By Marianna Cespa

exchange student from Perugia University

My name is Marianna and I'm an exchange student from Perugia University in Italy. My major is ﾔInternational Promotion of Italian Language and Culture', but it's my second degree because I already graduated last year in ﾔInternational Communication', also from Perugia University.

Although I study in Perugia, my hometown is Ortona which is in the eastern part of Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea.

I came to Sapporo last year in September and I can't believe that time has passed so quickly. Before coming to Sapporo, my overseas program was scheduled to be a six month one, but I got used to life in Sapporo and Sapporo University so quickly that I've asked to stay longer.

It's known throughout the world that Japanese culture is very different from the European lifestyle, so it's often thought that European people can't get used to Japanese life. Maybe it's true, my life in Japan is very different from my Italian one, but I think that it's not good to generalize. There are a lot of Europeans and Italians who love Japan, even more than me. I can't count how many times people have asked me why I love Japan, but it's always difficult to answer for me. I don't know why I like Japan, I only know that I have wanted to come here since I was a child, maybe 10 years old. It's like a dream that's become reality.

I should say that it's not my first time in Japan, it's my third time. I went to Osaka four years ago, for a one month homestay program and I couldn't say anything in Japanese, maybe only greetings and self-introductions. It was very hard but interesting and I had many opportunities to learn about Japanese culture, for example sado, kyudo, and shodo.

The second time I came to Japan was three years ago as an exchange student in Chiba, at Kanda Gaigo Daigaku where I stayed for six months. I started to study Japanese at the beginner level; it was very hard because the teachers didn't allow us to speak our mother tongue in class. Looking back I think that it was very useful and I'm glad because I can use those skills now.

About my actual experience in Sapporo and Sapporo Daigaku, I have no words to explain how happy I feel to have come and to be still here.

What I want to say is that, for me, Japan is not such a strange and distant country as many people think. I've never felt like a foreigner, I think that Japan is my second country! Maybe, one day, I'll come and work here!

During these eight months I have had a lot of experiences, such as travel, taking part in events for foreigners, festivals and so on. One of my best memories is when I wore a kimono for the first time. The kimono is the symbol of Japan and I think that every girl dreams of wearing a real kimono.

I'd already worn a yukata, but kimonos are very different, they make you feel important, even if it is only for a few minutes, just enough time to take pictures. I knew it was difficult to tie an ﾔobi,' but I didn't imagine that it was a job for more than two people. My ﾔbutterfly obi' was great!

And then, another of my best memories was snowboarding! I come from a little city near the sea, where the weather is not as harsh as Sapporo's. It doesn't snow every year, and if it does, it's not like Sapporo. I'd never seen all white streets and deep snow, it was the first time! I went snowboarding with my friends and it was a great experience, not because I could do it well, quite the opposite, I couldn't do it at all! It was really fun. I never thought I would go snowboarding in my life.

I've so many memories that tie me to Sapporo and I don't want to think that July is my last month here. Life at University was such fun, I made so many Japanese and foreign friends, and also the teachers were very kind to me. I don't know how to thank all of themﾉit was one of the best times of my life.

This year helped me not only to improve my Japanese, but it also helped me develop as a person.