The Experiment: Japan: Language & Culture

Going to Japan was something I had dreamed about for a long time. I was introduced through anime and manga, but quickly became fascinated with their history, language, and culture. Participating in the Experiment gave me the opportunity to experience the things I had admired and researched independently. Going to historical sites like Hiroshima Castle, viewing art at the Osaka National Art Museum, and eating cultural cuisine like Takoyaki were memories that I will always treasure. I learned so much about Japanese people by talking to the college students who accompanied us and observing people in everyday settings. This was especially true during the Homestay. Spending time in a Japanese home I got to experience a typical weekend for my family, allowing me to have an authentic perspective of what life is like in a different culture. With my homestay family I got to dress in Yukata and go to a local festival, or Omatsuri. This was the highlight of my trip! Watching Taiko and talking with local residents was such a unique experience. I’m so glad the Experiment matched me with such welcoming and lovely people! Everything from the quiet bullet train rides to the bustling area of Dotonburi were thoughtfully planned by the experiment to give greater understanding of Japan. This program was great for people who want to be introduced to Japanese culture!

As much as I enjoyed the experience, one thing I wish was different was the number of classes we had. For a program called "language and culture" I felt as if we learned so little of the language, though I appreciated the sight-seeing, it was overwhelming compared to the amount Japanese classes we had.

This program was extremely fun and a lot more eye opening than I thought it would initially be, When I first signed up, I thought it would be just a language class and go around visiting historical landmarks, then go to a high school and talk with some Japanese highschoolers and that's it. But, we did things that most people probably wouldn't be able to do in Japan without a company backing them up, such as meeting with local college students and talking to them about almost anything culture related, such as political problems in Japan, how the Japanese view foreigners dependent on their age (the older generation dislike foreigners while the younger generation don't mind/welcome them). and so on..

It definitly was something. Japan is a beautiful country however my trip with the experiment was definitley an interesting one. I enjoyed spending time with my host family and the local highschool students.

PICKY EATING: Although I have no food allergies, I was a picky eater and was worried if I would be able to eat anything in a foreign country, but to my surprise everything just tasted so good that it didn't matter. Coming back to America, I've been able to get over most of my bad eating habits, and will eat almost anything now. (I also know that this may vary from person to person.) MEETING AND MY GROUP: When I first arrived at the airport, it was difficult to socialize because I was nervous meeting the people that I have been looking forward to since I got the Group List. Some questions that popped into my head were, "What if they think I'm weird?" "Will I be able to get along with them within the month?" But, all my worries and stress was blown away in just a couple hours. They people that I traveled with had amazing talents, personalities, and opinions to share. I came to love everyone that I traveled with like they were family. I assume it was also partly because we were living in close proximity with each other and we would be the first and last thing we see and hear each day. ARRIVAL & BRIEFING OF WHAT WE DID: When I first arrived to Japan, I was dying of the heat and humidity, but I believe on the third day I adjusted and got somewhat used to it. Our main mode of transportation was the train and our feet. I like to believe that I gained a lot of leg muscle from all the walking. We explore many districts in Tokyo, did a lot of shopping, ate/tried really good food, and met and conversed with Japanese people to the best of our abilities. DAILY SCHEDULE: An average day for me during the program was waking up, getting ready (brushing, eating, etc.), and having a short meeting. We would then attend class, be guided around the district (or do an activity such as candy making or calligraphy), and be given free time to explore (in groups of at least 3) for the remainder of the time we were in the district. We would then head back to our accommodation and be given free time (after a debrief if there is one) to go wherever we wanted with in the boundaries that were set for us. HOMESTAY: Everyone's host family experience is different, and for me I loved my host family. They were very sweet, understanding and patient. We spent as much time as we could together with just the 4 days we could stay ?. With my family, we cooked together and went to the park, aquarium/amusement park, and ramen museum. We would also relax in the living room with each other, talking and enjoying each other's company. SCHOOL: When the itinerary said that we would be going to a Japanese High School it was nothing like how I imagine we would be doing it. I thought that we would be attending a class like normal, but instead we were welcomed by a committee made up of students who were really good at English. Their skills were definitely better than our skills in Japanese. We paired up with a buddy, and learned about each other school life through conversation and tours around the school. OPINION: The experiences I had through this program was definitely unique and could not be replicated. I would like to encourage anyone who is interested to immerse themselves into another country's culture. I had such a great time that when I arrived back in America I wished that I was still in Japan. And, although it hasn't been too long since I got back I am still in contact with my host family and friends that I traveled with. So, although I miss seeing everyone in person I believe that it's not a "Goodbye forever", but a "Goodbye for now" and "See you soon."

If you're looking for thrill and excitement everyday of 30 days, then look no further than the experiment. With years of experience in sending students into foreign countries, every day was more fun than the last. I met the most amazing people on my trip, from members of my group who became family, to my amazing leaders who supported me through every problem I had. All the amazing Japanese people we met were beyond sweet and kind. You won't meet a single bad boned person on this trip. Not to mention the amazing variety of food. We did a little bit of everything, from hiking up mountains in Kyoto to view monkeys in their natural habitat, to exploring the diverse and never ending wonders of Tokyo. Feel like getting a breath of fresh air? You'll be exposed to the pure air of Japanese farm lands and the breath taking views of oceans and more. But something that'll always and forever stay with you is the homestay, and how close you'll become with your families. I miss my host mother and sister more and more everyday. Don't look past this amazing experience, it'll truly change your life.

