Japan 2020
It’s Fall 2019, the day I was visiting the DOC Fair in Curry Student Center and amazed by all the study abroad options. After contemplating all the different programs, I kept going back to one in Japan. The classes dealt with politics and NGOs (non-governmental organizations), which aligned perfectly with my personal and academic interests (as an International Affairs major with a Political Science minor). But the real drawing factor was the country. I’d always wanted to go to Japan, a country with customs and a culture so different from my own, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity or means to do so. It felt so far and expensive, a place I’d see on T.V., but never in person. I thought this might be my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Japan, so I applied.
I was ecstatic when I got accepted and even started taking Japanese lessons with NUCALLS (a student organization that has Native speakers teaching students who wish to learn a language). Unfortunately, like most everything, the pandemic canceled this program. Still interested in Japanese culture, society, and politics, I took the two courses online. I loved learning more about Japan but felt I missed out on the opportunity to study there. I learned a lot from that virtual dialogue and left wanting to learn even more about Japan. I told myself that if I ever had the opportunity to study in Japan, I would take it.
Fall 2023
Planning my schedule last year, and talking with my academic advisor, I realized I could still fit a dialogue into my time at Northeastern. With only two classes (open electives) left to graduate, I decided to shoot my shot and apply for another dialogue in Japan, and finish my last remaining classes abroad. Fast forward, I leave for Japan this Sunday (July 9th)!
Japan 2023: A New Opportunity
For the past few days, I’ve been getting ready for my dialogue. I went to the bank to buy some yen, I downloaded all the readings from the syllabus, and I walked outside in 90-degree weather. This last task came after my professor warned us about the scorching summer heat in Tokyo. He advised we all try to walk outside to prepare (the first week I’m in Tokyo, it’s supposed to be well into the 90s). I downloaded some apps to my phone to help me navigate when in Japan, like Google Translate and a currency converter. I checked into my flight, organized all my toiletries, and loaded my Kindle with enough books to entertain me on the 14-plus hour flight.
I packed my clothes into the new packing cubes I bought for this trip. It was my first time using them, and I can’t believe I packed for my 4-month study abroad to Rome without them (I saved so much space!). The professor urged us all to pack lightly. We can’t bring any large checked bags, since those would be hard to maneuver on the bullet trains, which we’re using to travel extensively throughout the country. During our first pre-departure meeting, our professor told us how a previous student struggled to get their large checked suitcase onto one of the bullet trains, delaying the schedule. While a delayed train is typical in the US, that’s not the case in Japan. To avoid disrupting future trains, and, by extension, the cultural norms in Japan, traveling light is a necessity.
I’m excited to write more Japan Journal entries for GEO. My previous articles have had a more reflective element, writing about my experiences studying in Rome and Oakland many months (and even years) after the fact. But, in Japan, I’ll be writing in the present, keeping track of all my new experiences and memories I hope to have for the rest of my life.
Here’s a sneak peek at our agenda in Japan (and experiences I hope to write about):
- Visiting the Itsukushiima Shrine
- Traveling to Tokyo, Rikuzentakata, Sendai, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Kobe
- Attending a professional baseball game (Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs. Yokohama DeNA Baystars)
- Hiking to Akiu Great Falls
- Walking around Shibuya Scramble Crossing
In my personal time, I’m looking forward to:
- Trying new foods and all the vending machines
- Seeing Mount Fuji
- Going to different museums (like the Ghibli Museum) and temples
- Attending a tea ceremony and eating at different cafes
- Visiting amusement parks (maybe even Tokyo Disneyland)
While my excitement certainly trumps my fears, I want to share a few things I’m nervous about:
- Walking around in a hot and humid environment
- Being vegetarian in a country with lots of fish and meat in the cuisine
- Flying for over 14 hours alone
However, these challenges are part of what makes traveling so rewarding! I also hope to write about these experiences, since I know they’re aspects of travel others worry about too.
Finishing my time at Northeastern by participating in a dialogue in Japan feels very full circle. After my original dialogue was canceled, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to go again. Amid my wildest dreams, I’m able to go, but it still seems like a fantasy, something that could never come to fruition anywhere else. In less than 24 hours, I’ll be on my way to Japan!
