What inspired you to travel abroad?
I study International Relations and Management in Regensburg, Germany, with a focus on East Asia. My major requires me to spend two semesters abroad. Last year, I did an exchange semester at Hong Kong University and started learning Chinese.
So, before coming to Japan this year and continuing after arriving, it seemed beneficial to start learning Japanese to greatly ease my experience.
I rented a Kimono with a friend and we visited a traditional Japanese garden in Fukuoka's Ohori park.
Why did you choose the Meiji Academy - Japanese Online Lessons program?
I chose Meiji Academy in Fukuoka and their online lessons because I wanted a more personal and immersive way to learn Japanese. The private online lessons helped me understand local culture, and living in a less touristy city really appealed to me.
I liked that it seemed welcoming, focused, and perfect for really diving into the language and daily life.
What was your favorite part about Japan?
I am a huge fan of Japanese nature. Before making the switch to International Relations, I used to study Biology with a focus on Botany, and my love for nature still holds true.
Japan, with a huge portion of its plants and animals being endemic, makes every trip to the forest a new, unforgettable experience.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made the experience most extraordinary was, as always when going abroad, just getting thrown into the cold water again. A completely new country, with a new culture, new people, new architecture, and new nature.
This is always a huge adventure. I enjoy being put in a completely new surrounding and having to try figuring everything out.
We hiked on a foggy day and finally reached the summit near Itoshima.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff is very friendly and helpful at all times. They have great suggestions for trips, restaurants, and temples. Whatever you are looking for, they will have a great tip on where to go!
The teachers are also very friendly and helpful. They cater courses toward your personal needs. I am very interested in porcelain, for example, so I told my teacher, and he showed me words related to porcelain and sent me information about events, like a big porcelain market nearby.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had spoken more Japanese outside of class from the beginning. I was a bit shy at first and stuck to English too often. Once I started using Japanese more in everyday situations, I learned so much faster and felt way more connected to the culture and people around me.
Even just simple phrases make a huge difference.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I had much freedom in when I wanted to schedule my online lessons. I typically scheduled them in the evening or early morning, so I was able to spend lots of time exploring Fukuoka and surrounding cities once I got to Japan.
So typically, I either had the lesson and then a lot of free time afterward, or the other way around.
We went to Yanagawa, a smaller city south of Fukuoka, and this photo was taken in a temple there.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Visiting local temples or palaces, going to parks, and often going hiking. Japan made me rediscover my love for hiking, which I had lost in recent years, since the nature and mountains in the surrounding areas are just so different from what I am used to in Europe or even China last year.
I am also a big fan of tea, so you could frequently find me at tea houses all throughout the city.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
When coming to Japan, I had a private apartment through Meiji Academy. The location of my apartment was amazing. It was in the main district, basically in the centre of the city, next to one of the main roads and close to the metro lines and train stations.
This made everything really accessible.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Be diligent with your learning. Japanese is a hard language, and even with masterful teachers like mine, it will require quite a bit of patience and dedication.
And most importantly, don't be afraid to use your Japanese while learning. The locals will be thrilled by you trying to communicate in Japanese, even if you barely string together a coherent sentence.
This photo was taken in a part of the Dazaifu shrine.
Would you recommend your program to others? Why?
Absolutely! I had a great experience with my teachers and staff, and they are the true heart of Meiji! After arriving in Fukuoka, the staff and the multitudes of events they organise made connecting to my teachers and fellow students easy and fun!
Events were held weekly and ranged from karaoke to tea ceremonies!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Since I study International Relations and Management, intercultural communication is one of my main points of interest. But reading about it in a book does not make you properly proficient. You need to experience intercultural interactions firsthand to understand them.
And that's what going abroad really grants you.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I have actually stayed in Japan quite a bit longer, so by the time I am writing this, I am still in Japan, currently doing an internship here. It has definitely fostered my focus on East Asia as a whole, having now been to all East Asian countries and having lived in two of them—Japan and China.
This has helped me understand and practise the theoretical knowledge that I gained at university and properly understand the depth of the different cultures here.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I am not somebody who likes a beach vacation. I love going to museums, I love going to temples, and I get a lot of joy out of learning. This is what travel is to me—personal and educational enrichment.
I can grow as a person while travelling, and I can also further foster my educational prowess. Meiji Academy and learning Japanese have greatly helped me with this journey.
