Year Long Study Abroad at Kansai Gaidai University

Alexandria Roberts Start Date: May 23, 2018 - End Date: Sep 19, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Osaka Prefecture, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Alexandria Roberts Start Date: May 23, 2018 - End Date: Sep 19, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Hello everyone,

For those of you that don't know me, my name is Alexandria Roberts, and I'm a college junior at Saginaw Valley State University with a minor in Japanese. I'm hoping in the future to change to a full time Asian Cultures Major with a Submajor in Japanese Culture at Michigan State University.

I've been studying Japanese language and culture through history and language books, as well as Japanese pop culture through anime, manga, music, dramas, and other forms as media, including the NHK news website for Japanese reading practice. Yet, despite all this studying I've never before had the chance to study in Japan.

This would be the ultimate test of my skill, but it would also benefit me by increading my fluency with listening, speaking, and writing skills in ways that books, tapes, and videos could never. It would be an unbelievable confidence boost in my goals of becoming a Japanese Translator.

However, despite the opportunity, and even recieving a scholarship to help, there's still a decent chunk of the funding that I must provide myself. Around $10,000 worth. And while this is a lot of money, it is to help me survive in Japan for a full academic year in a country where I'm not legally allowed to work.

I will not waste this money and I will be posting updates about Japan and my studies on a youtube channel and a personal website to keep everyone who donates in the loop.

For some of you, I know that you've helped me in the past and I appreciate it more than you could ever know, and I'm sorry to come to everyone asking for help again.

At this time I do have the list of where the finances will be going, but I will need to post that at a different time.

I'm hoping that people will also notice that I'm posting this on my birthday. This is because I have purposely not asked for anything for my birthday except for financing for this trip. Please know that you absolutely do not have to donate because of this, I won't think terribly of you and I would love it if you would share this instead. Thank you!

Thank you all so much for all your help and in helping my dreams come true.
  • Osaka Prefecture, Japan