Hello, I am Mark Smeets, a 24 year old master student Technical Medicine, and the president of the study tour project to Japan. I grew up in Landgraaf which lies in the “deep south” of The Netherlands (about 25 km distance of the city Maastricht). Since I was young, I have always been interested in foreign countries and cultures and therefore enjoyed the frequent holidays abroad with family and friends.

When I had the opportunity of organizing this study tour I was direct enthusiastic. It combines the challenge of organizing a large project with a lot of cooperating people, and my interest in the developments in the fascinating country Japan.

Besides studying and organizing this tour I am active in a lot of activities which range from a research project about medical casts to the organization of a festival in Germany. The rest of the time I like to socialize with my friends, roommates and family.

Together with my friends from the study tour committee I hope to organize an interesting and pleasant study tour for every participant which will hopefully lead to unforgettable experiences!

Good day, my name is Jasper Verbree and I am a master student Robotics & Imaging of Technical Medicine. I am born and raised in a small town Zevenhuizen in the west of the Netherlands.

The study tour project for me is a reason to delay my internships, gain some academic development and follow a few technical courses to increase my knowledge. Learning about other cultures enables you to get to know your own culture and how some decisions are influenced by that. Next to my task as a treasurer of this study tour, I do the PR, like making posters, layout work, create the corporate identity and create and maintain the website.

I am not the type of guy to sit still for long. When I’m not working on the study tour project, I like to do juggling, archery and modern dance. I am also active in a few committees (e.g. website, dancingday, jugglingweekend etc.). Recently I opted to go in the board of the cultural umbrella corporation Apollo on the University campus.

I’m Renee Kölgen and I’m de case study coordinator of the study tour “Diado Shoi, study tour Japan 2009” and next to the case study I also try to find some sponsoring for the tour as well. I lived most of my life in the southern part of the Netherlands, in a city called Landgraaf. At the age of 18 I moved to Enschede to study at the University of Twente. Here I study Technical Medicine and I’m in my fourth year now and just chose the mastertrack Medical Signaling. Last year I received my Bachelor certificate and this it seemed as nice moment to interrupt my study shortly. Therefore I applied for the study tour committee, to broaden other skills besides my study. The adventure of traveling to the other side of the world with a group of 30 students and getting a sneak peak into some companies in Japan, is something that will be a once in a life time experience. Organizing such a large project takes a lot of time but the end result will be all worth it!

Besides the study tour committee I also participate in the Technical Committee of the volleyball club Harambee. There I’m the contact person for all the men’s teams from M5 to M10. Of course I also play volleyball my self for which I train two evenings a week. Besides volleyball I love swimming but due to my full program I often don’t find the time to take a dip. I also have a job at the Experimental and Educational Centre for Technical Medicine for one day a week and once in the two weeks, on Wednesday evening you can find me with some other students of Technical Medicine and Biomedical Technology who are united in the club bRAXIS, in a pub in Enschede where we enjoy our evening out. Next to al these activities I also like reading, especially during my 5 hours journey to my parents, watching movies and television series and going on a holiday to explore the world!

“We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” -- John Hope Franklin

Hi, my name is Aniek. I am a third year bachelor’s student in Biomedical Technology, specializing in Human Function Technology. Along with Gerrit-Jan, I am responsible for planning and coordinating the three week journey. We have to contact all the companies, universities, hospitals and research institutes we would like to visit. Furthermore we are arranging a variety of cultural trips, the accommodations, transportation and everything one will need during a study tour in Japan.

I think it is really exciting arranging a tour in a country on the other side of the world with a totally different culture. That is one of the main reasons I joined the committee. Additionally I think it is a unique opportunity to learn about the newest developments in my field of interest and it is a great adventure organizing such a big event with five other people.

Besides working for the study tour and finishing my final bachelor courses I like to hang out with friends, roommates and people from my fraternity Xoun. I am also a sports fan, especially handball, swimming and jogging have my interest.

So far I am truly enjoying the experience and I cannot wait to visit Japan and see with own eyes all the beautiful things I have already heard of!

Hi, my name is Gerrit-Jan and I'm a student Biomedical Engineering. The field of science that interests me the most is tissue engineering. I find it very challenging to learn more about the molecular and cellular processes that play a major role in the body and how to manipulate these processes.

Organizing the Study tour to Japan is another huge challenge for me, in which I hope to develop other skills than in my study. My function in the organizing committee is travel coordinator. Together with Aniek, who is also travel coordinator, I hope to create a fantastic tour with interesting companies, universities and some nice cultural activities.

Travelling is something I've always liked very much, and when the possibility came to combine travelling with studying, I grabbed my chance and joined the committee.

In the past I've already done some other things for my study, like organizing the introduction for new students. Besides the study tour I have a job at the study information centre of our university and I love playing soccer (three times a week). Other hobbies are wakeboarding, skiing, reading and watching movies.

I'm confident the study tour will be an unforgettable experience for everybody involved!

Hi, I’m Esther Rozeboom, a fourth year Technical Medicine student at Twente University, where else! For this study tour I will be the research coordinator, this means that I will be responsible for the research and education program. During the preparation of this study tour, I will try to make every participating student learn to understand the similarities and differences between Japan and the Netherlands.

Japan is a most interesting country for people interested in technical innovations, and whilst I chose the mastertrack of Robotics and Imaging of Technical Medicine, I am certainly curious to see the developments in robotic technology and how they implanted that into the world of healthcare.

Preceding this study tour, I have participated in small commissions, but never worked with six people on a project this big and challenging. Before deciding to board this commission, I hesitated for a while, but now I am very glad to have said yes! Besides getting to know this very inspireringgroup, I am learning very much on communication skills, planning and working with very diverse people. Thus far, I am glad to have postponed my 5th and 6th year internships until after the tour.

Apart from this study tour, I attend some classes and like to ride with or tinker on my motor cycle. Next to that, I have some great friends and sisters with whom I like to have a chat, so I do not have to sit still.