Akita International University’s Nakajima Library – Wikipedia
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
To say everything has gone smoothly in preparation to study abroad would be a vast overstatement.
Frankly, I’ve spent most of my summer being worried about whether this will even work out. Regardless, I remained in good spirits. It was nice to know that the things I was worrying about then were leading up to a (hopefully?) rewarding experience.
At the risk of sounding like all I do is complain, I’ll say that pretty much everything from getting medical forms signed by a doctor, to getting required and requested vaccinations, to getting plane tickets has been downright stressful. This was by no fault of anyone involved, of course; It was just the way things unfolded.
Both Western and my host school have been very accommodating and helpful throughout this whole process, and I don’t want this to sound like I am discouraging anyone from studying abroad.
What’s important is that all of the difficult stuff is in the past now.
My Goals for Studying Abroad
The thing I hope to gain most while abroad is experience in, and knowledge of, another country. My career goal is to teach English in Japan, either through a program like JET or Interac, or through manual job search, with help from connections. One of the things that can really strengthen an application to these types of programs is lengthy experience in Japan (or any country other than your own.)
I am an over-researcher at heart. I tend to plan things out a little too much. It’s out of excitement usually; Preparing to be in a new place surrounded by new people gets me thinking about what I can do while I’m there. When I was a kid, I loved researching other countries, geography, language, vexillology, religion; Anything you can think of related to countries and their identities, I probably had a stint of being really into it.
I took a year of Japanese classes at my local community college when I was in high school, and since then I’ve done self study of the language to get up to the level I want to be at before I arrive. I plan on taking language classes while at AIU as well, so I need to pass a certain level of exam to test into the right class. This is definitely the largest part of my Strategy to Overcome Perceived Challenges that May or May Not Happen. (Title is a WIP, more on this later.)
I’ve also done a lot of research on Akita city and the surrounding area, and I really hope to meet someone with a car so I can do some proper exploration.
What am I excited about?
What am I not excited about? I get to experience something that not everybody gets to, and I am incredibly fortunate to be able to do so.
I’ll get to meet all sorts of new people, see things I’ve never seen before, go and do things I’ve never done before, all while learning firsthand about the language and culture of a country so different from my own.
Something that has been echoed to me throughout my journey to getting all of this sorted out so far as that most people have one of two responses to studying abroad. “I studied abroad and I loved every second of it!” Or, “I really wish I had done study abroad.” The last thing I want is to regret not going.
What am I worried about?
What am I not worried about? I’m flying halfway across the world when I’ve never even left the country before, and there is a lot of uncertainty involved about how everything could go.
I think that if I wasn’t worried about anything, that would be more concerning than how I feel now. I’m not worried to a point where I’m scared of going, and the thought of changing my mind and staying here has never really crossed my mind. Again, if I were to change my mind, I think it would become my greatest regret in the future.
So, although I am worried about a lot of things, I am sure I will be able to adapt and overcome.
Strategy to Overcome Perceived Challenges that May or May Not Happen
Continuing to learn Japanese and study as much as I can about Akita and the surrounding area has left me feeling pretty prepared for what’s to come. (I think) I understand how to get around the city, what it will cost to get from place to place, and whatever a Suica is.
Plenty of introspection has also helped me come to terms with the fact that I am going to have to put myself out there. At the risk of sounding shallow, as a peace offering I have purchased a bag of a local Washington State sweet, Chukar Cherries. I’ll be living with anywhere from 1-11 other people (though I think it’s probably pretty unlikely to be at either end of that spectrum) and nothing brings people together faster than sweet stuff.
I’ve also been accepted into a themed living program, in which I will essentially be living with my club-mates in the Japanese language club. In addition to that, I have reached out to a sports club, Kyudo, which is a kind of archery.
Conclusion
I am equally as excited as I am worried, and I think that’s a good thing. This phenomenon has lead me to do lots of research, and I don’t think it is possible to do too much in a situation like mine. I have less than a month to go and I couldn’t be more happy. I know I am going to have to put myself out there to make the most out of my experience, and I am not afraid to do so.
I am ready to do everything in my power to make the most of this experience!