MLO 5: Culture Internalization and Language Immersion
5.1 Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community
Studying Abroad: Transcript
Where: Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 1 semester
GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!!! DOC
5.1: Before I left for Japan, there were so many things that I planned on wanting to do. Some things were a little too good to be true but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. I wanted to: make many friends, get a job, get a Japanese drivers license, participate in every school event on campus, go to sports games, and travel to other Japanese cities like Akihabara, Rippongi, throughout Tokyo and travel to the other island of Hokkaido, get in a fight at a Japanese bar, get kicked out of a Japanese club, and go to anime conventions. So many things I was determined to do in so little time but I was up for the challenge. Oh yeah, I forgot that I wanted to get good grades in my Japanese classes.
It was a very emotional day at the airport, leaving my family and friends behind. I cried like a baby in the middle of the airport, it was quite awkward. Anyways, before I knew it, I WAS IN JAPAN! I was completely on my own when I walked out of the plane. I knew I couldn’t be shy. Since Japanese people are shy, I being shy would be pointless. I was asking questions in Japanese to people that seemed approachable. Everything was in kanji so I wasn’t sure what bus to take. Unfortunately, no one knew what bus I had to take but I was so happy they understood me. I ended up taking a cab and the taxi driver and I listened to Mariah Carey for hours until I reached my destination, Toyo University.
Campus security directed me to the I-House 15 minutes away from the University. To make sure I was going the right direction, I asked some high-school girls. I was completely ignored. They literally stared at me and then looked away and walked off. It was my first rejection in Japan. I thought to myself, why did they act so mean; was my Japanese incorrect, or was I too aggressive? My confidence decreased slightly when that happened.
Throughout my academic, study abroad experience, it was easy to say that being the talkative person was the right decision to make. Although many Japanese students were excited about me being at their school, they didn’t know to start the conversation. Their questions were standard: name, how old are you, you speak Japanese, ext. Also, being actively engaged with the students created a comfortable environment. I would go eat with the Japanese students and talk to improve my Japanese, I would go shopping with the girls and I also joined a kickboxing club with another international student from New Zealand. I was interacting with males and female Japanese people.
Unfortunately, there were types of performances and communications didn’t quite work out while I was studying abroad. I had two jobs in Japan. First job, I was an event organizer for the English Community Zone. As part of that job, there was open discussion where international students would sit at separate tables and Japanese students would approach and we would start English conversations. Students would not approach my table due to the fact that I looked ‘intimidating’ and I was too energetic. These were only 2 of the few words that were told to me by Japanese students. I didn’t think I looked intimidating because I was just being myself but maybe I was being too formal at the time. I do admit I was a bit aggressive because Japanese students would take so long to approach a table, I figured going up to them and leading them to my table would be better. The students who were at my table never really approached my table again. A Japanese student said that it would be best I let the students come to me. I’m a pretty impatient person which is most likely why that situation occurred.
In conclusion, I did many things that were on my goal list. I got a job, I went to a club but didn’t get kicked out, I got in a verbal fight but it was with my roommate rather than a bar, I went to festivals which wasn’t on my list so, bonus point for me. I couldn’t get a Japanese drivers license because the process was so complicated and long and cars and parking are super expensive. I made many friends but there weren’t campus events at Toyo University. It was very boring. The only event there were was the welcome dinner for International students at the beginning of the semester. But I did eat, shop, and talk to the Japanese. I visited Akihabara, Rippongi, Sendagi, Ueno and more.
I had culture strategies that worked and didn’t work. With communication strategies, my strategy was successful accept when I was at work because in order for the Japanese to learn English, the motivation first begins with them. My study abroad experience was great. I wish the University would host campus events like CSUMB does. There’s always something happening on campus of CSUMB. The things I didn’t get to do were get kicked out of a club or get in a fight at a bar and travel to other Japanese islands. Honestly, I don’t wish to try to do them. I don’t want to get deported.
