Since I first discovered Japan’s natural beauty and abundance of Pokémon merchandise while watching YouTube in middle school, Japan has been my dream vacation destination. But as the years went by, it felt like nothing more than just that, a dream, something that would hopefully happen, but with no realistic path to getting there.
But everything changed on a quiet fall night in media writing class, where I first learned about the SJMC Japan program and its potential to make my unattainable dream a reality. An opportunity to go to Japan while earning both academic credit and published stories to document the amazing experience was just too good to pass up.
As the rest of the school year flew by, my anticipation for the trip grew with each passing day. Following the release of the itinerary, it became clear that this trip was going to be one to remember. From getting to shop through the streets of Tokyo to seeing the beautiful and historical landmarks of Hiroshima and Kyoto, the trip truly had something for everyone, giving a diverse and incredible look into all of Japan’s greatest hits.
But with all the excitement building for the trip, there were also a lot of nerves, as this would be my first time out of the country in over a decade. I’ve never been to a country whose main language isn’t English, so anxiety about not being able to communicate or accidentally coming off as disrespectful weighed heavily on my mind.
As my flight touched down in Tokyo and I arrived at Tully’s Coffee to meet with the rest of the group, all my worries washed away as I remembered that I wasn’t alone on this trip.
Despite the rainy first day, the weather didn’t keep us down for long, as our next four days in Tokyo were filled with excitement. From the shrines and temples of Kamakura to the streets of Shibuya, I truly felt like I made the most of the time in the Tokyo area, getting a great mix of history, beauty and shopping.
Out of everything we did in Tokyo, my favorite things by far were shopping in Shibuya and Akihabara, also known as Electric Town. Being a big video game and anime fan, these spots were where I did most of my shopping for the trip. Going to stores like the Shibuya Pokémon Center and a 10n-story mall dedicated to anime merchandise checked off major things on my bucket list.
After a thrilling six days in Tokyo, the trip changed focus from natural beauty surrounding Japan as we went west to Hiroshima. Seeing landmarks like Shukkeien Garden showed that Japan is just as beautiful as it is modern.
But the trip to Hiroshima also took a serious turn as we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to remember the tragic loss of life during the dropping of the atomic bomb. Hearing of the devastation through first-hand accounts sheds light on the tragedy more than any history book could ever do, ensuring we never forget the tragic loss of human life.
After a few days in Hiroshima, the trip had reached its final destination in my favorite city of the trip, Kyoto. From getting to do a traditional tea ceremony to seeing the city from above in Kyoto Tower, the experience truly provided the perfect blend of tradition and modernism.
As my trip came to a close and my plane officially took off from Japan, I realized this trip was more than just a vacation; it had become a life-changing experience.
The first major thing I learned on my trip was how to adapt to culture on the fly. Coming from the U.S. with such a large group of 23 students, two faculty and a program assistant, there were plenty of times when we unknowingly became the loud American stereotype, not even realizing our own noise level.
Initially coming into Japan, it was a bit of culture shock to experience such quiet trains. Japanese society also does not involve tipping at restaurants. I also had to remind myself to take my shoes off in certain places. Coming in as a tourist, I wanted to ensure I was respecting those norms.
I definitely had my fair share of mistakes, but I can say with confidence that by the time we reached Kyoto, I had begun to assimilate into the culture. The once loud and unaware American had adjusted to the norms of Japan.
Being able to adapt to new cultural norms in a short period is an invaluable skill, especially for anyone leaving the country. While there are always growing pains, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in such a short period of time.
Another major thing I learned on this trip was how to be open-minded and expand my horizons. While it’s easy to fall into the same habits in the U.S., whether it’s food, entertainment or lifestyle, being in Japan challenged my traditional routine, forcing me to expand my horizons.
As I explored Japan, I was met with opportunities to try new things, and even though I didn’t like everything I tried, including my complicated relationship with matcha, seaweed and tofu, there were a lot of times that taking that chance paid off.
While the comfort foods of Shake Shack and McDonald’s were always there for the days I wasn’t feeling particularly brave, the days I did take that leap of faith, more times than not, paid off.
My goal for this trip was to return home proud of my effort to step out of my comfort zone, and I can say with confidence that I did that by opening myself up to a different way of living while in Japan.
One thing I learned academically from the trip was how to work on the fly. With these being my first study-abroad classes, I’ve never experienced having to do assignments on the fly. Having to balance the long days of activities in Japan with assignments and stories was a challenge, but it also led to some of my best work of the trip.
Being out of the traditional classroom setting and in the world led to my work feeling more authentic, as I truly immerse myself in my work, giving better descriptions and more meaningful insight on each place we visited.
Now that the SJMC program has come to an end, I see just how amazing this trip truly was. Getting to both travel to Japan and to write about my experience has drastically improved my writing skills and also helped add published work to my portfolio, contributing to my eventual job search.
But after reflecting on the trip, I realized that what made this experience so special wasn’t just the trip; it was getting to experience it with my peers.
Obviously, what had drawn me into the program was the appeal of going to Japan, but after being with such an amazing group of people, I realized it would not have been the same without them.
If I had to pick the most important lesson I learned on this trip, it’s this: where you go matters, but who you go with matters even more. A destination can make for a good trip, but the people you’re with are what truly make a trip memorable.
Japan may have been my dream destination but getting to go there with SJMC Japan is what truly made this trip so special.
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