Pre-departure

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Phuong Tran

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Rikkyo - COB

It’s only about a week until my journey in Japan begins…

Since I was young I have been interested in Japanese pop culture but did not start taking formal Japanese courses until three years ago. After attending a few career fairs, I noticed that there was a high demand for Japanese speaking accountants in Ohio and decided to incorporate my interest in the Japanese language into my career.

During fall semester 2015, I will attend Rikkyo University in Tokyo through an exchange program coordinated by the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. My goals are to learn about Japanese business practices, to improve my Japanese language skills. I am currently majoring in Japanese and accounting, so the study abroad program at Rikkyo University is perfect for me. I believe that Rikkyo University’s rigorous business coursework and the study abroad experiences will give me a strong foundation for the beginning of my career.

I have considered a lot of things before deciding that study abroad is right for me. I have had some trouble with the housing process as well, but now I am ready to go. I feel kind of nervous but also very excited. I want to make lot of friends, visit the big Gundam in Odaiba, and eat matcha ice cream. I can’t wait to start my journey in Tokyo…

(The photo above is taken from Rikkyo COB’s website. I will start taking my own photos when I am there :))

Phuong Tran

Phuong Tran

Xin chào! Hello! Konnichiwa! My name is Phuong Tran, and I am originally from Vietnam. I am currently an undergrad at The Ohio State University majoring in Accounting and Japanese. When I came to America in 2010, I could not speak English well, so I had to spend a few years improving my English and getting a GED in order to enter college. Although it has taken me significantly longer than most to finish college, I have gained invaluable life experiences and have met many wonderful people along the way. Thanks to FEA, I will be attending Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan during fall semester 2015. I will study Japanese and take business courses that focus on Japanese business culture and Japanese market. This program allows me to get academic credits for both of my degrees, and more importantly, gives me the opportunity to gain direct experience of Japan’s culture. I know that I will be very busy in Japan, and I can’t tell you how excited I am. I have made a long list of things I want to do in Japan, but now I am worried that I won’t have enough time to do them all. Upon my return from Japan, I will carry out a project at OSU to promote international education. My experience as an immigrant makes me realize the importance of cross-cultural communication, so I want to inspire my fellow students to go abroad and become immersed in a different culture.