Study abroad at the University of Shiga Prefecture
From May 2013 to August 2014, I studied at the University of Shiga Prefecture in HIkone, Japan. Studying abroad was more than just a chance to study at a school in Japan, it was a chance to live and experience a beautiful and foreign country. Everyday was a challenge that brought new knowledge and experiences that I can never replace. Living by the means of a second language was very exhilarating for me to experience. From the first day I was in Japan until the last day, I can say that my language ability was completely transformed. I owe that especially to the surroundings that I lived in. I lived in an exchange student dorm fairly far away from the school. I happened to be the only Westerner that lived at this particular dorm for the majority of my time living there. The majority of the students were either from China or Korea. For most students our only common language was Japanese. Simply talking to my neighbors and friends, I was absolutely forced to continually use Japanese. I made friends at my dorm that I will never forget and I pray that I can meet them again someday. The friendships I made there are simply amazing for me to think about.
The school I went to was equally amazing. The campus was very beautiful and filled with many friendly students and staff. I never felt that I was out of place while on campus. Being a foreigner in Japan may be difficult at times, I always felt welcome on campus. I was very fortunate to have made good friends with many of the school's staff. I had professors and other staff members that I could go to in times of need or just simply conversing with. I cannot express how thankful I am for having those relationships. I can clearly remember the first time I stepped foot on campus, and the last time I was there. Both of those are strong and emotional memories for me. So many wonderful things happened in between those two moments that I hope I will never forget. The sights and sounds of Japan are still vivid in my mind, but most important to me is the relationships I built and fostered while I was there. I can say without a doubt that Hikone Japan will forever hold a place in my heart.
Link to my LESCANT flickr