Since arriving in Japan, everything seems new and different. I never thought I would find myself living and studying a language in a country on the other side of the world. Getting off the plane, I immediately realized that even the small things are different. I’ve been to many airports,… read more
Japan
Living My Lifelong Dream: Texas to Japan
As a first-generation college student, studying abroad once felt like an impossible dream. The only country I had ever visited outside the U.S. was my birthplace, Mexico. And even then, I was always with family, surrounded by a familiar language and culture. Becoming the first in my family not only… read more
Journey Through Japan: Sips, Cities and Smart Tech
My time in Japan has been truly transformative. The blend of academic research and cultural immersion across all the cities and universities I’ve visited has been remarkable. Having explored Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and Nara, I’ve experienced Japan’s diverse cultural and urban landscapes firsthand. I’ve had the privilege of participating… read more
It’s Okay to Slow Down
I have about two months left in my exchange program in Japan, and I’ve already been here for two months. Coming from immigrant parents and growing up in a small border town, I would have never thought I’d be studying abroad in a country more than 6,000 miles away. Before… read more
Beauty in Every Corner
High on mountain peaks, I gazed and longed to linger, admiring cherry blossoms. How the ceaseless winds must be caressing them now. This poem, written in the Heian period by an anonymous poet in waka style, perfectly captures the emotions I’ve experienced… read more
Endings and Beginnings
As the weather starts to slowly turn from the bitter cold of winter to the gentle breeze of spring, there is a lot to reflect upon and much to look forward to in the time that I have remaining in Japan. Soon after my last blog post, I ended my… read more
Opportunity
As my first semester studying abroad in Japan concludes, I wanted to take this chance to reflect on my experiences and the personal learning this country has permitted me to do. Years ago, I chose to study abroad halfway across the world, seeking a place that would contrast as much… read more
The Hero’s Journey Takes Asia
Save for the week I spent in Vancouver, the day I spent on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, and the 20,000 steps I took in Victoria’s Butchart Gardens (all of which were with my parents and under the age of 15), I have never been abroad. I have never… read more
Holidays Both New and Old
I have never considered myself to be a big “holiday person.” While I appreciated the chance to come together with friends and family, holidays were never treated like a big deal. My family would participate in the usual traditions, such as setting out candy on Halloween or giving presents on… read more
The Changing of Seasons and Kachoufugetsu
When I first arrived in Kyoto, Japan, two weeks ago, my hair stuck to my face anytime I went outside. Carrying groceries under the blazing heat of the sun felt like a momentous task, akin to that of the long walk up the hills of Austin to reach my dorm… read more