I felt I could experience the differences from Japan firsthand and broaden my career options.

現地の人との交流について印象に残ったことは？
How was your experience interacting with local people? 

This time, I had the opportunity to visit laboratories as part of Kanazawa University’s dispatch program, and the local people, especially the laboratory staff, were extremely kind to me. The UC Davis staff gave me a very detailed explanation of the experiment. Even during the explanation, I was impressed by the careful attention to detail shown at every step, such as when they rephrased technical terms and English words that I didn’t seem to understand in different words or provided explanations on web pages. I realized that this was because they value relationships between people on a daily basis, which is why they treated me, an outsider, with such courtesy, and I felt that I should follow their example. Also, unlike in Japan, I felt it was important to clearly communicate my thoughts and feelings without using vague expressions. Especially since it is English that we don’t use on a daily basis, I felt that ambiguous expressions were even more difficult to convey. I learned firsthand that direct communication helps others understand my intentions.

プログラム期間中の活動で特に印象に残ったこと
Please write about what left a strong impression on you during the program period. 

I visited various universities, including UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UCSF, and Stanford, and was surprised at how different the atmospheres at each university were.Although UC Davis was on summer break, I found it to be a relatively peaceful and safe place to live. There is a lot of greenery on the school grounds, and although the grounds are large, everything is well-maintained and there is no sign of overgrown vegetation. I felt that UC Berkeley had many historical buildings, including a clock tower. There were people of various races on campus, and I could sense a liberal atmosphere.UCSF had labs all over the city, and it felt like I was part of some kind of company. I felt that in order to work here or to succeed as a researcher, an incredible amount of effort and achievements were required. Stanford was such an amazing place that even walking around campus felt like sightseeing. This is something that can be said for all universities, but I felt the importance of the university, as if the place existed for the university.

プログラム中の経験で将来のキャリアのために役立つと思うこと
What was a useful experience for your future career among your experiences during the program?

What I found extremely important in this program was the interaction with people. The reason I was able to visit various universities and receive explanations on this program was largely because my accompanying teacher had studied in a variety of places and built relationships with others. I realized that if I could build good relationships with everyone I met, we would still be connected 10 or 20 years from now, and I felt that from now on I needed to think more about what I could do for others. I also felt that in order to make a lasting impression as a researcher, it was important to convey the excitement of my research. During this program, various people explained their experiments, and I found all of them fascinating. I realized that in order to convey to others how interesting my research is, I needed to devote myself even more to my research. Because I was treated so well by so many people, I felt that if I ever find myself in the opposite position and need to invite someone in, I would do so with a generous and welcoming attitude.

次年度以降、同じプログラムに参加する学生に伝えたいこと
Comments for students who will participate in the same program next year.

Although two weeks was not a long time, it was a very fulfilling experience. This is more of a self-reflection thing, but I realized that it is important to do more research on the surrounding area than just the laboratory I was visiting. If you decide to go to a place, I think you will be able to absorb more if you know what is there and what its historical background is. I also think that the quality of active learning will improve. I also believe that there is a lot you can do by participating in this program, rather than just traveling, so I hope you will actively participate.

渡航前・渡航後のCOILを含め、プログラム全体を通しての感想
Feedback on the program, including COILs before and after trips to the US/Japan.

Before I actually went abroad, I wondered why it was important to go abroad, but by actually going, I felt I could experience the differences from Japan firsthand and broaden my career options. This time, we had a teacher accompanying us, who helped us with arranging accommodation and getting around the area, so we were able to focus on having fun. Therefore, I felt that I would like to travel abroad by myself in the future. I also want to make use of what I felt and learned through this program in my future activities.