In addition to preparing research proposals and attending classes every day, I visited many countries during the first year, including Bangladesh on a short-term internship, the Philippines on a short-term Campus Asia program, and Cambodia to assist my instructor’s research. It was very encouraging to be able to meet senior graduates of our graduate school who are already playing active roles in the field of international health in each country. It also made me realize the vast size of Nagasaki University’s network. I think the biggest appeal of this graduate school is the instructors who are always eager to teach and fellow students with whom you can inspire each other. Moreover, one year in Nagasaki provided an opportunity to assess the framework of global health and consider the health of Japan,a country that features universal healthcare insurance, the longest average life expectancy, and aging population with declining birthrate, in comparison to developing countries. This made me very conscious of the purpose of studying public health in Japan and the role of Japanese individuals working in the field of international health.
Now, I have just begun a long-term internship in Bangladesh which I visited last summer. I plan to work on my research project while assisting with maternal and child health projects in the rural areas and urban slums. Although I am sometimes bewildered by the unfamiliar environment in the Islamic society, I intend to spend each day appreciating the experience gained in the field and the thought process created based on that experience, believing that the difficulties will strengthen my future abilities.