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Messages from Participants
2014 Summer School Program
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Participation in Gifu University’s summer school program was quite rewarding for me. I attended Japanese language classes in the morning from Monday through Thursday every week. Textbook-based classes on Monday and Tuesday as well as Japanese conversation classes on Wednesday and Thursday were both intriguing. Because I had no classes in the afternoon, I visited many tourist destinations located in Gifu Prefecture and participated in various excursion programs. Hands-on experience programs of taiko drumming, sumo wrestling and kendo fencing were also memorable. But my homestay in Gujo City was the most unforgettable experience. I was really glad to have an opportunity to enjoy the authentic life of the Japanese people. Whenever I recall the scenic beauty of Gujo City, my kindhearted host family and exciting Gujo dancing, I become eager to go back to Gujo right away. -
I participated in and enjoyed various events during the summer school program. The nohgaku (a Japanese traditional masque) workshop was particularly memorable. At the workshop, the noh performer played as earnestly as a real performance, which deeply impressed me. On the overnight trip to Kamikochi, a World Cultural Heritage site located in the area called the “Japanese Alps,” I was very surprised to discover that many Japanese people have long conserved the natural magnificence based on the spirit of coexistence with the natural environment. When I visited Matsumoto Castle, a designated national treasure in Japan, I was also surprised at the long-preserved cultural assets. During the four-day homestay program in Gujo City, I learned the underlying mentality of the Japanese people through hands-on lessons of sado (Japanese traditional tea ceremony) and kendo fencing. Although the duration was short, I was able to develop strong ties with my host family, feeling comfortable as if I were a real family member. Thanks to the wide variety of programs and events, I was able to spend a delightful time in Japan. -
Before I participated in the summer school program, I had been a little hesitant to spend as long as eight weeks in Japan. However, the time in Japan has gone by so fast and now I rather want to stay longer. For me, the eight-week summer school program was not all good and sometimes I had troubles and a feeling of sadness. Because my Japanese skills were poor and people’s way of thinking varied by where they came from, I sometimes had difficulty communicating and building friendly relations with others. Nevertheless, I have come to like Japan more and more. I am determined to continue studying the Japanese language after returning to my home country, with the hope of studying in Japan again in the future.
