On the day I committed to Temple University, I sat in a giant lecture room, watching a study abroad presentation of all the possible locations I could travel to. When the slide for Japan came up, I looked at my parents and said, “That’s where I’m going,” and that’s exactly what I did. A year and a half later, I spent an entire semester away from my family at Temple University Japan.
As an only child, I grew up with a close relationship with my parents, spending all my time by their side. As I got older, I gained a much stronger sense of independence, but it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to explore the world.
My dad spent some time traveling to different countries when I was young, and hearing him recount the stories always made me incredibly jealous. My family and I never left the country, and I had never been on a plane until I was 18, which just made my desire to travel so much stronger.
Something that I wish I knew before studying abroad was that no matter how courageous I was, I was living an entirely new life in an unfamiliar country, and that was scary. Physically, I was prepared. I had everything I needed. I knew the classes I was taking, and I was incredibly excited. However, mentally, I wasn’t ready for the isolated feeling that would come alongside the separation from my everyday life that I was going to endure.
Preparing not only your physical being, but also your mind for the long journey ahead will help you settle into your new surroundings and grow more comfortable with your new everyday life.
During my freshman year at Temple, five of my close friends and I decided that we were all going to go to Tokyo, Japan, during the spring of our sophomore year. So, when the day finally arrived, we said goodbye to our families, hopped on a 14-hour flight, and took off, ready for the next chapter of our lives.
Stepping out of the plane into a foreign country was a feeling I’ll never forget. We were exhausted, hungry, and sweaty, but we finally made it. My heart made a euphoric leap once I could finally let everyone know I landed safely and get some delicious food into my body. As I strolled through the airport, the only thought racing through my brain was, I’m actually here. I live in Japan.
Initially arriving can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. Making sure to take a deep breath and take in your surroundings one at a time is key to not getting stressed while trying to navigate to your housing for the first time. Grab a bite to eat and make sure not to rush; you have plenty of time to get to your destination.
As I grew accustomed to my foreign environment, each day slowly started following a pattern. I had classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and spent the rest of my time catching up on homework, laundry, and exploring the beautiful city around me. The first few weeks felt like a dream; even now, back at home, it feels like everything was a dream, but the memories are ingrained in my brain forever.
I lived in Kamikita House, a dorm about 45 minutes away from Temple University Japan’s campus, and met so many amazing people there. Friends who, even now, though we live hundreds of miles apart, come to visit so that once again we can have everyone under the same roof.
Through all these incredible experiences, I struggled with some demons that were hard to overcome during my trip. I had just gotten into a relationship and learned how to navigate long distances on top of a 14-hour time difference. I knew very little Japanese and struggled with my communication as well as the customs I was unfamiliar with. My school days were long, about 10-12 hours with little time in between to rest and have meals.
But through all the hardships, I persevered. I used the resources I had to turn all my negative situations into ways for me to grow. I learned small bits of Japanese from my friends, the locals, and even familiarized myself with common courtesies and signs I encountered daily. My partner flew out to visit midway through my time abroad, bringing a new light to the experience. I prioritized my mental and physical health during my school days. I used short breaks between classes to grab food with friends and found companions to travel back home with for the day.
Now looking back, I know that without those hard times, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the good ones all the better. Living abroad was the most enriching experience of my life and has only given me a deeper thirst to travel throughout my lifetime.
Every day in Japan was a new adventure. I got to swim in a rooftop pool in Okinawa, take a bullet train to Osaka, ride a rollercoaster in Fujiyoshida, watch a dolphin show in Shinagawa, play with otters in Sumida, go to a baseball game at the Tokyo Dome and so much more.
Even on the quiet days at home, I spent admiring the scenery and planning out all of the fun things I wanted to do next. Although the experience was intimidating and came with some struggles along the way, I would not have traded it for the world.
Make sure that during your time abroad, you are jumping at as many opportunities as possible to get out of your comfort zone and explore. At the end of your program, feeling fulfilled and knowing you made the most of your time will help with the feeling of sadness when you’re finally going back home.
My experience studying abroad helped me grow my independence and improve my foreign communication skills. If you’d like to travel abroad like me, visit the Education Abroad website to learn more about our programs at Temple University Tokyo and Kyoto.