Brandon Dohner, Reflections

In 2011, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at Chubu University, and during this time, we engaged in numerous cultural activities and excursions. One that I remember well was traveling to Kyoto, visiting Kinkakuji and the bamboo forest. However, none of these experiences were more impactful than our relief trip north of Tokyo, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that happened months earlier. In Iwate, we actively participated in a river cleanup project alongside students from the Iwate Prefecture. We were among the first group of foreigners allowed to lend a hand. Though our initial contributions seemed relatively small in the grand scope of the work that needed to be done, our trip eventually served as a catalyst for more extensive relief trips for Ohio University students. When I was 10 years old, I spent 9 months in Japan, in a little town south of Nagoya called Handa. Studying at Chubu University also gave me opportunities to visit old friends and neighbors in Handa, whom I hadn't seen in over a decade. When I returned to visit Japan after my study abroad and finished my studies at Ohio University, my language skills greatly assisted me in navigating my travels. Amid the academic rigor of Chubu University, social events and joining the basketball club offered a sometimes much-needed break from my coursework and also provided valuable opportunities to enhance my conversational skills through real-life interactions. There's a certain magic that comes with learning how to communicate when language barriers exist. It includes mastering the art of conveying your thoughts with limited language skills and simplifying complex ideas into straightforward sentences. These skills are still useful in various aspects of both business and social interactions. Living at Chubu challenged all of us to adapt to a new country, embrace diverse backgrounds and cultures, and develop essential adaptability skills. It pushed us out of our comfort zones, and I’m still grateful for every professor and administrator from both Chubu University and Ohio University who helped make my experience happen.