It’s inevitable, every new beginning must come to an end. Now, as our program comes to an end, I want to use this blog as an opportunity to reflect on the second half of this experience and the overall insights I have gained from this entire journey.
Feeling Like a Local
It gets to a certain point where you don’t feel the awe of being abroad—instead, you start feeling at home. It’s at this point that you do not feel pressured to see every sight or try every food. It’s the point where you only think about relaxing and taking it slow. I’m grateful that I can feel Kyoto like a local, taking in familiar sights while sipping matcha at my favorite café. It’s a different feeling—one that comes from comfort, not from novelty.
Trip to Hiroshima
Taking the Shinkansen (high-speed rail) from Kyoto to Hiroshima was breathtaking because it was our first time riding something like this. It was surprising because the train was so smooth that you could barely believe it could reach speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h). As a class, we went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and being there was deeply moving. It reminded me of the importance of history and how we are always living in the aftermath of something. Afterward, we took a ferry to Itsukushima to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and explore the island (they also had deer, but they were not as tame as the Nara ones).
Osaka World Expo
To be honest, I didn’t know what the World Expo exactly was until very recently. I learned that it is hosted every five years, and that this year it would be in Osaka. What a sweet coincidence—so, of course, we had to attend. The Expo is essentially a large venue where countries from around the world showcase their cultures and technologies. My favorites were China’s and South Korea’s because they blended their traditions with the modern world. It even had smaller countries that I had not heard of before, but they enticed me nonetheless. It furthers my desire to see the world by giving me a preview of what makes each place special. At night, there would be a water show, followed by a drone show.
Last Day at Tachibana University
Our last day at our host university was so emotional. To gradually say goodbye to the local friends we made along the way was harder than I expected. Even though we were acquaintances for only a month, our connections felt as if they had been formed over years. We hosted a farewell dinner party. Hearing each guest speaker, administrator, and student give a speech of appreciation made us teary-eyed. It made me realize how our experiences and connections go both ways: for us, we got to engage with Japanese students and learn about Japanese culture. For the locals, they got to learn all about Texas (I made sure of that). Our last day on campus was the most beautiful the campus had ever been. The sun setting, with its amber rays casting a subtle golden glow, was the perfect end to our study abroad.
Reflections
As our time comes to an end, I will be forever grateful to my classmates, professors, and locals who made my experience unforgettable. I wouldn’t have had this special experience without them.
I’m glad to have decided to study abroad. Even though I am leaving Kyoto, I am taking a piece of it with me, carrying it—and the lessons learned—back to Texas.
This post was contributed by Gordon Feng, a Global Ambassador for May 2025. Gordon is a sophomore studying abroad in Japan.
