Kyushu University, Japan

Chad Tai Wai-yat|Year 4 Bachelor of Nursing (Full-time) student

My 2-week exchange at Kyushu University involved both academic activities and cultural events. In the first week, we made site visits, including campus tours, city tours, and some welfare facilities. We also met with postgraduate students studying midwifery. In the second week, we attended lectures on topics such as paediatric care, elderly care, and traditional Japanese medicine (kampoo). We also attended nursing practical sessions with their year 3 students.

The most impressive visit was to the disaster centre, which exhibits various inventions for disaster prevention and holds regular disaster-related lectures and demonstrations for the general public to educate citizens on disaster prevention and what to do during events such as flooding or earthquakes. The government's efforts in disaster prevention impressed me greatly, as this is an important step in public health development and reducing deaths and injuries from disasters.

We also made an unforgettable visit to Dazaiku, taking a serene journey into Japan’s intellectual and spiritual heart. As I walked the path to the shrine, flanked by ancient trees and stone lanterns, a profound sense of tranquillity enveloped me. The main hall, dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, emanated a quiet dignity, while students clad in uniforms rubbed the head of the legendary nikiniki ushi bull statue for academic luck. Surrounded by the meticulously raked gardens and the distant murmur of prayers, I felt a deep connection to a thousand-year legacy of learning and reverence, and cherished a moment of peaceful reflection on the beautiful intersection of history, faith, and the enduring pursuit of knowledge.

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