Well, this is it. I’m wrapping up my final week at KCP in Japan and I’m feeling quite emotional. I miss my family and friends back home, but I’ve made so many so friends and it really pains me to leave them. I have been trying to spend as much time as I can with them before I leave. I haven’t really done anything super exciting the past 2 weeks. Most of my time has been spent studying for my final exam. It’s been one hell of an adventure here. I’ve explored unknown (to me) territory, I’ve visited historical locations, I’ve eaten more Japanese food in the past 3 months than I have in my entire life, I’ve made amazing friends, I’ve increased my fluency the Japanese language and understanding of the culture, and I’ve learned to assimilate into Japanese society. Not too shabby…
Right now, there are a lot of things running through my head. I’m just kinda reflecting on this experience and how I’ve changed since I’ve been here. I’m thinking about what parts of the culture I’m going to bring back to America with me and how I can effectively share those experiences with everyone. And I’m also trying to prepare myself for the re-entry shock. I’ve become so happy and comfortable with how things are here in Japan, that I’m afraid I might have a harder time re-adapting to American culture than I had adapting to the Japanese culture. I definitely won’t miss sleeping in the cold, that’s for damn sure…
There is not much I have to say for the rest of this post. This is one of those “moment of silence” type of post and I hope all of my readers would take the time to do the same. Reflect on my past posts, look at the pictures I’ve posted and will continue to post until I leave, and imagine what it would be like to be in my place right now. Feel my feelings and share my joy. For those of you who have traveled abroad, or better, studied abroad, I know you can understand my feelings. But for those of you who haven’t, please take this advise. Don’t think about it. Just do it. A common thing I hear from people, which makes me quite mad, is “It’s too expensive.” WRONG! Studying abroad is not expensive. If you are a full-time college student already, chances are you won’t pay much more than what you’re already paying. When we’re afraid, we will sometimes make excuses. Don’t be afraid and don’t make excuses. There are scholarships out there if you’re willing to look for them. And if you’re willing to work for them, you will likely get some of them. But don’t be the person who looks back at your life 5-10 years from now saying, “What if?”
Follow your dreams and make them all come true. Your only liable limitation is yourself.
