Send Sara to Japan

Sara Young Start Date: Jan 29, 2015 - End Date: May 28, 2015
  • Tokyo, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Sara Young Start Date: Jan 29, 2015 - End Date: May 28, 2015
I have always had an interest in the Japanese language and culture. In middle school, I read all I could find about the culture. Freshman year of high school, I began taking Japanese language courses, and I've been hooked on the language since. Now as a junior in college, I will be studying abroad in Japan for Summer 2015 in order to receive the credits needed for my Japanese Language major.

I believe a degree in the Japanese language will give me a competitive edge in the job market. My primary degree is Packaging Engineering Technology, and Japanese will hopefully help me achieve my career goal: to work for an international packaging company that allows me to travel to, and possibly work in, other countries.

I am ecstatic to spend two months in Japan, surrounded by their culture and language! I look forward to expanding my horizons and meeting up with my Japanese friends, whom I've met at Indiana State University while they were studying abroad here. I have been to Japan once before in high school, and spent most of the time in Tokyo, but this time I will be on my own for the most part. I am very excited to see how much of the language I know and can read, especially when it comes to getting off at the right stops on the trains!

I’m looking forward to getting lost and stumbling across new places that I haven’t seen before. I also really want to travel to other parts of the country I did not get to see as much during that high school, such as Kyoto and Osaka, which are more culturally inclined than Tokyo.

I am enrolling in an intensive language program, two months is supposed to be equivalent to a year's worth of study, and it will cost approximately $10,000. This includes tuition, the plane ticket, books, and food. My parents and I together have almost $4,000 saved so far, and I am applying for scholarships. However, my parents will have to take out Parent PLUS loans to cover the difference because my loans are already maxed out for the school year.
  • Tokyo, Japan

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