“How do you like Fukuoka?”
“What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?”
The best way to resolve such questions and eliminate concerns relating to study abroad is listen to the experiences of international students studying abroad, so we asked international students studying in Fukuoka to answer the following questions:

>>Advice for prospective international students from international students currently studying in Fukuoka.

Kelly Hall (21 years old)
from Queensland, Australia
Exchange student at University
of Kitakyushu
Senior at University of
Queensland, Australia

My 1st year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I study Japanese language.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2． I think studying abroad is a great experience. Cross-cultural experience and learning another language affects my personality development and provides me with more opportunities for future work.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3． Japanese language. I face an uphill fight every day. I sometimes miss home too.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4． Australia is a very laid-back country but Japan makes the simplest task complicated.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Not so many English speakers live here and the living expenses are reasonable. My professor recommended University of Kitakyushu to me because there are many nice people here.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6． I think they are very kind.I have made a lot of Japanese friends.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．Shopping in Tenjin is awesome! Also, I think Kyushu is a very beautiful place.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．After graduating from my school, I hope to become a Japanese/English high school teacher. I also want to come back here if I get a chance.

Ahmed Mohsen Hamdan (29 years old)
from Alexandria, Egypt
Graduate School at Kyushu University
The 2nd year in Graduate School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D. course)

My 2nd year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I study clinical pharmacy in the graduate school. My major field of study is gene treatment for cancer.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2．I have developed great relationships with multi-cultural and multi-lingual peers who will be leading society in the future. In addition, I became independent and aware of my responsibilities for my behavior and remarks.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．At first, there were some difficulties adapting, but nothing serious has come up.
I was fortunate to have met great professors and peers at school.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4． In so many aspects, the Japanese lifestyle is quite different from that of Egypt.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Because Fukuoka is the best place to study in terms of colleges and students from various countries.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6．Students here are very kind and supportive.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．I love the food here.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．I would like to become a college professor and rove the globe as a representative of my country.
Of course, getting married and having a happy family are also my goals.

Aaron Browne (33 years old)
from Florida, U.S.A.
Graduate School at Kyushu
Sangyo University
The 2nd year in Graduate
School of Fine Arts (Ph. D. course)

My 10th year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．My major is pottery.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2．You can see the mentality and values of people.Also, you mature as a person.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．The language. I was not aware of the honorific expression of the Japanese language because I have learned Japanese from my friend, so I was often corrected.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4．Our culture is the complete opposite of Japanese culture. You can never judge a person by appearance even though Japanese people are known for their introverted personality. Japanese women appear humble yet they are much stronger than men. lol
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Because there are numerous famous pottery towns. Pottery technique in Kyushu is the best without a doubt.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6．I studied at Tokyo University of the Arts before coming here.Students at my previous college were all talented, but I believe students in Kyushu Sangyo University can come close.In the long run, your talent is not as important as your effort.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．Abundant nature like mountains, ocean and hot springs are easily accessible and food is great.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．I would like to teach pottery at a college level.

Yuan Shuhui (27 years old)
from Fujian, China
Faculty of Commerce,
Fukuoka University
Junior in Department of
International Trade

My 5th year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I study foreign exchange and trading.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2．I have become independent and mentally strong.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．The Japanese language and vague expressions used in Japanese.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4．Japanese people are not self-assertive but people in China express their feelings openly.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Because Fukuoka is the nearest port in Japan from China and Southeast Asia.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6．They are cheerful and passionate.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．Food is good and people are compassionate. Fukuoka is a comfortable place to live.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．I hope to be successful and move freely over the borders of Japan, China and other Southeast Asian countries.

Song, An Mi (21 years old )
from Busan, Korea
Seinan Gakuin University
Sophomore in Division of International
Relations Law, Department of Law

My 3rd year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I mainly study international law in the field of jurisprudence.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2． I have acquired the Japanese language, broadened my view, and gained confidence to venture out into the world on my own.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．The thought that “I should have emphasized on Kanji study before entering my college” often comes to mind.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4．Nationality. I think that it affects everything from culture to politics.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5． It is easy to come and go between Korea and Japan. There are frequent culture exchanges between Fukuoka and Busan.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6．I respect that they put energy into extracurricular activities or group activities, like playing sports while they manage their schoolwork.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．I love the sidewalk, the bicycle lane, streets with neatly-placed lamps in the Ohori and Akasaka area, and I also like Ohori Park.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．I would like to become a liberal person with knowledge and etiquette.

Nguyen Thi Lam Hai (30 years old)
from Hanoi, Vietnam
Graduate School at Kyushu University
The 2nd year at Graduate School
of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental
Sciences (Masters course)

My 2nd year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I study horticulture (lily breeding) at Kyushu University.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2． I gained opportunities to learn and compare the difference between Japan and my country. Also, I was able to acquire specialized knowledge, which will be useful for my future career.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．Japanese! I still have a hard time communicating with people in Japanese even though it has been 2 years since I came to Fukuoka.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4．Public transportation in Japan is modernized and convenient but the streets in Vietnam are rather confusing and dangerous. I enjoy the tranquil weather in Kyushu and snow in the winter.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Because there is the famous “School of Agriculture at Kyushu University”. It is a prestigious sister university to Hanoi University of Agriculture, which I belong to in Vietnam.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6． I think they are smart, active and hardworking.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7． I love to go to the Fukuoka Dome or to the beach in Nata in the summer. I enjoy this peaceful and romantic lifestyle.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8． I need to improve my Japanese first, then go back home with a Ph. D.

Erwan SERVIES (22 years old)
from Châtenay-Malabry, France
Graduate School at Kyushu
Institute of Technology
The 1st year in Graduate School
of Biological Functions and
Engineering (Masters course)

My first year
in Japan

Q1．What is your major in university?
A1．I study neuroscience and engineering.
Q2．What is good about studying abroad?
A2．I met kind and wonderful people.
I also had an opportunity to try on a Yukata and experience a Japanese tea ceremony. I enjoyed both a lot and I sincerely feel lucky to be able to study in Japan.
Q3．What is the biggest problem you had during the study abroad?
A3．I missed my family at first but I was okay after making some friends.
Q4．What is the biggest difference between Japan and your country?
A4．The language!! People in France speak French which I perfectly understand. lol!
I think Japanese banks and stores offer better service here in Japan.
Q5．Why did you choose Fukuoka as your destination for studying abroad?
A5．Because a graduate school I go to in France is a sister school to Kyushu Institute of Technology.
Q6．What do you think about students in Fukuoka?
A6．I do not believe there is much difference between students in France and Japan.
Q7．What do you like the most in Fukuoka?
A7．I think Fukuoka is a good town because it has Tenjin where people can go out and have fun, and historical places as well. Also, I like the fact that we are close to the ocean.
Q8．What are you planning to do in the future?
A8．I have not yet decided on a specialty that I want to pursue, but I hope to become a teacher since I love children.