I was looking through and organizing all of my old photos from the last time I visited Japan, and ended up digging up a lot of great memories and nostalgic feelings. You can take a look at a slide show I made of some of my favorites here.During the spring semester of 2007, my sophomore year of college, I studied abroad in Tokyo. While I was there, I took numerous classes related to Asian Studies, mostly because they didn't offer any courses that would count toward my Physics major. It was during that semester that I discovered my true passion for the Social Sciences. As a result, I graduated with a double major in Asian Studies and Physics. Now I have a job I'll be starting in Japan. The direction of my life definitely did a 180° as a result of my experiences there, and I really can't say I have any regrets.
While there, I did the big touristy thing and saw various shrines and other historical locales. I took a trip up to Sapporo, Hokkaido and had the awe-inspiring experience of seeing the annual Snow Festival (雪祭り). However, the greatest experiences I had in Japan involved going out of my comfort zone and befriending native Japanese schoolmates. It was through those friendships that I really found the Japan beneath the surface, the elements of Japan that tourists just don't get a real feel for. The deepest and most meaningful memories are the ones made through relationships with others, through adventures off the beaten path, to the world that's not set up for advertisements on a billboard or in a travel guide.
The best advice I can give to anyone who travels to another country, another culture, hoping to get a feel for a whole new world, the best advice I can give is this: Find people, not just buildings, landmarks, and museums; they have a lot more to say. Communicate with them as best you can, whether you're fluent or not. You'd be surprised how many emotions, sentiments, and basic human behaviors are universal. Be open to new ideas, which includes a realization that the way you might be used to doing things is not necessarily the only way or the best way. Lastly, realize that no matter how much you study, research, and experience, your comprehension and appreciation for a foreign culture will never reach the thoroughness or depth that a native has. Be sensitive to the fact that you are student in this world and qualify yourself accordingly.
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Hi E! I found your blog through the J-List blog. I have seriously been thinking about going to Japan to teach English, so I have been learning as much as I can. I could probably talk your ear off asking questions, but I think I sum it up to one (at least for now, lol). When you studied abroad did you or do you have to be fluent in Japanese? Thank you for you time and keep updating!
ReplyDelete-Colby
Great question!
ReplyDeleteNo, you absolutely do not have to be fluent in Japanese to study abroad in Japan. I had only taken 3 semesters of it at the time, but I had classmates at the same school that had never taken ANYTHING. Now, the school I studied at was Temple University, Tokyo Campus, which is convenient for two reasons:
1) It is Japan's only American University in Japan that is recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT). All courses at TUJ are in English, with the exception of foreign language courses (obviously).
2) Tokyo is probably Japan's most foreigner friendly city in the entire country. Granted, there are challenges to being in a foreign country and not speaking the language, but it is by no means impossible, and there are lots of resources for foreign students to help them cope.
Now note, Temple is definitely not the only university you could study abroad at, and isn't even the only one with courses in English. I have friends who studied at several universities including Sophia and Kansai Gaidai, so do some research to make sure you're going somewhere best for you. Your school's study abroad office should be able to help you out in that regard.