Alex Ford: Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

The opportunity to study in Japan has been one of the highlights of my university career. A scholarship and an OS Help loan gave me the (otherwise impossible) chance to combine two of my greatest passions: learning and travelling!!!  I am glad I chose to travel to a challenging destination like Japan.


The first week I arrived
at University we went
to check out the peace
park and the peace dome and the peace museum.
The dome is on the way
to town so I see it
fairly often.

A festival in Hiroshima where everyone wears
the summer kimono.
There are people everywhere!

Ginkakuji Temple
in Kyoto
Click images for a larger view
I gained a variety of vastly different cultural experiences and also met some of the kindest and most generous people I have known. I experienced being part of a minority for the first time in my life (all be it a popular one), which is a perspective I value having been exposed to.  Over the year I was lucky enough to travel to Japan’s 5 main islands with friends I met and saw some fantastic sights!

With my friend Kyoko
at the famous red gate
on Miyajima (a small
island near Hiroshima),
one of the “3 most
beautiful sites in Japan”.

I went with my
friend Tanaka san to a famous place where they make the brushes for calligraphy and I got to have a go myself.

Ever since I arrived in
Japan until about mid October I was hearing
about the Japan Korea Youth Festival. There
were lots of activities some of which I participated in prior to the culmination point, which was the weekend of October 15
and 16. On this weekend there was a symposium and then a GIANT tug of war.
Click images for a larger view

I would STRONGLY urge every student to GO ON EXCHANGE!!!! At times it won’t be easy but you will rarely find the chance to experience a foreign country in such a profound and unique way.

-Alex Ford

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Last reviewed: 21 September, 2009

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