Jourden Jones
2024-2025 Tanaka & Green Scholar

When I first arrived in Japan, like many others, I felt a whirlwind of various emotions about my first time abroad. Excitement, happiness, fear, even a bit of sadness. Being able to go to Japan was something I had always dreamed of since I was a child, and to be physically here didn’t feel real. For my first couple weeks here, it felt more like a fun vacation. Experiencing a new city, trying new foods, exploring areas that can’t be found in America. In particular, I loved taking long walks around the city, which is something I can’t do in my suburban hometown. Also, I was surrounded by Japanese, and impressed that my abilities surpassed what I thought I was capable of. Even after I went to my college orientation and started attending classes daily, I still had my rose-tinted glasses on and school felt like a brand new experience, as well.

As I got more settled, the more mundane aspects of everyday life took over. Trips to city hall to handle my residency status. Daily bus commutes to and from campus. Chores such as laundry and shopping for my apartment. Things began to feel regular, similar to how I feel back home in America. Challenges began to arise as well. School became more stressful quickly. International Christian University is a bilingual institution, offering classes in both English and Japanese. Many of my classes that I needed for my major requirements were only offered in Japanese. I probably spent at least 5-10 more hours outside of class on schoolwork than my classmates who are native speakers, because I had to relearn concepts in English to clarify my understanding. That honestly frustrated me a lot. I’m still grateful that I got to experience taking classes in my second language, and they did help me with my language ability as well. Despite Japan losing its initial “sparkle” it had when I first arrived and the challenges I faced, I enjoyed everything nonetheless. If anything, it made me learn to appreciate Japan and its culture even more than I already had. I was able to experience the everyday aspects of life here that can’t be truly conveyed through a mere digital screen.

When it came to using Japanese, I definitely had the ability to understand most Japanese conversations and respond in some form, although quite clumsily. I often found myself frustrated when I couldn’t convey myself as deeply as I’m able to in English. Then, when interacting in mostly Japanese spaces, even with peers of my age group, I felt like a shell of my true self. How much of myself could I show to these people, without standing out too much? As a result, I had difficulty making true friends for a while. Luckily, International Christian University is a very diverse campus, and I was able to make friends with both native Japanese people, as well as other international students like myself. A big turning point was when I joined ICU’s K-pop dance circle, and began to interact with the other members quite often through practices and gatherings. I became close with quite a few people through this, and I plan to stay connected with as many as possible regardless of the distance we will soon have.

My advice to any students coming to study abroad in Japan is to try things you wouldn’t normally do back home. I discovered lots about myself while studying abroad, simply because I said “yes” to activities and places that would usually be a “no” for me. Sometimes, you’ll feel that you were right about certain things, and that you truly don’t enjoy them. Other times, you’ll come to appreciate things you thought you never would.

Upon my return to America, I will definitely continue improving my Japanese and stay connected to Japanese culture. I am heavily considering returning to Japan in the near future, either for grad school, work, or maybe both. As a Computer Science major, I would love to work at one of the many influential tech companies based in Japan. Finally, I would like to deeply thank the Japan-America Society of Washington DC for supporting my year abroad and making it possible for me to have all these rich experiences. I hope to have time to be more involved in the Society when I return home.

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