Sergianni Jennings
2024-2025 Tanaka & Green Scholar

My year studying abroad in Japan can best be described as life changing. During my time in Kyoto I had the opportunity to not only immerse myself in traditional Japanese culture and deeply study the Japanese language, but I was also able to make friendships that will last a lifetime.

When I first arrived and started my semester abroad through the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS) located at Doshisha University, my primary goal was to make friends and meet Japanese students on campus. I was able to accomplish this goal through my KCJS language class because every week my teacher would invite Doshisha students to join our discussion session. Our weekly discussions in Japanese gave me the unique opportunity to have discourse with Japanese students on a range of different topics from the meaning of happiness to sustainability in the U.S and Japan. Discussion days soon became my favorite part of the week. Through these conversations alone I was able to learn more about the students and their college life in Japan that differed and, in some ways, was similar to my own experience in the U.S. I was able to get to know the students that frequently came to my language class very well. Our class would often invite the students to join us for lunch after class so we could continue the conversation and learn more about each other. I think being able to make such great friendships through my language class is something I found incredibly rewarding.

Outside of the classroom, I was also able to make connections with other students by going to Shiru Cafe, which was located next to Doshisha’s campus. When I first learned about how Shiru Cafe served free beverages for all students, I immediately knew I had to go. While I was intimidated at first due to the space mostly being filled with little international students, I decided to take the plunge in the hopes of joining this cafe community. I soon realized that there was nothing to be worried about because everyone was extremely friendly and excited to meet exchange students. I believe that pushing myself to join a space that I was unfamiliar with was key to meeting new people and improving my confidence with my language ability. It was a Shiru Cafe where I met two of my best friends from Doshisha that I have stayed in touch with since returning to the United States. Meeting them and becoming close friends made me realize the extent to which my language abilities had improved since first arriving in Japan. It is also from spending time with them on weekends that I was able to learn more Japanese words and phrases that are not taught in the classroom. Conversely, their interest in studying English also meant that we were always teaching each other new things every time we talked. I feel very lucky to have met such amazing new friends while abroad.

Beyond KCJS and Doshisha University, I also joined the International Club Klexon as an English Language Volunteer in order to connect with individuals in the greater Kyoto area. Klexon meetings met every week and sessions lasted for about three hours. The program operated with English speakers rotating to each Japanese community member to practice conversational English. Through Klexon I was able to meet a diverse group of people that included other college students, taxi drivers, professors and company workers that all aimed to improve their English. I joined Klexon soon after arriving in Japan which allowed me to be with the Klexon community throughout my entire year long study abroad experience. I got to know the club members and organizers incredibly well and had the opportunity to attend many of Klexon’s social events. My favorite event to attend was the Christmas celebration party because I was able to be surrounded by a great community during the holidays, a time I would usually spend with family back in the U.S.

The friendships and connections I made in Japan is something that I cherish the most from my study abroad experience. There are many memories that I made with the people I met, from spending time at the Kamo River, trips to Fushimi Inari or going to my favorite okonomiyaki restaurant. Through spending time with friends, I learned more about Japanese culture and felt comfortable practicing and improving my Japanese. I am also glad I could be of help for my friends as they were learning English. The exchange of culture, ideas, and language that I was able to experience has further fueled my interest to return to Japan again in the future.

Currently, my future plans are to continue to improve my Japanese language skills and pursue a career where I can contribute to the U.S-Japan partnership. As I enter my final year at Bowdoin College, I am excited to make plans to return to Japan and continue supporting exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Finally, I want to thank the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC for supporting my study abroad and making it possible for me to experience many aspects of Japan. My experience was truly one that makes me look forward to a career in the U.S-Japan relations field.

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