Here is the story from Pang Bo san, a 4th year Ph.D. student from China. She belongs to the Department of Pathology, Organ Pathology Unit.

●What was your first impression when coming to Izumo?
The peaceful and laid-back atmosphere prevails in Izumo. This is my first impression and it hasn’t changed a bit. Houses have a little garden decorated with flowers and other plants. The scenery changes in accordance with the seasons. The co-existence with the nature is beautifully represented and I instantly fell in love with the tranquility of this place.
Another thing that struck me was the unpretentious and welcoming people here. When I started living a new life in Izumo, the teachers, new Japanese friends, and even strangers were so generous as to lend me a helping hand whenever I had a problem and even when I hesitated to ask for help. I was very nervous at first but thanks to them, it didn’t take me long to get used to the new environment. 

●What has been your biggest culture shock since coming to Japan?
The biggest one is probably the bowing custom. This is completely different from the Chinese etiquette culture. Chinese people exchange a handshake when they meet for the first time and wave a hand from the second time and on. People in Japan, however, bow in every situation, even during a telephone conversation. This is very interesting.
The second biggest one is the wide variety of hot springs. Japan is rich in geothermal resources and has many unique hot springs with different mineral components good for our health. Just soaking in a hot spring in the cold weather is a great way to take away all the fatigue and energize the body for the next day. My favorite one is called “Hikawa bijin no yu (ひかわ美人の湯)”. It’s in Izumo and about 30 min. by car from here. The water seemed to have magical power because after taking a soak, I found my skin lighter and whiter. The experience triggered my love for hot springs.
Whether it is hot spring water or just tap water, Japanese people seem to like bathing. This might be one of the reasons why almost all the Japanese households have a bathtub in their bathroom. We just take a shower in China and if we want to bathe in hot water, we have to go out and use a public bath.

●What’s your favorite sightseeing spot in Japan?
My favorite sightseeing spot is the Oki islands in Shimane prefecture. I visited there with my friends last May. It was just a two-day visit and we only went to Chiburijima Island (知夫里利島), the smallest island, and Nishinoshima (西ノ島) Island, the second largest one, out of the four inhabited islands. The sea was very calm and almost transparent. If we had had enough time, we could have tried its famous activity, kayaking. If I have another chance to visit there, I want to swim in the beautiful sea as well as trying kayaking. Actually I’m a big lover of swimming to the extent that I sometimes go to “Y-plaza”, the swimming pool near the Izumo campus. Having spent almost all of my life in the city far from the ocean, “swimming in the sea” would be a precious opportunity for me.

To see more, please go to “Hello, Friends!! Vol.22”. 
 

by PANG BO, November 2022