Greti Georgieva, a JMC and Psychology student, wanted an authentic semester abroad – and she certainly got one. From becoming a metal band performer to travelling around the Beppu region with her new friends, Greti made the most of the Exchange program at AUBG.
“My interest in Japanese culture dates back 15 years, and visiting the country has been one of my biggest dreams. I even studied the language for about a year, so that was a plus,” said Greti.
Here is the story of her exchange experience at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Japan.
A warm welcome
“I wanted to go with as few expectations as possible, and I was pleasantly surprised. Beppu is a small city; Japanese people even consider it a very rural place,” shared Greti.
Despite its size, she found an incredibly diverse environment. Half of the student body consisted of international students, mainly from other Asian and Southeast Asian countries, as well as from Africa.
“Meeting people from so many places gave me a new perspective, and the international atmosphere at AUBG was a great transition to this,” she said.
One of the highlights of her experience was the buddy system, where each exchange student was paired with a Japanese APU student who spoke English. Also, before arriving, students filled out a questionnaire about their interests and what they wanted to experience in Beppu.
“The buddy system helps you transition a little bit more smoothly. They organize trips, small competitions, and one-on-one outings, which allowed me to experience Japanese culture more personally,” said Greti.
From attending the biggest summer festivals in Beppu, Natsu Matsuri, to building a spaghetti tower, Greti had no shortage of cultural experiences.
She also quickly formed a friend group of 7-8 girls, all from different countries, and they travelled a lot around the region. “We created a lot of memories there,” she added.
Entering her band girl era
“An experience that I will remember probably for the rest of my life was joining a music band through the student music club,” shared Greti
She played the synthesizer in a band of international students and even performed during the club’s summer concert.
“I hadn’t played the piano in years, but being in a new place, I thought, why not give it a try?” It was especially memorable because we decided to play a metal song. I’m a huge metal fan and always wanted to feel the adrenaline of performing on stage,” she added.
Her advice to future exchange students at APU is to “join a student club if something catches your attention. With over 100 clubs, there’s something for everyone, and it really enriches the experience.”
A JMC education focused on culture
As a Journalism and Mass Communication student at AUBG, Greti found that APU’s JMC program significantly expanded her knowledge in the field as well as her cultural background.
“APU’s JMC degree is very similar to AUBG’s, so I was able to complete many courses. But APU also places a much stronger emphasis on culture and exploring different cultural perspectives on media, how they shape it, and how they interact with it,” she explained.
The learning environment, however, was quite different. “Classes were huge, with around 100-150 students, so there wasn’t as much individual attention as at AUBG,” she noted.
Her advice to future exchange students? “Go on the trips with the APU buddies, attend events, and try to be as open-minded as possible. Don’t be shy to go out as much as you can and make the most of every opportunity – that’s when all the good stuff happens!”
“This experience made me much more independent. It showed me that I’m capable of taking care of myself and taught me how to think quickly on the spot,” Greti concluded.
To learn more about how to enroll in an exchange program at UMaine, check out this page or contact the Erasmus and Study Abroad Programs Office.
