TUMSAT METIS Report

CTEX Participation 2025 April - 2025 August

Master Student, Computer Science,

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

M. N.

I'm a Norwegian student taking a Master of Science in Informatics, specializing in databases and search, at NTNU, Trondheim.

I originally applied to TUMSAT because I wanted an exchange semester in Tokyo, even though my field of study wasn't related to marine or food sience. Despite this, I found that TUMSAT had more than enough subjects to choose from even when I was only looking for computer related subjects, and I 'd encourage anyone with a purely technological background to consider applying here as well.

I stayed in Tokyo from the beginning of April to the end of August. Most of the classes at TUMSAT finish towards the end of July, but if you're part of a lab or have some special classes the semester might carry you all the way through August, like it did with me. I was supervised by professor Tadasuke Furuya, who was a big help when picking my classes, and participated in his lab throughout my stay. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a fellow student of the lab, who acted as my tutor and helped me get my bearings in Japan. There were a lot of paperwork and other miscellaneous things I had to do in the first few weeks, but it all went smoothly thanks to her help. I also received plenty of help and guidance from the METIS staff and I always felt like I had all the support I needed.

My tutor was also kind enough to show me around campus and introduce me to the rest of the international students in my lab. Since my tutor didn't live in the dormitory, another one of my lab mates helped me settle into my dorm room and helped me buy everything I might need. They were all incredibly kind and helpful. They also held a pizza party for me on my first day at campus and were very eager to get to know me and give me a warm welcome. On top of this, my lab's professor also arranged a separate welcome party for me a few days later, where we went to a restaurant together, all of which made me feel very welcome.

As the semester and the classes were properly starting, I met more international students through my Japanese language classes and was quickly able to make friends. Although there was a clear language barrier that made it harder to get to know most of the Japanese students, many of them were still very eager to make friends with me. I did also meet several Japanese students at TUMSAT who spoke English well and am happy to say I also made some very good Japanese friends in addition to all the international students.

Even though I was part of a lab, I wasn't conducting any research. I was instead learning from one of my lab mates' research presentations, to hold a presentation on his work at the end of my stay. Because of this, the workload was quite small compared to what I'm used to at NTNU, which allowed me to explore Tokyo and the rest of Japan through several different trips.

Tokyo itself is a humongous city with endless things to do, amazing food, and cheap prices. Compared to the prices in Norway, Japan is much more affordable, and eating out on a regular basis is totally doable. Tokyo also has something for everyone, from the shrines and culture in Asakusa, to the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, and the amazing nightlife in Shinjuku. It's a city that will never leave you bored, and I don't feel like I was even close to fully explore even after several months. It is very touristy, but it also has many hidden gems. One of my personal favorite spots in the city was Kichijoji, a hip area in west Tokyo that has mostly managed to avoid all the foreign tourists.

As someone who both loves history and nature, Japan outside of Tokyo never disappointed. From Kyoto's temples to the old postal towns along Nakasendo, Japan is incredibly culture rich. My personal favorite sight out of everything I experienced in Japan was Matsumoto castle, one of the few original castles remaining from Japan's warring states period. If you prefer more natural sites, the scenic beauty of Kamikouchi is also breathtaking. Another of my favorite trips was my trip to Nasu, a beautiful and popular retreat for the domestic population, but largely untouched by foreign tourists. In addition to Tokyo, Japan also has other large cities with their own unique charm, and I personally think the energetic city of Osaka is also a must-visit.

TUMSAT and METIS gave me an amazing opporutunity to experience a completly different culture, both academically and otherwise. It allowed me to meet many amazing people from completel different backgrounds than my own and gave me many unforgettable experiences!