Flikr photo stream: link
Studying Abroad: Transcript
Where: Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 1 semester
GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!!! DOC
5.1: Before I left for Japan, there were so many things that I planned on wanting to do. Some things were a little too good to be true but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. I wanted to: make many friends, get a job, get a Japanese drivers license, participate in every school event on campus, go to sports games, and travel to other Japanese cities like Akihabara, Rippongi, throughout Tokyo and travel to the other island of Hokkaido, get in a fight at a Japanese bar, get kicked out of a Japanese club, and go to anime conventions. So many things I was determined to do in so little time but I was up for the challenge. Oh yeah, I forgot that I wanted to get good grades in my Japanese classes.
It was a very emotional day at the airport, leaving my family and friends behind. I cried like a baby in the middle of the airport, it was quite awkward. Anyways, before I knew it, I WAS IN JAPAN! I was completely on my own when I walked out of the plane. I knew I couldn’t be shy. Since Japanese people are shy, I being shy would be pointless. I was asking questions in Japanese to people that seemed approachable. Everything was in kanji so I wasn’t sure what bus to take. Unfortunately, no one knew what bus I had to take but I was so happy they understood me. I ended up taking a cab and the taxi driver and I listened to Mariah Carey for hours until I reached my destination, Toyo University.
Campus security directed me to the I-House 15 minutes away from the University. To make sure I was going the right direction, I asked some high-school girls. I was completely ignored. They literally stared at me and then looked away and walked off. It was my first rejection in Japan. I thought to myself, why did they act so mean; was my Japanese incorrect, or was I too aggressive? My confidence decreased slightly when that happened.
Throughout my academic, study abroad experience, it was easy to say that being the talkative person was the right decision to make. Although many Japanese students were excited about me being at their school, they didn’t know to start the conversation. Their questions were standard: name, how old are you, you speak Japanese, ext. Also, being actively engaged with the students created a comfortable environment. I would go eat with the Japanese students and talk to improve my Japanese, I would go shopping with the girls and I also joined a kickboxing club with another international student from New Zealand. I was interacting with males and female Japanese people.
Unfortunately, there were types of performances and communications didn’t quite work out while I was studying abroad. I had two jobs in Japan. First job, I was an event organizer for the English Community Zone. As part of that job, there was open discussion where international students would sit at separate tables and Japanese students would approach and we would start English conversations. Students would not approach my table due to the fact that I looked ‘intimidating’ and I was too energetic. These were only 2 of the few words that were told to me by Japanese students. I didn’t think I looked intimidating because I was just being myself but maybe I was being too formal at the time. I do admit I was a bit aggressive because Japanese students would take so long to approach a table, I figured going up to them and leading them to my table would be better. The students who were at my table never really approached my table again. A Japanese student said that it would be best I let the students come to me. I’m a pretty impatient person which is most likely why that situation occurred.
In conclusion, I did many things that were on my goal list. I got a job, I went to a club but didn’t get kicked out, I got in a verbal fight but it was with my roommate rather than a bar, I went to festivals which wasn’t on my list so, bonus point for me. I couldn’t get a Japanese drivers license because the process was so complicated and long and cars and parking are super expensive. I made many friends but there weren’t campus events at Toyo University. It was very boring. The only event there were was the welcome dinner for International students at the beginning of the semester. But I did eat, shop, and talk to the Japanese. I visited Akihabara, Rippongi, Sendagi, Ueno and more.
I had culture strategies that worked and didn’t work. With communication strategies, my strategy was successful accept when I was at work because in order for the Japanese to learn English, the motivation first begins with them. My study abroad experience was great. I wish the University would host campus events like CSUMB does. There’s always something happening on campus of CSUMB. The things I didn’t get to do were get kicked out of a club or get in a fight at a bar and travel to other Japanese islands. Honestly, I don’t wish to try to do them. I don’t want to get deported.
Flikr photo stream: link