Program and Location:
Summer, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Major/Minor:
Business Administration Major, Marketing Minor
Why did you choose to study abroad?
I chose to immerse myself in Japanese culture, learn about their business practices and traditions, make new memories, and new connections with both fellow students and faculty and ones in Japan.
How did you pick out your program?
I picked it by talking with Rob and going to events for studying abroad.
What is something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?
I learned that I work well with other people more than I thought. I am different in which I now prefer to make an effort to work with groups to help them and myself understand tasks and content better. I am the same in that I enjoy Japanese traditions and culture and implement some of their values into my everyday life.
What advice would you give another student?
Some advice I would give is to not underestimate the work you have to do for your classes, engage with both your learning and events, and do research before you go to prepare for any mishaps.
How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?
It has prepared me to be more aware of the values the companies I look to work at core values and see how they interact with their international relations.
How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?
The classes I took abroad were much faster paced and didnt go into as much depth compared to if they were 16 week courses. However, I found I learned more in that short of time. Yes, we took an excursion weekend to Kanazawa, a few company trips to Toyota, and had guest speakers to talk about topics such as Japanese economy, history, and traditions.
How did you connect with locals and/or meet local friends?
I connected with locals by talking with students at events hosted by the school, in daily passing such as cashiers and train help desks. I also talked to some faculty such as the Vice president of Nagoya University and managers at the Toyota company which was very cool.
How did you budget for your time abroad? Are there scholarships or grants that you would recommend applying for? Did you spend more or less money than you thought?
I budgeted by saving as much as I could and being conscious of how much I was spending on wants over needs. I did apply to a few scholarships, and I would recommend applying to the Harry C. Kelly scholarship. I think I spent about as much as I thought I would.
In what ways did your identity have an impact on your experience abroad?
Having blonde hair and blue eyes makes you more prevalent in Japan as that isn’t very common, which made me stand out more since I could also speak Japanese. It shocked many locals and people I worked with.
How safe did you feel there? And/or, where did you find support to navigate any challenges you faced abroad?
I felt extremely safe. There were no instances where I felt uncomfortable or in danger. For any challenges I may have faced, I went to either our professors, the Nagoya University program director Daizo, or locals that I could talk with for navigation.
Would you do it again?
Yes
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