Welcome Aboard to My Journey Abroad!

Although I couldn’t read the Japanese instructions then, with my curiosity and determination I was able to follow the pictures or drawings to make the different shapes. And just like that, I slowly but surely became more intrigued about the culture. I began to wonder things, such as what does real sakura look like? Or where can I see sakura in Japan?

I didn’t know then, but I realize now, that learning crafts is a good way to bond with others, learn about the art form's cultural origins, and expand your own creative skills. At University of California, Santa Barbara (U.C.S.B.), I analyzed art as a powerful method for visual communication and learned how creative thinking can increase language learning. Both art and creative thinking lie at the foundation of the visual memorization technique frequently used to teach the Japanese writing system at the beginner level. 

To gain a better understanding of Japanese culture and how the language is used, I decided I would have to go to Japan and see for myself! I wanted to live and study in Tokyo because it is the center of modern and traditional arts, culture and technology, plus it is the home to more than 200 art galleries and museums scattered throughout the capital. Thankfully, I was accepted to an exchange program at Waseda University located in Shinjuku, one of the three major wards in the heart of Tokyo. Here I studied Japanese language, art history and architecture. 

Before going to live and study in Japan for a year, I studied the equivalent of two years of Japanese language classes (completing both Genki 1 and Genki 2 textbooks) at U.C.S.B.

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