Alumni Interview with Maya Best

What inspired you to go abroad?

I participated in a high school exchange program the summer after graduating high school and stayed with a host family for a week in Japan. That experience really inspired me to study Japanese which I studied for a year at my home institution. Traveling in that high school program inspired me to take advantage of the study abroad opportunities offered to college students and study abroad as early and often as possible during college.

Why did you choose IES Abroad’s Summer Language Program?

I liked the Japanese language focus of this program. Most study abroad programs in Japan were culture focused rather than language focused. This program was offered during the summer so I wouldn't have to be gone for as long as a semester and it was an intensive language study program. I had also previously traveled to this part of Japan where my past host family lived. Visiting a familiar place made the study abroad experience easier.

What was your favorite part about Japan?

I loved how convenient the public transportation system was, even on weekends. It made it easily possible to go around the city and also travel to other cities. I was able to visit Tokyo and Kyoto during two weekends by taking the bullet train (shinkansen).

What made your experience abroad unique?

This was my second time traveling to Japan, the first time I knew no Japanese at all. It was very rewarding to be able to experience Japan again, this time being able to understand and communicate in the language. I was able to visit my past host family again and speak to them in Japanese, which was especially wonderful for me.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

They facilitated a two day IES orientation at the beginning of the program which made it a lot easier for me to make friends and feel comfortable in Nagoya. They also organized a lot of field trips like yukata wearing and a taiko concert, as well as a weekend trip to Kyoto that let us experience more of Japanese culture.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I had made use of more opportunities given to us to practice speaking Japanese with local students at the university. At Nanzan University there was a room called the Japan Plaza where students were only allowed to speak in Japanese. It was open every afternoon and a great way to practice speaking with local students. A lot of my friends made friends with the Japanese students this way. But I was too shy and self-conscious about my language ability to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I would have Japanese grammar and writing/reading class from 9:20-12:30. Then there would be an hour break for lunch and on Thursdays and Fridays I would have a class in the Japanese arts, such as sado (tea ceremony) and ikebana (flower arrangement). The rest of the day was free time that we could use to study or explore the city.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoyed going out to eat with my friends. The food in Japan was shockingly cheap compared to the US. Eating out was so affordable that we were able to do it several times a week. And the food was always healthy and delicious.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

The accommodation was really great. I lived in the female dormitory with apartments. Each apartment had private bedrooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom. I had one local Japanese roommate and one international roommate. The dorm was very conveniently located right across from the university and nearby a grocery store, hospital and train station.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Remember that you are a guest in Japan and therefore you must be willing to adjust and accommodate to the local culture.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

One year ago I never could have imagined myself traveling completely alone and living independently in another country. But after overcoming what I expected to be one of the scariest experiences of my life (flying alone to Japan and navigating the airports) I feel like I have become capable of more than I expected. This study abroad experience has inspired me to continue to take risks in my life and make use of my college opportunities by continuing to travel as much as possible. Learning Japanese at Nanzan University has shown me just how much I love studying this language. It has further motivated me to continue to pursue these studies.

Would you recommend IES Abroad? Why?

Yes I would definitely recommend this program. The language classes were extremely beneficial and thanks to IES Abroad I was able to participate in many cultural events and travel to Kyoto. I also ended up making some incredible friends who I am still very close with and keep in touch with.