我是一名意大利留学生。前年1月来到日本，一直在学习院大学学习日本美术史。我对日本绘画和日本卷轴画特别感兴趣。4月我将升入二年级，我打算把镰仓时代的卷轴画作为我研究的方向。我觉得日本，尤其是东京非常适合做研究。因为这里有很多美术馆、图书馆，还有许多有意思的展览和活动。学生们可以寓学于乐。

我来日本已经有两年了，时光飞逝。当初因为是第一次来到日本，虽然很高兴，但心里也非常的忐忑不安，不知道在日本的生活会是什么样子。不过现在，我觉得日本的生活非常愉快，是一次很有意义的经历。

首先，我要提到的是，日本和意大利之间路途遥远，文化差异也很大。而且日本人说的话也非常难懂。所以我一开始并不习惯，无论是生活还是学习都不轻松。那时，就只能靠自己的努力去克服这些困难。但是，一个月以后，我就已经开始非常享受日本的生活了。

日本人对外国人非常友好。我也交到了很多朋友，不论是在生活方面还是学习方面，都有很多人为我提供了帮助。这一点非常重要。令我完全不会感到孤独和寂寞。

在这两年的时间里，我经常对日本的环境、传统、习惯和生活等感到惊讶。首先，我想说说季节方面。在日本，随着季节变换，自然界会发生很大的变化。一年之中可以看到四季不同的景色，对我来说这是莫大的惊喜。秋季，随处可见如火一般的红叶。放眼望去，红色、黄色、橙色交织在一起，鲜艳夺目，点缀出一派独特的景色。

入冬之后，天气渐冷。树叶随着寒风飘落，自然景色又有所不同。到了三月，天气变暖，春意渐浓。梅花、樱花迎风绽放，形成一道美丽的风景。学习院大学内也有很多樱花，学生们经常会聚集在一起赏花。五月末的时候开始进入夏季，满眼都是鲜亮的绿色。日本的四季，不仅带来了自然界的变化，也对日本人丰富的感性产生了极大的影响。日本人能够从内心深处感受到四季的变换，这实在是一件妙事。这样细腻的内心，在意大利已经很难见到了，我不禁为之感到惊讶。

对季节的描绘，自古以来都是美术和文学中不可或缺的一部分。不仅如此，季节还深深地影响了日本人的生活习惯。如今在日本，人们仍然会在不同的季节享用不同的美食，有很多用树叶包裹的点心。日本人在写信时，首先要谈到季节。这些都是日本特有的习惯。每当我想到这些的时候，仍然会感到惊讶。

日本还有许多其他让我感到惊讶的地方，实在是无法一一尽述。但是，现在最先浮现在我脑海中的是夏天的烟花、相扑和文乐。这三件事是我永远无法忘记的。此外，我还有许多想要尝试的事情，今后我也会继续在学习之余尽情地享受日本的生活。

各位有志于留学日本的同学们，日本的精髓是很难用语言描述出来的。但是，最后我想要告诉大家的是，经过了2年的日本生活，我非常坚信留学日本是一次难能可贵的经历。希望大家能够亲自来日本看一看。

I am an Italian overseas student who came to Japan in January last year, and I have been studying History of Japanese Art at Gakushuin University since then. I have a particular interest in paintings and picture scrolls.

I entered the graduate school in April and have carried on specializing in picture scrolls of the Kamakura Period. I think that Japan, especially Tokyo, is an ideal place to conduct research. There is an abundance of galleries and libraries, fascinating exhibitions and events, enabling students to study and enjoy themselves at the same time.

Although I have been in Japan for one year now, the time really flew by. Since it was my first time in Japan, I was both happy and at the same time apprehensive at the outset; what would living in Japan be like? But I now feel that living in Japan is a pleasant and interesting experience.

I would like to bring your attention to the fact that Japan is a very long way from Italy, there are vast cultural differences, and the Japanese language is not easy. So getting used to studying and living here was initially quite an effort. I had no choice but to draw upon all my resources. After a month or so, I started to enjoy life in Japan.

I think Japanese and foreigners enjoy a good relationship, and my studies and daily life were greatly helped from the outset by all the friends I made. There was no danger of me feeling lonely or isolated, and I think this was really important.

In the past year I have been constantly amazed by the atmosphere, traditions, customs and lifestyle of Japan. First of all, the seasons and the huge changes they render to natural world, changes which were a constant source of pleasure to me. In autumn, the flaming autumnal hues of the trees are to be seen everywhere: a dazzling blend of red, yellow and orange creating a spectacular landscape. As winter sets in, becoming chillier each day, the leaves are scattered by the cold wind and the landscape is changed once more. March brings warmer weather, and beautiful views filled with plum and cherry blossom. Students at Gakushuin University flock together to enjoy the blossoms under the many cherry trees in the grounds. Finally, the end of May ushers in days of vivid summer greenery.

I think that the seasons are not merely a natural phenomena but a vital part of the Japanese sensibility. I was amazed at the deep feeling that the Japanese have for the seasons, a wonderful sentiment which my own countrymen are increasingly losing. Seasonal motifs have long appeared in art and literature. They also exert a great influence on the lives of the Japanese, with many seasonal dishes still enjoyed such as sweets wrapped in leaves. And in their letter writing, too, the Japanese start with a seasonal greeting, surely a custom unique to this country.

Even now I am still surprised when I think back, and there are so many other things that amazed me that I cannot write them all. Other special memories include fireworks, sumo and bunraku, the Japanese puppet theatre, none of which I will ever forget.

There are still many things that I would like to do, so I will carry on studying and enjoying life in Japan. Though it is difficult to explain Japan in words, there is one thing that I would like to say to all students considering studying here: I am convinced that my own year studying in Japan has been a wonderful experience. Please come and see Japan for yourselves.