I was chosen for the Sakura Science exchange program in my 4th year of Dentistry. It was one of the most memorable experiences in my life so far. Travelling to the other end of the world, staying in a beautiful country with a profoundly unique culture and incredible attention to detail was life changing to say the least. Experiencing what dentistry was like at different universities in Japan was very informative and eye opening, especially with how different things are done, and also, how similar things are between our two countries.

Our hosts were kind and generous while also extremely respectful. Although they were some of the most qualified people I have ever met, being post grad students and professors, they were very down to earth and easy to talk to. The program had a good balance between work and pleasure and we got to experience dentistry and Japanese culture together. The University of the Western Cape is looking forward to a long relationship, filled with much opportunities and exchange of resources and knowledge. The future is bright, just like the rising sun.