Name: Tamaki Fujisawa Faculty/Department and Year (at the time of participation): Second-year student, Department of International Legal Studies, Faculty of Law Program Period: September 2025 (10 days) Destination: Geneva, Switzerland Program Type: Study Visit to the International Organizations in Geneva
Every year, many Sophia University students study abroad in countries all over the world outside of Japan. How did they manage to find their way through the differences in languages, cultures, and lifestyles? Here are some voices of students who studied abroad.
While studying international law at university, I became interested in seeing how international law is actually implemented in practice. I was also considering pursuing graduate studies at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies(Geneva Graduate Institute), so the opportunity to interact with graduate students there was another major reason I decided to participate.
Sophia University offers two opportunities each year to visit the United Nations and other international organizations: one during the summer break through the Study Visit to the International Organizations in Geneva, and another during the spring break through the Intensive Course at the UN Headquarters in N.Y. Since I was particularly interested in graduate studies in Switzerland, I chose the Geneva program.
I was thrilled and a bit nervous at the same time about visiting international organizations. During the pre-departure sessions, we learned about strict security measures, such as areas where photography is prohibited and organizations that require visitor passes to be issued in advance. Learning about these procedures made the whole experience feel even more real.
Before departure, I familiarized myself with each organization by reading information on their official websites. Looking back, since we were given many opportunities to ask staff members questions, I wish I had prepared more thoughtful questions that could only be answered through direct conversation rather than by reading online information.
My impression was that Geneva is a city designed to host international leaders rather than one focused on residential neighborhoods or tourism. Although on a much larger scale, it reminded me somewhat of Nagatacho or Kasumigaseki in Tokyo, where many government institutions are located.
As one of the world’s most important hubs for international organizations, Geneva has a unique atmosphere. During my visit, funding shortages within the UN system and the resulting organizational restructuring were major topics of discussion, making me feel that I was witnessing a significant turning point in history.
We visited various international organizations, where staff members gave presentations about their work for approximately one hour, followed by about an hour of questions and discussion. Compared with classes in Japan, participants asked far more questions, and many discussions focused on current international issues, making the experience feel highly relevant and immediate.
I also found that connecting my own academic interests and field of study with the mission of each organization made the conversations much more meaningful than simply conducting an interview while speaking to each staff member.
Every evening before going to bed, I wrote down my reflections on the organizations we had visited that day. Since the program was relatively short, I wanted to focus not only on making the most of my time in Geneva but also truly consider how I could utilize what I learned after returning home.
One of the most memorable visits was to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). I learned for the first time that one of its responsibilities is conducting health examinations for prisoners of war. I was particularly impressed by the staff member’s account of maintaining neutrality while requesting governments to improve sanitary conditions and serving as a bridge between prisoners of war and their families.
Another highlight was meeting graduate students in Switzerland, which had been one of my main reasons for joining the program. One of the students had participated in Sophia University’s 3+2 Program before continuing to the Geneva Graduate Institute. Hearing firsthand about balancing specialized undergraduate studies with improving English proficiency, as well as preparing for graduate school and future career paths, gave me a much clearer picture of what that journey would be like. It also boosted my interest in pursuing the program myself.
French is the primary language spoken in Geneva, and many signs and product labels were written only in French. Even buying something as simple as shampoo was challenging. I relied on my smartphone’s translation tools and communicated in English whenever necessary.
Before participating, I imagined international organizations primarily as places where discussions and negotiations take place. However, seeing them firsthand made me realize that much of their work involves practical operations, such as providing support and coordinating activities in reality.
I also became more aware of international etiquette and developed greater confidence in communicating respectfully with senior professionals.
Before joining the program, I had been considering attending graduate school overseas. Visiting Geneva certainly uplifted my aspiration, but it also helped me recognize areas where I need to improve and introduced me to career paths I had not previously considered. As a result, the experience became an important opportunity to rethink my future plans.
Studying abroad may involve worries or require you to make certain sacrifices. However, it also offers truly irreplaceable experiences that you could never have imagined before leaving. If you’re unsure, I encourage you to take the leap and challenge yourself.
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Beyond the Dream: Discovering the Reality of International Organizations in Geneva
