I studied as a Ph.D student in the Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University from 2013 until 2017. I graduated in 2017. During my study, I learned many things in basic science research. At the same time, I was really amazed with how hard Japanese people were working with sincerity. I learned to work harder and to use my time efficiently.
   As for my study, my project was about the effect of electroconvulsive shock in animal models. It was the first time I experienced working with rats. Even I was a little bit scared. That was a really challenging experience. I had to learn how to take care of them, for example, how to give the electroconvulsive shock to the rats. After the treatment was done, I had to do operations on the rats to remove their brains, and the brains were sliced using frozen section techniques. After that, the sliced brains should be stained and analyzed for their microglial and astrocytes. I got the good results that the electroconvulsive shock could affect the microglial and astrocytes in the rats’ brains. And that might be the treatment mechanism of this therapy.
   With enough results obtained, the next challenge was to submit my paper to an international journal with a high impact factor. We had to answer the reviewer comments, and they also asked for an additional experiment. So, the first try was rejected but thank God, with the additional experiment, my paper was finally published, and I graduated in 2017.
   Not only studying experiences, but also the life in Japan satisfied me a lot. I really enjoyed staying in Japan for 4 years, especially in Izumo. My family and I really loved Izumo. We like the environment there. I hope I can go there again someday.
   I’m now working as a lecturer in the Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. As a lecturer, I have to teach about psychiatry to my medical students, and also to the medical doctors who want to become a psychiatrist. We also do research, especially clinical research in mental health. Since I am a psychiatrist, I also work as a medical doctor in hospitals to take care of patients with mental illness.
   I chose Shimane University because my department had a collaboration with the Psychiatry Department in the Medical Faculty of Shimane University. It was really a good opportunity for me to join the Department. As a lecturer, my home university requires us to have a Ph.D. degree so we could teach students in their Master’s program. That’s why I studied in Shimane.
    I not only got the degree, but also learned about the attitudes toward work, research techniques, and many other things in Shimane that I can make the most of at work here in Indonesia. I’m really grateful that I studied in Shimane University.
   To foreign students, please do not hesitate to study in Shimane University, especially in the Faculty of Medicine in Izumo. The campus is very good, quiet, and has a good atmosphere suitable for studying. The teachers and the staff members are very friendly and always try to help us. Quite a few of them can speak English, which is very helpful. The Ph.D. program is also popular in foreign countries. Many students from overseas are studying there.
   Izumo is also a very nice and comfortable place to live in. So, please come to study in Shimane University, Izumo campus.
 

by ERLYN LIMOA, March 2022