As a result, I chose to study abroad in Japan, and I genuinely believe I made the right choice!
I have made several friends, starting from the people in my dorm unit- who also happen to be some of the most caring people I know. The friends that I have made here come from different parts of the world, like Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Philippines and the United States. The fact that we all come from different parts of the world helps me realize that we are all going through the same experience of adapting in a new environment.
I came to Japan with Chelsea, a friend from my home university to whom I was stuck with like glue during our first week in Kansai Gaidai. During that week, we would not go anywhere because we were afraid of being alone and lost in a completely new place. However, I am so glad that we have both branched out and started making friends of our own. If not, we would have stopped each other from getting out of her comfort zone and from making amazing memories with new people. While we are busy making new friends in Japan, it is also quite a relief to have a close friend from the same home university.
I know that people have other ways of integrating into their community, such as finding food or goods that remind them of home. However, I prefer to fully embrace the new environment by learning as much as I can about the place and by making friends with the local people. I have done this by creating a study group for the Japanese students in my International Relations class, at the suggestion of my professor, in order to help them understand the course better (as it is taught in English).
