Hello or こんにちは!
Nice that you have found your way to this page. Probably, you want to know who is behind these posts in this blog ;).
Well, my name is Luise and I am 23 years old. Since 2020 I am studying japanese studies and history at the Ruhr-University Bochum. Through my study I was able to spend 7 months in japan as an exchange student. This blog is my way to share my journey and to give tips to anyone who is planning an exchange year in Japan. And who knows, maybe this blog will motivate someone to take the step to study abroad. At least that’s my hope :).
I “inherited” my interest in Japan, I would lovingly call it, from my sister, who took a japanese course at school and then completed a three-month internship in Osaka in 2014. Back then, my family and I visited her for two weeks and that is how my interest in the country was sparked. I was amazed that she could read and understand japanese characters. My sister always said that she felt like a magician when she read something to us ;). And now some time later I can confirm it too.
I started my studies in 2020 and in February 2022 I received the confirmation for my study abroad in 2022/2023. On September 21, 2022, I left for Tsukuba, where I spent the next few months at the University of Tsukuba.