A Student Perspective on the Tsuchiura Exchange: " I am so grateful that I got this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity"

By Isabella Wang, 8th Grade, JLS 

Every time my dad came back from his trip to Japan, saying how clean it was and how friendly the people were, I was fascinated by Japanese culture, and especially liked Japanese food. Japan seemed so different from the United States, which is why I chose to study Japanese. This is also why I had always wanted to go. When I heard about the Neighbors Abroad student exchange program from my Japanese teacher, I knew I had to sign up. This exchange program provided me with the perfect opportunity to go, and it was an unforgettable experience.

Staying at someone else’s house was a new experience for me, and I was very nervous. However, my host family was extremely welcoming and I felt right at home. The fact that I already got to know my buddy as she had already come to stay in my house in March helped to ease some of my anxiety as well. I enjoyed doing many fun activities with them, such as making takoyaki and playing with sparklers, and also recently discovered that I liked coffee jelly. I ended up liking takoyaki so much that in America I, with help from my host family, bought my own machine and learned how to make it. I also learned that we shared a passion for manga, and got to browse through their collection, as well as go to a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I also got to go to a public bath for the first time, which was a very interesting experience. 

In addition, I also got to visit many different Japanese cities such as Himeji, Osaka, and Tokyo and see many culturally important landmarks. We visited Himeji Castle, and learned about its conflicted past. Japan has such a rich history and culture. I very much enjoyed learning about it. I made many new friends, and I think that going to Japan helped to broaden my horizon.

I also enjoyed going to a Japanese school. The students were all very welcoming. Going to school via train and wearing indoor shoes at school were new experiences for me. I thought that it was impressive that Japan was so safe that children could travel on their own. In Japanese schools, the students help serve lunches, and in my opinion, the quality of the lunches are much better than in American schools. 
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I returned to America bearing loads of souvenirs to share with my friends. My host family was kind and generous enough to give me gifts, and I also went on shopping sprees in the malls. Japan has a lot of wonderful gifts and unique things you can’t get in the U.S.

Because of this trip, I got to spend more time with friends and make new friends. I experienced many firsts during this exchange program, and I learned so much more about Japanese culture and society. I am so grateful that I got this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from Neighbors Abroad, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the organizers, Evelyn Shimazaki and Christine Saxon. I look forward to seeing my host family and buddy again next year, and I’ll be sure to treasure the memories I make during this trip.