{"id":7633,"date":"2025-01-29T15:36:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/?p=7633"},"modified":"2025-01-29T15:36:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:36:20","slug":"a-reflection-on-my-adventure-through-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/01\/29\/a-reflection-on-my-adventure-through-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"A Reflection on My Adventure Through Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As I stepped off the plane in Japan, my field of vision was fixed on the signs, directions meant for the public written in a language I couldn\u2019t understand. I was full of excitement and anticipation. As the first person in my family to travel internationally, I achieved a personal milestone. I was grateful for the opportunity to explore a culture vastly different from my own in unique ways. Little did I know my journey would not only reshape my understanding of Japan but also transform me into a more independent, culturally aware, and well-rounded individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From the moment I arrived, I made sure to make the most of every experience while in Japan. I took so many pictures it\u2019d take days to count them. I wanted mental snapshots, but I knew I\u2019d be able to share these physical memories with my family, friends, kids, and others down the road. I remember the thrill of wandering through Tokyo on our free days, creating my own itinerary for free days, and navigating public transportation, things grown people and children alike do daily in Japan. From savoring my first bowl of locally prepared authentic miso ramen, and exploring the neon-lit, magical streets of Shibuya with new friends. I could never hope to find anything like Japan anywhere else. The initial moments of cultural shock wore off and were transformed into a yearning for more; although I had little Japanese in my vocabulary, using what I knew as often as possible made a foreign place seem almost like home. Good manners and showing others respect and kindness will get you much further than walling yourself off to strangers and disregarding an individual who speaks a different language than you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There was no lack of kindness and empathy with those in the workforce in Japan. It wasn\u2019t just the people I met along the way that had an impact on me; from the staff at Kirin Brewery to the gracious locals in the more traditional Kyoto, Japan\u2019s culture of hospitality profoundly impacted my perspective of service and connection. This realization around the importance of interpersonal respect came from a familiar place such as \u201calways respect your neighbor\u201d as I was taught growing up. This air of cultural humility stayed with me throughout my journey home and beyond that has stayed with me since settling again in the United States. Another transformative part of my experience was the deepening of friendships with my peers. From navigating the streets of Tokyo with our advisors, and tour guides, and even by ourselves in our free time, these shared experiences fostered connections that I know will last me a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I reflect on my time in Japan, I see how the journey shaped me in ways I never expected. I learned to embrace uncertainty, think critically about different cultures, and uniquely approach the world with a sense of curiosity and gratitude. This trip wasn\u2019t just a visit to a foreign country for me, it was an experience that gave me a new, deeper understanding of the world that I live in and how big it is. As I continue my studies and prepare for my educational and career future, I carry with me the skills I practiced in Japan, and the lessons I\u2019ve learned thanks to this opportunity and having the Rollins Program as a strong foundation as I face new challenges and am met with new opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mason Lowe\u00a0(BS Management) spent December 2024 studying abroad in Japan with the Rollins College of Business. Mason had the following to say about studying abroad,\u00a0\u201cWhen you get a chance to study abroad or leave the country, take mental snapshots on your entire trip. Be in the moment, you will want to take pictures and try new things but the experience can fly by. You will want those clear mental pictures when you reflect on the memories you\u2019ve made. Traveling out of the country is truly a once in a lifetime enriching experience.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I stepped off the plane in Japan, my field of vision was fixed on the signs, directions meant for the public written in a language I couldn\u2019t understand. I was full of excitement and anticipation. As the first person in my family to travel internationally, I achieved a personal milestone. I was grateful for… <\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1215,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6740,48248],"tags":[73812,73822,73811,73813],"class_list":{"0":"post-7633","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-center-for-global-education","7":"category-study-abroad","8":"tag-global-education","9":"tag-global-mocs","10":"tag-mocs-abroad","11":"tag-wanderlust","12":"entry","13":"has-post-thumbnail"},"yoast_head":"\nA Reflection on My Adventure Through Japan - Center for Global Education Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Reflection on My Adventure Through Japan - Center for Global Education Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As I stepped off the plane in Japan, my field of vision was fixed on the signs, directions meant for the public written in a language I couldn\u2019t understand. 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