I, Nguyen Van Thu, am a medical doctor from Vietnam. Now I am a second year of Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University. Currently, I am research assistant (RA) of Institute of Health and Sports Science & Medicine. I graduated from Siberian State Medical University (Tomsk, Russia). After graduating, I returned to my country and worked at Department of Military Medicine, as a teaching assistant in the Military Medical University. I have lived and studied in Russia and Uzbekistan for many years, and I have participated in many social activities. I want to share my experiences with you at two important international events I participated in.

-27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia
When I decided to apply for a volunteer work for the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, I was 5th year in Siberian State Medical University in Tomsk, Russia. Nearly 20,000 volunteers around the world worked for the summer world university games. I was very happy to be a part of member of the volunteers. We learned a lot of teamwork skills through the training sessions and how we can support the sporting events as a volunteer. Also, you are able to make friends off campus through volunteering is really helpful for international students.

                        University volunteer team at Universiade 2013

Universiade Kazan 2013 hosted over 10,400 university athletes from 162 countries participated in 13 mandatories and 14 optional sports, making the biggest event ever in the history. For the first time in history a Cultural Universiade was also included, numerous festivals and performances held concurrently with sporting events. Japan sent 415 student athletes to participate, won third prize in the whole team, got 24 gold medals. That is why Japan has an extremely impressive result, which reflects the evolution of school sports in Japan.

        Volunteering at Youth Delphic Games of Russia – Novosibirsk 2013

I remember the soccer match between Japanese men’s team and Ukrainian men’s team. After the match, I approached a Japanese player to congratulate him and we had a brief exchange. That was a first time I ever talked to a Japanese person. That was my indelible impression.
All the international volunteers were housed in a volunteer village in Kazan and we were literally from every corner of the globe. Extreme heat and outdoor activities have caused many minor health problems for both athletes and volunteers. As a member of the medical team, I supported them with helpful medical attention. For a medical student like me, medical care for athletes is really not fully equipped in the classroom. It was a great opportunity, a great experience for us.
For All of you, students, athletes, young and old – I highly recommend you to try to participate in the next Universiade or any other similar events,  I can guarantee you, it leave with many precious memories in your life.

                        Volunteering at Maslenitsa-Tomsk City 2012

-International Army Games in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan
Another great experience I share is the International Army games. International competition “Military Medical Relay Race” is a complex sport, and professionally oriented competition among the military men passing military service under the contract on military posts of medical staff, nurses and other medical personnel, military (naval) level medical service of the armed forces of the state parties to the international Army games. It was an honor for me to be summoned to the Vietnam Military Delegation to attend the International Army Games – an annual Russian military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defense of Russia. We participated in the competition “Military Medical Relay Race” held in Uzbekistan. Four months of field training in the hot, humid tropical climate made our skin darker, but we became much stronger. These were difficult times, but very pleasant and rewarding during my military years.

                                   After the Good Driver Competition

On the way to Uzbekistan we transited in Moscow. I met a young family from Chiba Japan, they were traveling to Russia. They were very friendly and I said that I planned to go to Juntendo University after the military games. What a nice coincidence, to meet somebody from Japan where I’m going soon.

                         Traditional welcome ceremony Bread and Salt

Three weeks through the army games, what remained in my mind was not just the moments of intense competition, but also having fun with friends with great music, disco evening. We got on well with the locals, wept at the farewell party. Medals and trophies no longer matter, those are the new friends I made hat are really precious.

                                               with teammate

Whenever I remember what I was doing, I feel truly happy and meaningful. If I had a chance to make another choice, I would still choose to make that choice. Everyone has younger days. Take advantage of your young days as energetic, active and fun as possible. Let’s try anything you like, because I know you can do it.

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do” – John Wooden.