Cherry Blossoms to Snowflakes: Unique Experience in Hokudai

As a man from the South, where snowfall is extremely uncommon in my hometown, I can still clearly recall my initial impression of the Hokkaido streets where the sheer volume of snow in Sapporo amazes me. Hokkaido is renowned for its winter sports because of its abundant snowfall. When I tried skiing and snowboarding for the first time, I became immediately obsessed with them. The white world becomes colorful when winter ends and the snow melts. The Hokudai is an exquisite place to study because of the pink, red, and yellow hues that cherry, maple, and ginkgo bring to the campus. Beyond the campus, the wild of Hokkaido also has breathtaking views worth exploring. I traveled with my friends all around Hokkaido, and almost every famous scene has been witnessed, all of them were fascinating and left a deep impression on my memory.

But there are also challenges besides all those mentioned above. I had always lived and studied in Shanghai before moving to Japan; it was my first experience living alone, and it got even harder being a foreigner. The fact that graduate students must juggle study and research makes study life distinct as well. Fortunately, I had a lot of support from my friends, HU staff, and supervisor, and I completed the Master's course successfully. Now as a doctoral student, I am looking forward to gaining more life experience and knowledge at Hokkaido University.