I landed in Japan at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo late at night, in the middle of a thunderstorm. This was my second time coming to Japan. However, it was only my second time flying and my first time flying alone. As soon as I touched down in a foreign country, on my own, the realization hit me that I had truly “left home,” so to speak. Only for this feeling to hit me again after being stuck in customs for too long and subsequently missing my connecting flight. Right off the bat, I had to put my Japanese skills to the test and manage to get on a different flight that pointed in the right direction.
My goal was Fukuoka, where my initial connecting flight would have landed me. After dragging my luggage around the Haneda Airport, I found a service area. The staff there got me a flight ticket; however, the flight would finish checking bags in only 10 minutes. The flight was also departing from another terminal, so I had to catch a bus to get there. I managed to arrive at the appropriate gate; however, with no time to spare, I barely missed the flight, leaving me stumped once again. Thankfully, the staff at the gate had a solution. A flight was departing soon to Kitakyushu, a city on the same island as Fukuoka. At the Kitakyushu airport, I would be able to catch a bus that would take me directly to Fukuoka. The staff wrote down precisely what I needed to do on my boarding pass, and I set off. After arriving in Kitakyushu and after a short (2-hour) bus ride, I finally made it to my hotel in Fukuoka, safe and sound.
The next day, I met up with my group at the Fukuoka Airport and traveled to Nagasaki. While riding the bus to our dormitory, I was reminded of my favorite thing about Japanese scenery: how far out you can see over the horizon. The views in the countryside are beautiful, making long trips a fun experience rather than an annoyance. However, the scenery was not the main reason that I had come to Japan, although it was a considerable bonus. I had come to Japan to study. In the following months, I would attend the Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies (NUFS) with the goal of improving my Japanese and immersing myself in Japanese culture.
My experience at NUFS was an enlightening one. I took a variety of classes there, including Japanese language courses, a course on Teaching Foreign Languages, and a course on Japanese linguistics. The most interesting course was the Teaching Foreign Languages course. Throughout the semester, we learned different teaching methods, alongside the pros and cons of each. We also learned how to create lesson plans, review lessons, and how to improve as teachers. Students also had a semester-long project of tutoring another student in a foreign language. Some students chose to teach English to Japanese students, while others, myself included, taught Japanese to English-speaking students. I chose to take on three students who decided they wanted to review everyday conversational Japanese. I held two one-hour courses going over this topic, in which the students learned new grammar and vocabulary and were able to practice applying the new material. The final portion of the project was creating a “Learner Profile,” which was a summary of our experience as a tutor. I analyzed each student, documented their progression, and noted where they could improve. I also reviewed and critiqued myself, examining my lessons and noting where to improve. It was an extremely educational experience in which I could practice creating my own lesson plans and class materials and using the teaching strategies we discussed in class.
I was also able to take part in several extracurricular activities at NUFS. One was the Sports Festival. During the festival, students formed groups of four and then proceeded to compete in physical activities against each other to win prizes. The activities included jumping rope, ball tossing, a relay race, and a scavenger hunt. Despite our best efforts, my team placed fourth, just missing the prize pool, but we had a lot of fun nonetheless. Another extracurricular activity of note was being able to volunteer to participate in a cultural exchange with Japanese middle school students. The middle schoolers gave presentations on facets of Japanese culture, and then we international students were split up to talk with the middle schoolers’ groups individually. It was fun being able to speak to the students and teach them about American culture as well. The students were very engaged and enthusiastic, and it was a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
Outside of class, I was also able to have a variety of unique experiences. The place where I spent most of my free time was at a nearby Game Center. Japan still has a lot of classic arcades, and they are a great place to hang out with friends and play games socially. The game that I played the most was Maimai, a rhythm game. I probably spent too much time playing this game, but thanks to all that time spent, I was able to get really good at it. I also made it a point to explore as much Nagasaki as possible. My friends and I would set out whenever we had free time, just picking a random location and walking around until we were either too tired or too sweaty. One of the highlights of Nagasaki is Peace Park, a park commemorating the atomic bombing of the city at the end of World War II. I had already been to the museum in Hiroshima, so being able to experience the location in Nagasaki was an enlightening experience. We also did a lot of shopping, ate a lot of good food, and went to the onsen whenever possible. Onsen, public baths, are an experience you will not find in the United States, but one I recommend. Once you get over the embarrassment, sitting in a sauna or gazing at the horizon while sitting in a hot bath is nice.
Spending so much time in a foreign country also allowed me to appreciate the differences between home and abroad. In particular, one societal difference that stuck out to me the most is how people get around. For example, in the United States, it is normal and expected that on a day-to-day basis, you will be driving a car to get to and from places (outside of the largest cities). Such an expectation does not exist in Japan. There, it is common for people to walk or ride a bus or train to get places. There are, of course, pros and cons to both systems. In the States, you have to worry about gas, general car maintenance, and any extreme repairs that may need to be made in the worst-case scenario. However, you are free to drive wherever you please without worrying about bus routes, missing the bus or train, or tiring yourself out from walking long distances. In Japan, you do have to worry about such possibilities. It is not uncommon to be late getting out of the house, resulting in you missing the scheduled bus or train. You also have to worry about fare, although most people have IC cards or phone apps to handle this. This system does have benefits, however. You do not have to worry about navigating heavy traffic or paying for gas. You also do not have to worry about finding and paying for parking anytime you go out somewhere.
I prefer how it is done in Japan, although I recognize the American system's benefits. During my time in Japan, I liked walking around; it gave me a different sense of freedom than the one you get in a car. Also, due to the cheap fare of buses and local trains, it is inexpensive to travel long distances as long as you plan correctly. Compared to having to drive yourself places in the States, having public transportation drive you to your destination is a nice change of pace. Of course, my public transportation experience was from a tourist's perspective. While I walked to and from school, my opinion might have been different if I had to ride a crowded train to get to school every morning.
Overall, studying abroad was an amazing experience, and I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to participate in one. After studying abroad, I have improved my language skills exponentially, and I am much more confident in all facets of Japanese. I also have a broader perspective on the world as a whole. I find that it is important that people be able to experience other cultures and talk to the people within those cultures.
I look forward to being able to return to Japan in the future, and I am thankful for the opportunities, perspectives, and lessons that this experience has afforded me.