Before departing Japan, I was required to let the same office know that I would no longer live at my dorm address. Because I've gone through this process, I feel more prepared for the next time I consider living in Japan. The most rewarding part of studying in Tokyo was learning about Japanese history, culture and society, while also being a part of it! For example, at the same time that we were discussing construction for the Tokyo Olympics in my architecture class at Waseda University, I could take the train after class to visit the actual stadium and arenas! Overall, though, the most memorable part of my journey was the memories I made while meeting many new people from different countries and backgrounds who also share similar interests in Japanese culture.
Although I am disappointed that my time in Tokyo ended earlier than expected, I view this as a great reason to visit Japan again! I had originally planned to visit other prefectures in Japan during the school break, like Osaka or Okinawa, but I didn’t get the chance to. In addition to traveling to different places in Japan in the future, I also look forward to reuniting with the Japanese friends I made! I still keep in touch with many of my international friends, and having friends in another country makes it more worthwhile to plan a trip abroad.
Back in the U.S., because I had taken all the remaining courses I needed during my fall semester at Waseda University, I was able to graduate by the end of 2020. Even though I am not currently enrolled in graduate school, I'm considering pursuing a Master’s Degree in global affairs or international relations in Asia because my interest in Japan continues to grow.
