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Yang Hongkuan
Nguyen Quoc Vinh
to ask somebody for help; would anybody help you?
NAOMI:
Oh definitely; they always help. If we had longer train-
ing it would be useful for both Japanese and international
students. About information on the English website: when my
professor in Kenya asked me about the programs offered, I
had no clue. Cancer and hypertension, diabetes, and muscular
dystrophy, some neurological diseases are big problems in Ke-
nya and I know the University of Nairobi really want students
to study non-infectious diseases. When it comes to neurologi-
cal diseases, Japan is the place to go.
MITSUNAMI:
Thank you. Yang please.
YANG:
From what I know and talk with other students in other
universities, I think PhD
should mean more train-
ing, more lectures. I think
15% of the PhD course
lectures should be given
in English. It is really hard
for us to understand oth-
erwise, and that is a waste.
Now I’m teaching 2 or 3
younger students, and I
wish we could be taught
by the university staff
more . . . .
AIURA:
University staff,
rather than by senior stu-
dents?
YANG:
Yes. Secondly, I wish recruitment information could be
given earlier, because students usually make their decision be-
fore February or March.
AIURA:
At least half a year in advance?
YANG:
Yes, so we have more time to prepare. Another thing
is that we often feel lonely in Japan. Research is always very
tiring and stressful.
AIURA:
What sort of thing might help? Some excursions . . . ?
YANG:
Yes! Also communication with Japanese PhD students.
MITSUNAMI:
How about organizing meetings in the interna-
tional house, every month?
YANG:
We have that. We have a meeting every 2 weeks. We in-
vited Japanese students and doctors as well. They often come.
AIURA:
That’s good.
MITSUNAMI:
Does everybody feel lonely?
YANG &
MARYAM:
Sometimes, yes.
YANG:
There are many reasons, many factors. Heartsick, home-
sick.
MITSUNAMI:
Any more problems? Vinh, please.
VINH:
The first difficulty is language. When I came here to
start, I needed the explanation or to be taught how to use the
new equipment. Similar to Naomi’s opinion we have difficulties
to get used to new things,
writing in English, or do-
ing statistics. Every year
we have a seminar about
training equipment of
central laboratory but all
in Japanese. A guidebook
would be helpful. Another
is in Vietnam I’m a sur-
geon but working here I
just only do the legwork.
AIURA:
You miss surgeries.
VINH:
Yes. So if I am here
so long, my skill will be-
come rusty. I think many
clinical doctors want to go back earlier than the duration we
have to study here, but it may depend on my department, be-
cause I do experiments not only for my study but also for other
projects as an assistant. The last point is actually the life here
is so simple, just only home and lab, and home and lab.
MITSUNAMI & AIURA:
Too simple?
VINH:
I always feel lonely. My life in Vietnam is always busy,
always crowded. Back home, I have many patients, students
and friends, always crowded, but here I only work and home.
MITSUNAMI:
OK. Thank you. Lastly I would like to hear your
requests to SUMS. Any other requests? Anyone?
MARYAM:
One possible solution with the language problem is
probably to encourage students to study Japanese before they
come, in their country.
MITSUNAMI:
Is it easy in Canada to study Japanese?
MARYAM:
In my university there were Japanese courses. I
would have taken them but because of the SUMS project tim-
ing, I got told too late.
MITSUNAMI:
I see. In China is it . . . ?
YANG:
It’s super easy. There are Japanese schools everywhere.
AIURA:
Did you think about going to one before you came?
YANG:
It was just too sudden. No time.
MARYAM:
Maybe just, once we’re here, increase the language
classes, because the first year we’re less busy.
NAOMI:
The first year or during the visiting researcher period.
They can learn research skills as well as learning Japanese at
that time.
MITSUNAMI:
OK. Thank you very much. I think merits and de-
merits of studying abroad at SUMS became clearer with this
discussion and I hope SUMS will contribute more to the world
medical research by enhancing the good points and correcting
the weak points.
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Table Talk: Studying in SUMS
－What SUMS Can Offer for Overseas Researchers －
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