My one-year exchange at SMU brought me a huge change in my life. I am a final-year Japanese student from Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, and doing two years exchange in Washington State University in US and here in Singapore, studying Economics, Development Economics, School of Economics.

School life is not easy but fun. Taking four modules per semester is unexpectedly tough with many readings, assignments and group projects, which are much more than in my home university. However, thanks to studious local students and professors, I have never felt wasting time on doing these works because each lesson based on discussion has powerful, active and enthusiastic contents, which makes me motivate for keeping learning, sharing and thinking about all learnings.

Other than Economics, I took political science classes since my interest is in international development. Blessed with warmth classmates and professors, I have enjoyed all classes and learned about development in a different from economic aspect. 

Multi-cultural/national/religious environment is also attractive and different from my home university. I am very impressed by how Singapore can mingle such diverse nationalities in a small country since we have exchange students in my home university, but we rarely take classes together. Moreover, SMU has lots of exchange students from all over the world. In fact, I have made friends with more than 100 students from more than 30 countries for the entire year.

Wherever I go, there are friends, which is amazing. I have learned that it is very important to listen to others and understand each other rather than insist on my own cultural aspects and opinions because no one is the same. Showing respect in a different way of that most of Japanese do to elders and seniors is very important in our life.Throughout my experience, I have changed in terms of open-mindedness. This thus gave me an opportunity to gain a broadened mind and new idea for my future including job after graduation. 

I would like to thank all my friends for being nice and keen to me. I am so happy to study at SMU.

Mio, from Kansai Gaidai University (Japan), currently on exchange at Singapore Management University.

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