Hello, I am Dereje Getachew from Ethiopia. I’m in the 4th year Ph.D. course at the Department of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine. My major is Developmental Biology. My thesis work focused on the inter-organ difference of the interkinetic nuclear migration (INM), and morphological changes of the trachea and esophagus. The main purpose of the project is to figure out the organogenesis/histogenesis difference between these two organs from the perspective of INM mode and to understand the morphological connection with tracheoesophageal fistula which is a common congenital anomaly around the world.
   Izumo is one of the most gorgeous and oldest cities in Japan, and there are so many places to visit alone or with family too. I have found a lot of elderly men whose ages seem to go beyond 90 years old, which is rare in my country. Perhaps because of this, they have preserved their original, traditional cultural systems without any mixture with foreign cultures. Horticulture is common throughout the city which provides rice, fresh vegetables, and fruit to the local supermarket, and on top of that, the green vegetation adds an aesthetic value to the city. The city is tidy and has fewer traffic jams so one can easily reach the workplace. They have the best way of the trash classification system- others can learn from it. The hospitality, cooperation and the kindness of the people to help others are tremendous. Throughout my stay for the last three and a half years, while I’m walking through the city day and night, I have never witnessed a single incidence of trouble, so I have called Izumo “the hub of peace”. I have learned so many more experiences from Izumo that I cannot finish writing about here. 
   Shimane University Hospital has abundant resources both at an intellectual and material level that enables connection to another university easily. To address these issues, the university should expand the already existing connection in a well-organized manner to make the bilateral connection that can benefit the two parties. Furthermore, they should make the campus a multicultural environment by inviting more students from a different continent and, if possible, by providing scholarships too. This is one way to increase the image, the credibility, and influence of the Faculty of Medicine around the globe.  
   Shimane University has fascinating laboratory resources, renowned staff, and a conducive teaching-learning environment for both local and foreign students. Regarding advice, if you are planning to come, you should start learning the Japanese language so that you can appreciate the culture herein to the fullest. Last but not least, the overseas students are welcome to come to Shimane University in the future.  

 by REGASSA DEREJE GETACHEW, June 2020