying healthy allows you to do things more actively. Staying healthy physically can help you stay healthy emotionally too. Secondly, stay curious. Staying curious about everything helps you learn a lot. Furthermore, curious people are never bored. There are always new things that catch your attention. Your life would hence have more variety and excitement. Thirdly, meet people. Meeting people could be done in any way such as joining clubs, hanging out, or doing a part-time job. For me, I choose to do a part-time job. The reason to do a part-time job is not to gain money but to get more chances to know more local people, and to learn about Japanese culture. It indirectly enables you to improve your language ability.

Ultimately, I would like to say thank you to all the teachers who have taught me and to the people I met. Without them, the exchange student’s life in Yamagata would not be this perfect.