I am currently studying abroad at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm, Sweden. I have been interested in studying abroad since I entered university, and I was particularly attracted to the opportunity to conduct research on-site. This led me to apply for the GME program, which is offered by three engineering departments.

My life here is primarily focused on research, although I also took two courses during the summer semester. The place where I usually stay gathers experts from various fields, such as theoretical chemistry and fluid dynamics. It's a stimulating environment, with other students frequently engaging in discussions. I usually arrive around 9 a.m., but many people come even earlier, before 8 a.m. There is a well-equipped café space where everyone gathers, offering coffee and fruit. At noon, everyone gathers there for lunch, and since many people are from outside Sweden, it’s fun to hear about different countries.

Regarding the courses, I took two: one in my specialized field and one in Swedish. In Sweden, fewer courses are taken compared to Japan, but more time is required for each course. A characteristic feature is that many courses include practical exercises in pairs in addition to lectures. In the courses I took, there was a five-hour pair work session set aside each week in the afternoon. As for the Swedish language course, it was quite interesting; however, since Swedish people are all good at English, unfortunately, I haven't had many opportunities to use it yet.

The reason I chose Sweden for studying abroad was originally that, among the research fields available at the candidate universities in the GME program, KTH offered a field of research that interested me. After spending about six months here, I find it a very comfortable place to live, and I feel very fortunate to have come to this country.