Study Period: January 2022 – December 2022
Affiliation/Grade at the start of studying abroad: Graduate School of Design, Department of Design Strategy, Master Year 1

I chose to study at Aalto University because I wanted to live in Finland, a country I find fascinating. I believe that there is much to be discovered by actually seeing and hearing simple and beautiful things in daily life in the land where many stories and designs were born and by interacting with people who have lived there.

One of the characteristics of the Finnish classroom is the nonhierarchical relationship between teacher and students. In the fieldwork, the teacher walked with the students and was equally fascinated with nature as with students. The critiques were less tense, and everyone observed the work sincerely and shared their opinion honestly, which was comforting to me as a design student. I was happy to continue interacting with my classmates after the class was over, and I was surprised when the professor asked me to exchange Instagram with him.

Aalto University also has excellent facilities and a variety of workshops, and I could use the ceramic and printing workshops and create freely during periods when I was not in class. One of the attractions of Aalto University is that people of various ages and faculties are gathered here, and you can easily interact with people from very different backgrounds.

First of all, I know you are busy with many preparations, but please apply for the scholarship as I think it will be a great help. (I regretted it many times while I was studying abroad.)

I think it is good to be more involved in your study abroad destination, such as challenging yourself to do something difficult or spending time with someone you are comfortable with and can have fun with. Some people say it is better not to get involved with Japanese people, but I think it is also good to have a community because you can get a lot of help. Studying abroad is a series of new encounters and goodbyes; every day passes with fulfillment. I am sure there will be many things you don’t understand and many happenings, but I hope you will enjoy every day to the fullest!

Nonoka Kojima