It was a huge dream of mine to travel to Japan for many years. It always seemed far-fetched, especially when I lived in a small town where rarely anybody ever made it out.
I was certain that this goal of mine would only be attainable later in life. I never pictured myself to be where I am today: looking at photos of my time studying abroad in Japan at age 20.
I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and the butterfly effect in life is stronger than we realize. With that being said, I know I was meant to be at Texas State. A huge reason I chose to be a bobcat was because of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I knew I wanted to be a part of a strong journalistic program, and I eventually learned that education abroad is one of Texas State’s specialties.
The fall of 2024, my freshman year, was when SJMC Japan was introduced to me. I remember texting my family about how badly I wanted to go, but time and money slipped away before I could implement the idea into my brain.
The following year, I stepped into my news writing and reporting class to see none other than Professor Gilbert D. Martinez, who wasn’t my instructor for that course. I had Professor Martinez for media law previously, and I was aware that he led the SJMC Japan program. I spoke to him after class, wondering and hoping that the Japan opportunity would come to me again. I was delighted when he confirmed that the applications would open soon.
After that conversation, I set my priorities straight. I filled out the application, and I started saving.
I felt the strong desire for professional growth during that time. I wanted to gain insight elsewhere and take the opportunity to study overseas rather than the classroom. The idea of this occurring in Japan felt so right to me.
I still remember how nervous I was for our class meetings as we prepared for Japan. It feels like just yesterday I was meeting my fellow classmates and learning names. I had no idea how much these people would mean to me in the summer.
My nerves were calmed slightly by the familiarity of Professor Martinez from the previous year, and during the spring semester I had Professor Sara Shields for web design and publishing. I enjoyed both classes and both professors, so I appreciated being in good hands overseas.
At one of our meetings, I met Christina and Faith. I think we were all pretty nervous and quiet at first, but we gravitated towards each other, and I was glad I started connecting to my classmates before we departed.
Despite the first day being a rainy one, I have to acknowledge it as one of my favorites. A large group of us went to a cafe, did some shopping and had lunch. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone a little better, and the welcome dinner that evening added on to that. I was super ecstatic the whole time, and I described myself as a social butterfly to my cousin, who I usually tell about all my antisocial encounters.
That night, a group of us went to Shibuya, and I remember thinking “I’m really in Japan right now.” I looked around and took a moment to appreciate life, and I realized how big the world truly is. I had made it.
Another moment I felt alive was at the Yomiuri Giants baseball game. It was what I was looking forward to most about this program, and it truly exceeded my expectations. The crowd’s energy was unlike anything I’ve seen before. I’ve been to college football games many times, and American baseball games as well, but the crowd never stays consistent or as loud as the Yomiuri and Chiba Lotte fans. I left the game with a Giants No. 45 Eito Tanaka jersey and memories I’ll never forget.
Our free day is another day I will forever remember. I got a haircut in Japan, and I went to Tokyo Disneyland. Although it was our free day, I had a carousel post, my Tokyo reel and the daily blog post due. I ended up taking the wrong train several times as well. I had been nervous about working on the daily blog post, but I ultimately had so much fun. Evan made for a great partner, and program assistant Erika Costello and Professor Martinez provided insightful advice.
I love the rain, but I hate getting my freshly done hair wet. Although when you’re on Miyajima Island, your worries wash away. All my cares went out to sea, and I enjoyed the peaceful nature. I remember telling Eric that this is what life was about, and we discussed wanting to live a serene life on an island when we’re older.
I’ll never forget my time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. I had an immense feeling of sadness the entire day after walking through the tragic artifacts. I bawled my eyes out while listening to the audio recordings and seeing the people who lived through this historic event. I took photos and sent them to my high school history teacher who taught me just a small percentage of what took place during the bombing, but nothing prepared me for what I witnessed in the museum. Although my learning experience was filled with sorrow, it was nothing compared to what the people of Japan faced firsthand. I am grateful I walked out with a new perspective, a further appreciation of life and a great acknowledgment of Hiroshima’s tragic history.
