My Journey to Meiji Gakuin University in Japan!

Iyanna Johns Start Date: Jul 24, 2023 - End Date: Feb 2, 2024
  • Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Nara, Japan
  • Osaka, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Iyanna Johns Start Date: Jul 24, 2023 - End Date: Feb 2, 2024
Hello everyone! I included this video about Meiji Gakuin because I am a English major myself and the student answering questions here is in the English department!

I decided to go to Meiji Gakuin because it was affordable and because through a bit of research, I have learned that Yokohama (which is the campus I will likely be studying at) is historically rich in Japan. It is one of the most important port cities there and, being as I am from Modesto, California, a pretty landlocked agricultural city, I think I could learn so much from studying in a place like this. 

In the future, I would like to sometimes travel for my work. I have never really had the opportunity to travel anywhere because I don't think I have had the chance financially to branch out super far; however, through learning Japanese at my home university, UCR, I have seen just how valuable it is to learn another language and communicate in it with someone who speaks that language natively. I learned French in high school as well and thus, I have just seen how useful of a tool knowing multiple languages is and how it could help me with mycareer goals. I believe I want to do something to help people in the future and I think a first step to doing so would be knowing as many languages as possible and engaging in a cultural exchange everywhere I go and making an effort to honestly and openly communicate with those I meet, whether it be in the business world or on the street!

I am passionate about connecting with others through language, craft (dancing, for example), and even through non-verbal sharing such as eating. I grew to admire my Japanese language professors at UCR and admire their commitment to travel (all of them moved here from Japan at some point in their lives) and to teaching something they are passionate about and I intend to do the same with my life. I learned Japanese most recently so, I want to get practice in with it as soon as possible! I hope to grow an shape so much in this trip and would even love to share with anyone what my experience was like and what I have learned while I was abroad when I return!
  • Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Nara, Japan
  • Osaka, Japan

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