Katrin Spillerさん（ドイツ・ビュルツブルグ大学 第6学年次）

My medical internship in Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan was a wonderful experience. I enjoyed my clinical rotation at the Gynecology and Obstetrics department and at the Anesthesiology department (each for 2 weeks) a lot.

In Gynecology -under the supervision of Prof Dr. Hiroaki Shibahara and his Team- I was able to experience many interesting procedures and take part in very thrilling surgeries. On the first day I was shown around the department, getting the chance to look at patients’ rooms, the delivery rooms, the operation rooms and the outpatient clinic. Everyone was really nice to me and tried to explain to me as much as possible. During the following two weeks I was able to observe many surgeries including open, laparoscopic and da-Vinci assisted hysterectomies, ovariectomies and Caesarean section just to name a few. Besides that, I was also able to scrub in getting a closer look on the operations. In outpatients care I was able to observe many pregnancy screening examinations by ultrasound and also colposcopies. Also besides only observing, one time I was allowed to perform the ultrasound myself under very nice instructions of one of the doctors, from which I gained a lot knowledge. One day a week, the Gynecology and Obstetrics department and the Pediatrics department would gather for a joined conference discussing the cases of the last and the coming week. Even though this conference was held in Japanese, I could participate as the doctors translated for me so that I would understand. Here I would really like to point out how much effort everyone was putting in to make me understand and to help me have a wonderful time at that department.

After two weeks I rotated to the Anesthesiology department of Dr. Munetaka Hirose. My days started with joining the morning conference where the interns presented todays cases. For me, everyone changed language, and everything was discussed in English. After that I was taken by Dr. Ayeko Saeki down to the surgery rooms where I could watch many of the inductions. She explained a lot to me about Anesthesiology which I really liked. Sometimes we went out for lunch or coffee together and then she also explained a lot about Japanese culture to me which was so nice and interesting. Back in the department, one of the most experienced doctors gave me some special training on the anesthesiology simulators so I could practice intubations, laryngeal mask intubations, spinal tab procedures and even coniotomies. After that I was also allowed to get some hands-on training on the patients as well from which I gathered a lot of knowledge and security on how to handle anesthetized patients. Not only did I observe many inductions but also, I could learn more about how central venous catheters and Swan Ganz catheters are used and how they are implemented. Also, I was able to watch children’s anesthesiology and learned on what things to pay attention to there. Whilst being in the surgery rooms, the surgeons themselves were also all really friendly to me and sometimes even took the time to explain some things to me so that I not only learned a lot about Anesthesiology but also had the chance to get more knowledge on the many different kinds of surgeries. One day I spend in the Intensive care unit where I learned a lot of all the facilities they have and how patients are treated there. On two days I was able to observe the doctors working in the Pain clinic. There, many nerve blocks were performed, and I saw a lot of ultrasound-controlled procedures and how diagnostic in pain patients works. To end my stay, I gave a little presentation about Germany and studying medicine there at the morning conference and brought some typical German sweets everyone seemed to enjoy. Then I was handed my certificate, and, in the evening, we had a little farewell dinner party. It was a really fun evening and I am so happy to have spent the two weeks in the Anesthesiology department.

But surely my Japan experience was not only about surgeries but so much more. It all started with a very warm welcome by Ms. Kyoko Torii who picked us up at the airport. She brought me to the guest house where she explained all the important information about accommodation and the internship so that I really had an easy start. Together with me, 3 really nice Croatian students were staying in the guest house. The other German student Benjamin who arrived at the same time as I did, stayed in a Japanese student dormitory close by. It is really nice that Hyogo College of Medicine provides accommodation for exchange students. Besides it being really convenient, the possibility to stay together with the other exchange students gives the great chance of getting to know each other better. On most of the weekends for example, the whole group of us exchange students decided to go on a trip together which was always really great. The guest house is a small house right around the corner of Hyogo College of Medicine which makes it a perfect place to stay during the internship. Not only it is very convenient to have short ways to work – especially in the mornings – but also the house is equipped with a kitchen and a living room so that it is nice to gather with the other exchange students and the Japanese students. Here I would really like to point out how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Besides the welcome and farewell dinner parties that were organized by my departments, we also were invited to have lunch with Dr. Hisashi Shinohara and Ms. Torii which was a really nice event. Also, on our first day, we were greeted by the Chair of Trustees and the Head of Hyogo College of Medicine. But not only the doctors made a great effort of giving us exchange students a great time but also the Japanese students really put a lot of energy in making our stay as good as possible. Dinners were organized in Osaka and Kobe, we made sushi together and experienced Osaka nightlife, we were invited to lunch time practice of the English club and often had lunch with everyone in the cafeteria. In Japan many students participate in certain clubs or societies and they offered to us to join them if we wanted to. So, I got the chance to join the running club for some practice and Benjamin tried out the Kendo Club. Also, me and Kasia – the polish student - were allowed to join med school lectures about Traditional Chinese Medicine (in Japan this is part of the curriculum in year 3) and were even able to experience acupuncture ourselves. But not only people at Hyogo College of Medicine were great but I have to stay that not only once in my 6 weeks stay, I experienced an unpleasant or impolite encounter with someone from Japan. Just to give some examples, people stopped at train stations to ask whether help is needed to find the right way or people just came up to you chatting about where you are from, how you like Japan and what more to look at. Speaking of trains, the things being said about the amazing Japanese train systems are true. I used the Japan Rail Pass (I can only recommend getting one if you have some spare time before or after your internship for travelling) and never ever was one train not on time. There are so many local guides at the train stations helping tourists to catch the right train, everything is very clean and those shinkansen trains really speed up to make it really convenient even travelling far distances by train. Also enjoying one of the very delicious bento boxes whilst being on the train is just a nice way of experiencing local cuisine. Japanese Cuisine is amazing anyway. There is so much great food to try. Another highlight of my stay was experiencing the great nature of Japan. Once you escape the concrete jungle of the Hanshin area you can have nice hikes in the mountains next to Kobe (including some snake encounters), experience amazing sunrises at Mount Fuji (the hike is really worth it – also possible to do it on one of the weekends during the internship), look at the beautiful “Halong Bay” like islands around Hiroshima or enjoy stunning lakes and autumn leaves at Hokkaido. If you get the chance, try out a traditional onsen. It is a very relaxing experience! To sum everything up – I had a wonderful time in Japan, and I feel really lucky to have met so many nice people. Arigato gozaimasu.