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Sho Yokoyama
5th year of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory

　I learned a lot through the training this time, but the training in an English-speaking country made me realize the importance of communication. In particular, I felt that it is important to try to communicate with each other until we understand what each other is trying to say. At the beginning of the training, when I did not understand English, I pretended to understand. However, I pretended to understand in conversations with students, and then when it was my turn to speak, I could not respond at all and was flustered. It was a very rude response, and I still regret it to this day. I realized that not understanding something is nothing to be ashamed of, and that it is important in communication to understand what the other person is trying to say, no matter how many times you have to ask for clarification, and if you still don't understand, ask the person to write it down on paper, or use a translation app, or whatever you can use. This is also an important attitude in daily communication in Japan, and I would like to keep this feeling in mind and make use of it in the future.

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Haruna Satomi
Veterinary Medicine, 5th year
Veterinary Anatomy Lab

I gained many valuable experiences during my two weeks of training at Purdue University. What was particularly impressive was hearing the stories of American medical specialists; I learned how difficult and wonderful it is to master one path, and it gave me a chance to think about my own career as a veterinarian. I was also surprised by the amount of study and knowledge that American veterinary students have. I would like to use the inspiration I received from them to continue taking on various challenges in the future.

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Mai Yamamoto
5th year, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Large Animal Clinical Laboratory

I am a member of the Large Animal Clinical Laboratory at Kitasato University. Therefore, during my training at Purdue University, I wanted to experience the differences in large animal clinical practice from the U.S., so I allocated 8 days out of my 10-day training program to large animal training. I realized a number of differences from the large animal practice at Kitasato University, such as the fact that most of the treatment is for racehorses, that veterinary nurses exist for large animals, and that there is a lot of information to be written in the medical records. Above all, I was surprised at the level of knowledge and awareness of the students involved in the practice, which was very stimulating.
　Now, in my laboratory activities since returning to Japan, I try to increase my own knowledge by immediately asking questions to the professors. I also try to remember to try everything. This training at Purdue University was a very good opportunity for me to improve myself.

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Misaki Sugiuchi
5th Year Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Anatomy Lab

The most memorable difference between the U.S. and Japan that I felt during the training was the students' involvement in medical examinations. The students themselves interviewed owners directly, conducted tests, made a list of possible differential diagnoses, additional tests, treatment plans, etc., based on the findings, and explained them to the owners after confirming them with the doctor in charge. When the students were asked by the doctors and owners why the tests were necessary, they were able to answer without hesitation.
I was impressed by the students' awareness of learning and the teachers' awareness of education, and felt a yearning for such an environment.
I will be starting my clinical training from now on, but this training experience has heightened my expectations and motivation for my practical training.
Through this study abroad program, I was able to clarify what I want to do and what I want to become in the future, and it gave me an opportunity to think about what I should do now that I am about to start job hunting. I also made connections with local doctors, including Japanese ones, and I strongly feel that these two weeks were a valuable experience that I could not have had in Japan.

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Mr. Seitaka Hamasaki
5th year of Veterinary Medicine
Small Animal Surgery Lab 2

This summer training program showed me the vastness of veterinary medicine. At Purdue University, where we went, veterinary medicine is highly subdivided, especially in the small animal hospital, which is divided into various departments. Also, Purdue University is a large university, and there are many departments that specialize in fields that are rarely seen in Japan. I was able to discover specialties that I had not been aware of before, and I felt like I had more options for the future.
I was overwhelmed by the detailed techniques and vast knowledge of the doctors during my two weeks of training, but I am very glad that I was able to spend two weeks in the U.S., an environment that is completely different from Japan, and have an experience that I could not have had in Japan.

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Tetsuo Yokoyama
5th Year Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Radiology Laboratory

This summer training program made me realize how little effort I have been making by seeing with my own eyes American veterinary students, medical specialists, and residents who are studying daily to become medical specialists.
This summer's U.S. residency program was a valuable opportunity for me to realize this difference in effort, and I keenly felt the need to devote myself more and more to my work. I was also able to talk with doctors specializing in various fields, which gave me an opportunity to decide what kind of veterinarian I want to become in the future.

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Yuri Yoshimura
5th year veterinary student
Laboratory Animal Science Laboratory

I am truly happy that this training program was made possible thanks to the efforts of so many people in the midst of this Corona disaster.
First of all, what I gained from this summer program was not only the opportunity to see American veterinary medicine firsthand, but also the high level of awareness of the local students, which made me rethink how I will spend my remaining years as a student. Kitasato also has professors who are specialists in various fields, and I am aware that I am placed in the best environment for learning, and I decided to be greedy, in a good way, for what I want to know and what I want to do.
I also decided to participate in the clinical rotation training that will start in the second semester at Kitasato University, imagining myself in the clinical field in the future, and to absorb everything I want to know so that I do not miss the opportunity to learn.
The training also made me realize the importance of English as a tool for learning. I regretted that I could not understand the conversations between Purdue University professors and students because I could not even speak English on a daily basis. I had a longing to work in the U.S. in the future, but first I wanted to improve my English, especially my listening skills, as a tool for learning. I hope to become a person who can be active overseas someday.
Finally, I am very glad that Mr. Tajima was the teacher who accompanied us. It is very encouraging to think that there is a teacher who has high expectations for our future. I hope to show you how much we have grown in the years to come.

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