Kansai University
In Summer 2023, I participated in the Clemson Faculty Directed Summer Study Abroad Program. It was my first time in Japan and I am happy I was able to spend with great people. We went to various prefectures such as Hiroshima, Kyoto, Tokyo, and Gifu. We went to different castles, gardens, and historical locations. I was able to learn about the different regional differences between the prefectures and experience the culture first hand. It was an amazing experience and am excited for my full semester study abroad!
After the initial trip around the different prefectures, we settled at Kansai University. While there, I took Japanese language classes and was able to speak with native speakers. I aimed to improve my Japanese so it was a great experience! I made friends with the other study abroad students and had a great time!
University of Fukui
This was going to be my third time in Japan. This program took place in September 2025 - August 2026. I felt comfortable as I have been here to travel and to study before so this was nothing new. Yet, I knew that I would spend a year in a different country that I knew no one in which was frightening at first. I was not confident in my language speaking abilities at all and was worried if I would be able to converse with the locals and be able to rely just on myself. But most of all, I was afraid of being alone. I was going to meet my buddy that the school assigned to me and he showed me around Fukui. It was a smaller city, nothing compared to Tokyo or Osaka, yet the place felt relaxing to me. I spent the first couple of weeks alone and just attempting to learn my way around school life in Japan.
One thing that the internet or people who go to Japan like to mention is that the Japanese people are unfriendly, especially to foreigners. However, I disagree with this sentiment. During the first couple of months, I joined a rock climbing gym near the university. The people there were kind and helpful. I met a few people such as Aoki and Yuki who encouraged me to keep rock climbing. They also showed interest in me learning Japanese and were more than willing to help me learn by conversing with me in Japanese only. Yuki was the most helpful as she is able to speak English as well but told me, “So that you can learn, I will speak in only Japanese to you from now on.” I took comfort in having a place that felt like I belonged and got to know some of the members of the gym.
While classes were relatively normal, I noticed that I felt more alone than ever before. The other exchange students were kind to me, but something in the back of my head told me that they were just being friendly and it was not genuine. I know now that was just my own delusions but it felt real at the time. I had a hard time making friends at first and it just kept getting worse as the semester progressed. I felt like I had no one to go to at the time.
During the winter season and into spring break, that was when I had the most growth. I began to open up to the other exchange students and was more willing to hang out with them. It took some time and effort but I managed to get there. I started to participate in parties, hang around the lounge area, and was more confident in my ability to speak Japanese. While it was not perfect, I was noticing an improvement. The other students were friendly and kind to me. They did not mind me at all being a bit of a loner in the beginning and were more than willing to open up to me. The Japanese students who were hanging out with the other exchange students to learn English also opened up to me. I would often talk to them in both English and Japanese which gave me more confidence.
Confidence was a big part I struggled with. I was worried about messing up and my mind was racing about missed conjugations or wrong vowels/words. As I kept getting more used to speaking in Japanese, I learned that mistakes are OK. Japanese people understand that you are learning their language and are more than willing to help out on the mistakes. I know that I make a lot of mistakes when speaking, writing, or reading. But it helps to build onto the foundation I have created and helps me keep improving. For example, during the Christmas party, there was a group of Korean students who were not the best at English. So, I used Japanese to speak with them. While I was worried about messing up, they did not seem to mind and we had a conversation about the party and about our experiences so far. It was great to speak with them and they were always kind to me afterwards.
As I’ve progressed through the semester, my confidence and comfort in living in a foreign country grew. I have been told by my friends that once you spend your first couple months actually studying in Japan, your skill will improve. I was able to feel this significant change in not just my availability to converse but in my own confidence as a person. I felt more comfortable striking up conversations with locals or asking for help or directions. Not only has my abilities improved, but the confidence started to build up. This is not solely due to my Japanese improving from the classroom, but instead being able to directly and frequently speak with native speakers.
My cultural understanding also improved from my experiences. I was talking to a friend who is a Japanese student at Fukui University and we were exchanging different aspects of our culture. He expressed how Japanese people tend to be more introverted so it is quite difficult for them to make new friends if they do not already know you. He also said how people like him, those that are eager to make new friends with foreigners, were uncommon especially in Fukui. I understood the sentiment from him and told him how in America, especially in South Carolina, the people are friendly and are quick to strike up small talk with complete strangers. This took him by surprise but he was interested in the cultural difference. I think having someone who is willing to share aspects of their social norms is insightful.
My experience so far has been a great one. I have enjoyed my time here even with the bump of the beginning of the semester. I made great friends who I trust and enjoy being around. I learned so much from the language from the people around me and from deeper studying. The culture is something I also learned more about. I’m excited for the new semester and the new exchange students that have come to Fukui.