Study Abroad
Meiji Gakuin University Yokohama Campus
I’ve had the privilege of traveling to around 25 countries in my life, and each one shaped how I see the world. Once I had arrived in Japan for my semester at Meiji Gakuin University, I was not too concerned with “culture shock”. Surely Japan could not have been too much different from the other countries I had visited, or so I thought. The ability to travel anywhere I pleased due to the almost flawless public transportation system, the amazing summer festivals, and the attention to detail engrained into everything left me with feelings I am still reflecting on now.
My interest in Japan began in childhood through Pokémon, Bakugan, and other anime, but as I grew older my curiosity shifted toward Japanese society, history, culture, and architecture. Because of this, I arrived in Japan not only excited to see the birthplace of my childhood pastimes but also prepared through years of self-study and classroom learning, eager to experience the country as it truly is.
While taking classes at the Meiji Gakuin Yokohama campus I mainly took courses focusing on learning Japanese, and others on culture, society, and literature. The language courses while being immersed in the culture by living in Japan helped me excel in and outside of class. Being able to use new grammar points the same day I had learned them just by ordering food or speaking with a local was extremely rewarding and helped my overall motivation with learning the language. Other courses I took gave me a more detailed and deep look into Japanese culture and how we got to the modern Japan we have today.
Originally, I planned to focus heavily on my Japanese studies, given how many language courses I was taking at Meiji Gakuin University. And while I did study and make sure to do well academically, I realized that the most meaningful way for me to learn and experience Japanese culture was by meeting and talking with locals in Totsuka and across Japan. Talking with Japanese people, especially those around my age, opened my eyes to how different yet fundamentally similar we are, while living on opposite sides of the world. What I took away from these conversations and friendships was not just the cultural differences, but a deeper appreciation for our shared human experiences.
I had met Japanese students and others who shared similar interests in American and Japanese media, shared the same style of humor, and faced the same daily struggles that I had. While seeing Shibuya for the first time, or riding the shinkansen were amazing, one of the best experiences I had in Japan was meeting locals in Tosuka and talking about anything and everything while sharing a drink and sitting by the river until the sun came up. These nights are what leaves me with memories that will last a lifetime.
One aspect that I had always been working on myself, and had realized I love doing is meeting new people and becoming more out-going. Whilst a portion of my perceived extrovertedness in Japan was to practice my Japanese I had worked so hard on, I also wanted to improve my people skills and make new relationships, learn more about Japanese culture, and try to be a good representative of my country. When arriving in Japan, some people may think that Japanese people may not be as keen to talk to strangers and are not approachable, but I found that in almost every encounter I had when approaching Japanese people they were some of the most kind, understanding, and funniest people I had met in my life. Every interaction I felt more confident going into purely based on how amazing my experience had been in almost every encounter prior.
One cultural difference that stuck out to me was how Japan’s more collective society differs from the more individualistic society in the United States. During my first few weeks in Japan, I had to get used to several new aspects, one of which was the apparent lack of public trash cans. I had to learn to carry my trash or be more strategic about where I ate while I was out, which led to some funny moments with my friends about what to do with it.
Despite this, Japan’s streets were incredibly clean and organized. I realized this shows the shared sense of responsibility and respect Japanese people have for their public spaces and their hard work ethic. Almost everyone I had met at shops and restaurants showed genuine politeness, care, and respect toward customers and other coworkers. The service and hospitality that I received from the Japanese people while living in Japan made me excited for every new encounter I had. These experiences I had were quite different from those in the U.S., where streets can be littered and customer service is often lacking. While some customer service in the United States is great, Japan goes above and beyond.
While I don’t see this as my final experience in Japan , I plan to continue my language studies there next year, this time was truly life-changing. I would encourage anyone considering studying abroad not to hesitate and just go for it. No matter where you end up, you’ll make unforgettable memories and invaluable insights into culture and life that are absolutely worth it.