Studying at Waseda University: my semester full of travel, new friendships, and surprises

Location: Waseda University, Tokyo
Field of study at home: Artificial Intelligence
Courses in Japan: Business

Dear HHP students,

Today, I’d like to talk about how I studied for a semester at Waseda University in Tokyo. At home, I study Artificial Intelligence, but in Japan I deliberately chose Business courses. At first, it felt a bit like starting over, but that’s exactly what made it interesting: different subjects, a different way of thinking, and a new routine that I quickly fell into.

My weekly schedule was simple: four days of classes per week. I used the rest of the time to travel and see friends. It was actually the best of both worlds. I kept up with my studies and still had enough time to go out and about. I quickly got to know people through introductory events for international students. It was very accessible: you chat after a meeting, go out for dinner together, and before you know it, you have a group of friends with whom you make plans.

I went in the second semester, so there were almost no Dutch people. At first, that takes some getting used to, because you can’t immediately fall back on your own language. But in the end, it worked to my advantage. You approach others more quickly, and you build up an international circle that has many benefits, including practical ones, such as planning lectures or exchanging tips.

The school system in Japan was different from what I was used to. Lectures were more formal and the structure was tighter. Attendance really counted. That required a different rhythm, but it also provided clarity.

I also joined the Waseda soccer club. I was surrounded by Japanese students. The guys accepted me right away, and between exercises I picked up enough Japanese to keep up. I was quite nervous at the first training session: only Japanese teammates, quick instructions that I had to half guess. But after a few passes and a bad joke, the ice was broken. I was immediately given a nickname (van Dijk), learned soccer Japanese in no time and ate ramen with the guys after training.

Besides my studies, I traveled a lot. I visited Thailand, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. Always with friends I had met in Tokyo. The nice thing was that traveling was never separate from my life at Waseda. After a trip, I would return to a familiar routine: lectures, assignments, catching up with the same people. That made the whole semester feel like a whole rather than a series of separate moments.

What stuck with me most is how quickly Tokyo became familiar. After a few weeks, you already have your regular spots and people you meet up with spontaneously. Nothing big or dramatic, just normal student life in a different place. That’s what made it so valuable: I learned not only from books, but also from the people around me and from how the days unfolded.

Looking back, I’m glad I did it that way. It was an unforgettable period, but above all a very normal one, in a positive sense: getting up on time, going to class, seeing people, making plans, sometimes coming home late, and doing it all again the next day. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Finally, I’ve become such good friends with some people that we’re meeting up in New York in a week for Halloween. It’s funny to see how something that started in Tokyo is now continuing on the other side of the world.

If you have any questions about Tokyo, or studying abroad, feel free to send me a message at
+31 6 84 343358. I’m happy to help!

Eren Genc