Hi, I'm ZHOU XIAOJING from China. I’m in the 4th year of the Ph.D. course at the Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology Unit (Internal Medicine Ⅲ).
   The first reason why I became interested in Shimane University was that Japan has always been famous for its advanced medical level and perfect medical system, and that Japan is also a close neighbor of China, so it has always been my first choice for studying abroad. Secondly, I have always liked the Japanese animation very much, which led me to be interested in Japan as a whole. I always wanted to experience the Japanese environment and culture. Finally, because Shimane University is one of the international partner universities of Ningxia Medical University, as a student of Ningxia Medical University, there were many friends of mine here, and I really wanted to study with them here.
   When I came to Izumo for the first time, I was amazed by the environment of Izumo. The sky here is very clear, the air is very fresh, and the river is also very clean, which makes me feel comfortable. Also, I really like the quiet environment of Izumo.
   Also, I have had some culture shocks living in Japan. The biggest one is the garbage classification. It is very strict here, which is very conducive to the environmental protection. I am very happy that some cities in China have also started garbage classification. Secondly, whenever I go to the hospital to see a doctor, I can always get good treatment. The doctors and nurses are very patient and the prices are acceptable, which makes me feel very at ease. Finally, the rigor, patience, and friendliness, of the Japanese surprised me, which helped me a lot in my life.
    I was lucky enough to encounter some great Japanese food and wonderful sightseeing spots. My favorite Japanese food is sushi, and for the sightseeing spot, I like the scenery of Naoshima the most. There are many islands connected here, and each island has a different beauty. The iconic pumpkins are so cute with lush trees and a beautiful view of the water and the sky.
   As a career path after graduation, I picture in my mind engaging in medical and scientific research, just like my supervisor Professor Atsushi Nagai. I hope that the knowledge I have learned can make contributions to the progress of human medicine in the future.

by ZHOU XIAOJING, March 2023