Japan’s focus on the community provides people with multiple support networks throughout life, which makes it less likely for them to get lonely or depressed. I intend to bring all these lessons back to the U.S. with me. I'll be moving to a new city (Seattle) and intend to apply my experiences making new friends in Kyoto in order to make new friends in Seattle. I will incorporate some aspects of Japanese culture into my life. For example, even if I don't bow, I will try to be respectful and make life as comfortable as possible for the people around me. I will keep my room more organized and will continue practicing the kokyu, the Japanese instrument I have been learning. And I will keep trying to go to different communities, have new experiences and keep learning throughout my life.
Of everything I've learned in Japan, the most important is how to be a global citizen. And the thing is, being a global citizen does not require being abroad. It is a mindset. It is about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to have new experiences. It is about looking for similarities and differences between how people lead their lives and reflecting on what factors give rise to them. It is about trying to bring groups together--for example, how I teach Japanese elementary school students about America and American elementary school students about Japan. It is about continually trying to improve how you lead your life, and improving the lives of others along the way. You can practice being a global citizen by going to another community, watching people, talking with them and learning about their lives. You can go to an event for kids from different neighborhoods, and actively try to talk to students from different schools.
