Maria's Semester in JAPAN

Maria Garcia Start Date: Jul 13, 2017 - End Date: Feb 16, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
  • Tokyo, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Maria Garcia Start Date: Jul 13, 2017 - End Date: Feb 16, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Studying in Japan can increase my knowledge in language and culture. It will help me get more job opportunities and hopefully an internship abroad. I have been blessed with many opportunities since I am already bilingual and speak Spanish very fluently and I am capable of reading and writing it as well. Being able to understand different cultures is accepting and respecting those who are not from my culture. As an American who was raised from Mexican parents I have been able to see how useful it is in my country to be able to speak more than one language. It is better to know another language other than English because people are more educated culture wise. I am very helpful in my current job and my coworkers appreciate that I can speak a language they cannot and I hope it will be the same for my future in speaking three languages. Since I have a small background in landscape and architecture photography I know Japan will have everything I hoped for. Their ancient buildings and landscape is breathtaking and it will help me become a better photographer.

I am passionate about this trip because respect in Japan is a big thing. They respect their elders and time. From my research Japan’s system of education is completely different from America because they clean their own school and are taught to show respect to others in their beginning years to help the students develop their character. Respect is very meaningful to me because I have been disrespected for being from a different culture. It saddens me because America is a country of freedom and I want people to know that there is more to this world than just America.

Being independent is something I will gain from studying abroad. It will help me grow in character and as a person to not be able to rely on my parents. I love my parents but I know one day I will move out not knowing how to be on my own immediately so taking this huge step into studying in a different country is going to help me.
  • Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
  • Tokyo, Japan