Destination: The Politecnico Di Milano, Italy 
Study Period: September 2018 – August 2019 
Affiliation/Grade at the start of studying abroad: School of Design, 4^th Year 

My Thoughts on Studying Abroad 
1. Outcomes 
I’m not sure if my skills have changed much in just one year, but I think this was a good opportunity for me to learn what students abroad are studying and how they study, and to review the Japanese education system and gain a new perspective of my own education. I think the best thing about this program is that I was able to know that it is possible to live outside of Japan. 

2. Challenges 
Everyone, I did not look like the same student as I was because I have mastered the use a lot of software, equipment, printing, and other technology, and it looked like I was working. I should have developed the ability to not only think in my head but also to use my hands to produce more outputs. 

Advice to Prospective Students 
It is always good to have a goal in mind, but there may be times when you fall behind and cannot get anything done. In such a case, you do not have to go to school, just get out of the house, go for a walk, meet a different community, and do not stay at home. Even if you do not see any significant results right away, I think your hard work will give you confidence. I hope you will enjoy the different environment from that of Japan. 

Do you have faced any problems during your stay at the study abroad destination or have any suggestions for improvement? 
As soon as you arrive at your destination, you will need to go through official procedures at government offices, and in most cases, English is not spoken at post offices and police stations. When I wanted to send my luggage home, I had a hard time because I could not communicate in English to understand the documents required for international flights. I managed to get through it with the help of those who could speak English. The waiting time is very long, which can be hard for Japanese people.