Being able to go to Japan, through The Experiment, was one of the most life-changing experiences of my life. The Experiment offers a safe space to explore your interests individually while still supporting every aspect of your journey. Before The Experiment, I had never traveled in my life. Going to Japan for the first time seemed scary, but all the traditions and activities this program allows you to explore abroad help you not miss home, and feel comfortable even when you're across the world! Additionally, all the people you meet on the way from the students to the locals are people you will never forget!

Japan was absolutely gorgeous! We travelled to many different cities to meet all kinds of people! We interacted with college students by hanging out at the huge top-notch mall-and-train station in Sapporo and celebrated with the Farewell party with our host families! The Experiment did a fantastic job of making small yet personalised groups with other high-schoolers with various backgrounds! I had fun time with my group and my favorite moments are the water-gun fights during the ferry boat ride to Kyoto and going to the Odaiba onsen in Tokyo. The only bad thing that I have to say is that I wish the program extend much longer to over a month!! That way, I do not have to say goodbye to my new friends and families sooner. I absolutely cherish all of them. Thank you to the Experiment for giving me once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The time I spent while in Japan was a magical one and I’m glad I was able to spend in with the people that did too. They were just as wonderful as the country and experiencing the culture and language with them was amazing. I’m so happy that I was able to do this program. Thank you!

I attended EIL’s Japan: Language and Cultural Traditions program this past summer and I could not dream, of a better experience. The people, the culture, the food, the experience was one that seemed out of a book, but what I found most amazing was how my view of myself changed over those four, hot summer weeks and even more once I returned. Throughout the program, there were always new challenges being presented every time we changed location, ate at a new restaurant, or met a new person. As a study abroad student in Japan that does not know a significant amount of Japanese, this was extremely challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. It became an essential survival skill to have to put yourself out there and face the difficulties. Never before in my life have I had to do that and eventually it became comfortable to be uncomfortable. I learned new ways of communication not just through language, but with hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions. Other challenges, like behavior, also changed the way I saw myself. The people there had different customs and social norms for behavior that I was not used to. Sales associates bowing, only being able to use the left side of the elevator, showing politeness by keeping your hands on the front of your body, and the manner in which you gave and received money was all brand new to me, and it taught me a lot about cultural sensitivity and customs. I had to fight against by basic social instincts because I did not want to be rude to anyone. It opened my eyes to the way others receive culture and how people adapt to the change. I saw tourists and other students either be completely fine with the shift or have this great internal war with themselves like many others were probably feeling at the time too. I began to understand the importance of culture in its most natural form. I had to experiment with my Experiment. The way I view myself now was not the way I viewed myself before those four weeks. There were a few moments in particular where I saw this shift. The first was during my homestay in Nanae, Japan. I was having a delicious dinner with my family when my host father began to tell me how “Japanese” I was in character. He praised the way I addressed people, showed respect by bowing, got along with others, and in general how I acted. Never in my life have I received such praise, and at first I didn’t know what to do with this information. It was like looking at a mirror, recognizing the way you always looked, except your reflection began to tell you things you never knew about yourself. It was a confidence boost that will survive for the rest of my life. The other time was at the end of my program during the closing ceremonies/activities. As a group, each person would tie a string around another person’s wrist and tell them something you would remember them by, or what you appreciated about them. When it came time to exchange ties with one of my group leaders, she explained how she was grateful for my quiet leadership. As a socially shy person, the idea that I could be a leader in any shape, way, or form was insane, but the sincerity of my leader’s words caught me off guard, and I realized she truly meant it. Coming home I was expected to be bombarded by questions about my experience abroad, which turned out to be an understatement, but I was still questioning myself as to how I was going to receive it. I found it very easy to answer peoples’ questions, not just because I had the time of my life, but because I had more confidence in myself to talk to people and explain what happened and what I learned. After my experience abroad I want to do so much more. I want to explore more, talk more, explore more, and learn more. My perspective on myself and the world has changed, and I couldn’t have had a better way to spend my summer than doing my program with the Experiment.

On my trip, I went to various cities: Tokyo, Sapporo, Bihoro, and Kyoto. In Tokyo, we navigated the train systems and experienced the various cities along the Yamanote line, which was a truly interesting experience as I had never been on a train before. In Sapporo, we completed language lessons and met with college students for karaoke, cooking, and purikura as we prepared for our homestays. Bihoro was where we had our homestay, and I truly had an amazing time in this city. The local culture was so amazing and everyone knew each other. I spent a lot of time with the other host families doing barbecue and hanabi (fireworks). We learned Taiko and etegami and went shopping with our families before preparing for our farewell party. I grew extremely close to my host family and truly love them as my own family now. They are very eager to learn English, but you must be eager to learn Japanese as well. The language barrier isn't that scary, especially with translation apps that are out now. Plus, mistakes lead to amazing stories later on in the trip! Kyoto was beautiful and was truly a tourist site. We made it our mission to go to Osaka and experience the Osaka Aquarium with whale sharks, which was so amazing to see. I really wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I met so many amazing people, including many very nice locals! I would give anything to be able to return to Japan.