Academic Year 2023 Participant
My favorite part of studying abroad was definitely having the ability to fully immerse myself in the language I'm learning, and to also learn about the culture alongside that. Through attending activities with my host family, club activities provided by the university I studied at, and making friends, I was able to gain a much deeper understanding of Japanese. Additionally, by doing all these things, there were a lot of aspects of Japanese culture that may be less obvious when looking in from the outside that I was able to observe and learn from.
Academic Year 2023 Participant
The progress of my language ability was by far the most rewarding element of studying abroad. When I arrived in September of 2023, I could barely communicate my thoughts to my host family, and we had very surface level conversations. After around 3 months, I realized how much more smooth I was becoming with my Japanese, and how it became much easier to ask for simple things. By the end of the year, I was able to have deep conversations with them about Japanese culture and how it differed from other cultures, and many other subjects. Seeing this progression and also having an outsider watch it occur and tell you how much you are improving is better than any A on a test, and when I left Japan, I was more confident in my Japanese and ability to pursue it than ever before.
Academic Year 2023 Participant
My biggest piece of advice would be to prepare in advance. It sounds very tiring, but having all of your scholarships, applications, documents, health forms, etc. figured out at least 3 months before you leave allows you to enjoy your time at home, and to have a smooth transition once you arrive to your study abroad location. I also made sure to write down important emails or places to seek help once I arrived to my study abroad country, in case of emergencies or needing certain information. Knowing I had all of the information prepared relieved me of a lot as I went through the biggest transition of my life!
