This letter from returnee Brittani Drost explains the value of studying abroad in Japan

Drost, Brittani

English

DigitalCommons@Linfield

Linfield College DigitalCommons@Linfield Letters from Returnees: Sharing the Value of Study Abroad International Programs 9-28-2012 Linfield College: Study Abroad in Japan Brittani Drost Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/intl_returnees Recommended Citation Drost, Brittani, "Linfield College: Study Abroad in Japan" (2012). Letters from Returnees: Sharing the Value of Study Abroad. Letter. Submission 12. https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/intl_returnees/12 This Letter is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It is brought to you for free via open access, courtesy of DigitalCommons@Linfield, with permission from the rights-holder(s). Your use of this Letter must comply with the Terms of Use for material posted in DigitalCommons@Linfield, or with other stated terms (such as a Creative Commons license) indicated in the record and/or on the work itself. For more information, or if you have questions about permitted uses, please contact digitalcommons@linfield.edu. Brittani Drost  My study abroad experience to Yokohama, Japan for an entire semester meant a great deal to me. It was the end-point of years of daydreaming and careful planning. I had always wanted to study abroad and one of my defining reasons for why I chose Linfield was because of its Japanese and study abroad program. It was by no means disappointing.    The experience enriched my life in many defining ways. I met many wonderful people who I want to stay in contact with for years to come. My host family, especially, holds a special place in my heart. I look forward to when I can see my three little host sisters again. The interactions I had with the Japanese people taught me cultural sensitivity and how to appreciate both the differences and similarities between the United States and Japan. By going abroad, I better understood how the world was connected.    My appreciation for language also became well-developed because of my experience. My struggles and successes with Japanese increased my passion for learning and communication. I even began to better understand how English worked as well as the nuances of human expression, in general.    Ultimately, my experience changed me for the better. I find my patience has increased with conversations; I have become both a better speaker and listener, including in English. I am more inclined to seek out social opportunities and appreciate the people in my life. It has eroded my fear of travel and trying new things. In other words, I now find getting lost and strange foods to be an opportunity for discovery! Overall, I am so glad that I chose to study abroad and I hope that the future has more opportunities for travel like Linfield has offered during my undergraduate years.    

Linfield College: Study Abroad in Japan

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https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&amp;context=intl_returnees

Linfield College: Study Abroad in Japan

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