Hiroshima wasn’t my only cherished learning experience. Spending time at The Kyoto Shimbun made me feel so overjoyed. Seeing the color process, and our group on a Japanese newspaper put a huge smile on my face. I think it was the journalist in me, but I felt like I had a nerd moment.
Kyoto was sensational. I got another hair alteration and got my first ever tattoo. I felt like the coolest person ever doing such activities in one day: hair, kimono-wearing and a permanent addition to my personal character. It’s impossible to forget about an amazing experience when I can just take a look at my arm and see my sakura tattoo. Any time anyone asks, I get to tell them about my once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It’s not everyday that I get to connect with Japanese students. Our time at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto gave me nothing but happiness. Having the opportunity to learn about somebody else’s day-to-day in another country was a beautiful experience.
With the state of society in America today, it is important to me that we develop a connection with others who are different from us and appreciate cultures and traditions we don’t share. I loved speaking to Mio and Yuzuki, and I can’t forget the laugh we shared over our love for Shohei Ohtani. I received a few messages from both students shortly after we parted and even when we became thousands of miles away. I cannot express how impactful this experience was for me and my belief in celebrating differences.
My final night in Kyoto, our last night in Japan as a whole, left an imprint on me forever. I asked Eric for help, because I needed someone to film me for my Kyoto reel, but I had no idea that the night would end with me in tears.
After we finished filming my reel, Eric wanted to experience some live music in Japan, so we went to a jazz club. Unfortunately, we caught the end of the show, but we still sat and enjoyed the atmosphere. I confided in Eric that night, and it was mutual. Maybe it was the energy of the final night flowing through us or something else entirely. I told him things I’ve never told anyone before, and we discussed our feelings and perspectives together.
We took a bus to Café Rokudenashi, a vinyl listening café, and despite the place being small, we were immediately accommodated by the friendly Japanese jazz listeners. I’ve listened to jazz a handful of times, but nothing will ever beat hearing it in this quaint Japanese café.
I spoke to Eric about his interest and hobby in music, learning so much about my newfound friend. Shortly after, a man sitting next to Eric wondered how two foreigners heard about one of his frequent stops. We informed the man, Rei, that we were studying abroad, and he expressed his desire to visit America. Rei asked how we’ve been spending our time in Japan and seemed deeply interested after we told him that we and our classmates have written all about our journey. He asked for our class website and actually read my personal blog post after recognizing the word ‘mochi’ in the headline. He complimented my writing, along with Evan’s from that day. I felt blessed to have my work be appreciated by someone who didn’t even know me, who wasn’t fluent in the same language and by someone whose beautiful home I tried my best to encapsulate into words.
As I sat feeling content, I listened to Rei and Eric connect over their love of music. Eric shared his music with Rei, and Rei said he was a DJ at a record bar. They both described their love for music with so much passion that I couldn’t help but stare in awe. These two men had just met, but they spoke like two old friends despite the language barrier. They connected instantly over a common interest, and I felt grateful to sit there and witness something so rare in this lifetime.
Rei told us he was glad we had visited the cafe, and we parted with a final “arigatō gozaimasu.” Eric and I walked half an hour back to the hotel, taking in the quiet streets of Japan at midnight. We agreed that our final night was one to remember.
When I arrived in my hotel room, I burst into tears. A bittersweet feeling overwhelmed me suddenly as I sat on the bed. I felt so fortunate to experience Japan the way I did on that final night, to experience Japan at all. Something inside of me was healed by my classmate, the interaction I witnessed and the glorious beauty of Japan.
This program has given me nothing but hope for my days ahead. It gave me reassurance in my career plans, and reminded me that journalism and digital media are still so important in today’s age. I have found a new love for content creation, and I watched my writing flourish. I learned about life from a different perspective. I gained new friendships that I am so thankful for. I’m glad I pushed through the hardships years ago and stayed. I know now how much there is to this life.
I can’t wait to travel and see the rest of the world; it’s all I want now. I’ve only been away for a short time, but I’m already planning my trip back to wondrous Japan.
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