Where do I begin.
Born a U.S. Citizen with no Japanese Language training and have came across an opportunity to study in Japan at an accredited University. I have always dreamed of going to Japan ever since I was little.
I have a burning passion that cannot be explained by words to absorb their culture eat their food, and learn their customs. Although I have never traveled outside the United States, I yearn for an experience abroad and I wanted to live my dreams by going to Japan.
Although my only experience with Japan is through a third-person perspective (I.E. Media (Not fast and the furious Tokyo Drift), Japanese Animation, Manga, Documentaries, Blogs, and Vloggers) I have over time felt a connection with this country. This attraction varies from the cities, lights, streets, signs and buildings to me is intoxicating.
With this said, this opportunity would let me be apart of something I believe I have wanted to become apart of for sometime. Yet I am at a cross road, I begin thinking deeply about studying abroad, and ask myself questions like "Who would help me if I am lost? How do I get around? How can I communicate? What if I am an outcast to other Japanese students? Where do I go if i'm hurt? What if I am discriminated?"(I'm Asian-American but not Japanese).
The answer was simple, I know nothing about Japan, I know no one in Japan, I don't even know how approaching someone In Japan is like. Its like jumping into a pool head first without first learning how to swim. Trying something so different and something completely out of my "safe zone" that I cannot imagine what difficulties I would face.
I don't know what to do. I would love to say that I would enjoy studying abroad in Japan, yet its easy enough for me to say that the problems I might face could define me as a person and what I really want in life.
If you loved something so much, that you were over come with so much determination to do it, but you knew what problems lied ahead, would you risk it all to experience it? To live your dreams?
I've talked to the study abroad people, already talked to advisers, parents and family. I have no one telling me, "Go, follow your dreams and no matter what don't quit." but I hear "Its too expensive. Your going to get frustrated and homesick. Japan isn't what its like on T.V."
I honestly don't know where to look for answers. So this may not be the place to talk about this, but I had to, no I Needed to reach out to someone even if its here on Akiba-online. :exhausted:
Born a U.S. Citizen with no Japanese Language training and have came across an opportunity to study in Japan at an accredited University. I have always dreamed of going to Japan ever since I was little.
I have a burning passion that cannot be explained by words to absorb their culture eat their food, and learn their customs. Although I have never traveled outside the United States, I yearn for an experience abroad and I wanted to live my dreams by going to Japan.
Although my only experience with Japan is through a third-person perspective (I.E. Media (Not fast and the furious Tokyo Drift), Japanese Animation, Manga, Documentaries, Blogs, and Vloggers) I have over time felt a connection with this country. This attraction varies from the cities, lights, streets, signs and buildings to me is intoxicating.
With this said, this opportunity would let me be apart of something I believe I have wanted to become apart of for sometime. Yet I am at a cross road, I begin thinking deeply about studying abroad, and ask myself questions like "Who would help me if I am lost? How do I get around? How can I communicate? What if I am an outcast to other Japanese students? Where do I go if i'm hurt? What if I am discriminated?"(I'm Asian-American but not Japanese).
The answer was simple, I know nothing about Japan, I know no one in Japan, I don't even know how approaching someone In Japan is like. Its like jumping into a pool head first without first learning how to swim. Trying something so different and something completely out of my "safe zone" that I cannot imagine what difficulties I would face.
I don't know what to do. I would love to say that I would enjoy studying abroad in Japan, yet its easy enough for me to say that the problems I might face could define me as a person and what I really want in life.
If you loved something so much, that you were over come with so much determination to do it, but you knew what problems lied ahead, would you risk it all to experience it? To live your dreams?
I've talked to the study abroad people, already talked to advisers, parents and family. I have no one telling me, "Go, follow your dreams and no matter what don't quit." but I hear "Its too expensive. Your going to get frustrated and homesick. Japan isn't what its like on T.V."
I honestly don't know where to look for answers. So this may not be the place to talk about this, but I had to, no I Needed to reach out to someone even if its here on Akiba-online. :exhausted:
