Field report - International summer school "Ocha Summer Program for Global Leaders 2023" in Tokyo

Bilder: Christian Locatelli, Eric Walter, Alexandra Katsnelson

I really enjoyed my time at Ochanomizu in Japan. Japan itself is very overwhelming, especially the metropolis of Tokyo: everything around you is so colorful and lively. You don't need to be afraid of not finding your way in this new world, because Ochanomizu University gave us a good introduction. We used the pick-up service and were immediately shown how to find our way around Japan and given a ticket for public transport (IC Card). The students at the university also organized lots of exciting events: At the welcome event, we were given a guided tour of the campus in the form of a station run. We also had a Sushi workshop and a Yukata event...

“All these events were very well organized.... Partner universities from many other countries also take part in the summer school - not just from Germany. So I had a very diverse cultural mix of fellow students. As a result, I not only gained insights into Japan, but also into Korean, Taiwanese, British and Italian culture...”

“I can warmly recommend anyone who is interested in Japanese culture and cultural exchange to take part in the summer school! I will never forget my time there. I am already making plans to visit Japan again. I can hardly wait to make another trip there.
My tips for future participants: If you want to explore and see a lot of Japan, arrive a few days earlier or leave a few days later. Lectures and homework don't leave much free time. So it's worth planning a few extra days for sightseeing."

... "I really had an incredibly great time in Japan at Ochanomizu University. I was able to broaden my horizons considerably and learn a lot about Japan, its history and its language from my buddy and also from my international group. We had enough free time to discover Tokyo, but also to make new friends. I had an incredibly enjoyable, albeit rather warm, three weeks in Tokyo ... I can only recommend flying to Japan once in your life - I have never met so many nice and great people (also in the area of daily needs) in Germany. My time in Japan did me a lot of good, both for my soul and for my personal development. I am currently planning my next trip to Japan to see all these wonderful people again."

... "It was a life-changing time and certainly one of the best summers of my life so far...”

“The program exceeded my expectations by light years! From the very first day, I noticed how much effort and work the organizers and especially the students had put in.
This actually started when we arrived at the airport, as we were picked up by students from the university and accompanied to the hotel, where each of us also received a metro card with a little starting credit...
On the day of the introductory event, we were also picked up at the hotel and taken to the university so that everyone could make it on time. The introductory event included music performances, martial arts, a campus tour and various games, so that the group could get to know each other better straight away and we were given our first impressions of the culture. During the program, there were usually events in the afternoon to get in touch with the culture and get to know the students at the university at the same time...
Another day we cooked Maki-Sushi with Japanese students from Ocha University and exchanged ideas about traditional food in our different countries... In the second week there was a student exchange event where we visited a junior high school...
Overall, I can say that I thought every single event was great and I really appreciated how much effort the students put in. I would therefore advise everyone to go to every event that is offered, even if they may sound a bit strange at first...
I did something every day with people from the program and we were able to talk about cultural and social aspects in our countries and also about life itself.
I got to know new perspectives and was also confronted for the first time with being German and what other countries think about Germany. Through the many conversations, I definitely live a slightly different life in Germany now than before the program. I now have many Japanese and international friends with whom I am still in contact and I hope to see them again soon.”

"Tokyo as a city with its diversity and seemingly endless possibilities will remain in my heart forever and I dream of spending at least part of my life there.
I will now try to find opportunities to come back to Japan as soon as possible. I have asked one of my professors if there is a possibility to do an internship for a Bachelor's thesis in Japan. I will also do at least one full year abroad during my Master's degree and I am even thinking about applying for a Master's degree in Japan."

..." For me, the stay was an absolute dream, everything went well with the organization...
...I made lifelong contacts and had incredibly important experiences that I will probably remember for a long time to come. The program left a great impression on me and, above all, I discovered a great affinity for Japan and Tokyo.
... I am very happy to have started it. I would have liked the program to be even longer!"

..." My stay at Ochanomizu University was a special and unforgettable experience. I made new friends, both at the partner university and from outside. This gave me the opportunity to discover not only Japan and the city of Tokyo, but also the new cultures of other exchange students.
Despite the heat at this time of year, the Summer Program was a unique time that I can recommend to everyone."