Taylor Heddleson, Reflections

I studied abroad at Chubu University for just a few months in 2019, luckily right before the Coronavirus pandemic hit, but my time there is something I still frequently think back on. Studying abroad at Chubu was one of the most valuable and formative experiences I had as a college student. My experience there has continued to shape my life, as I aim to return to Japan to work in my future career. I initially wanted to study abroad at Chubu because I wanted to improve my Japanese through intensive classes and immersion. I will admit my Japanese wasn’t the best when I got there, and I was nervous about making mistakes and not being able to communicate well, as being in Japan is very different from being in a Japanese class in the U.S. However, I didn’t have to worry much, as everyone I met was understanding and helpful. By the end of my time there, my Japanese most definitely improved with the help of the wonderful instructors at Chubu, friends, and conversation partners and I no longer had to worry about communicating in Japanese. I was eager to see and do as much as I could in Japan to broaden my cultural knowledge and make the most out of my time there. Some of my most memorable moments in Japan were short trips with my friends to castles, shrines, and festivals in towns that I wouldn’t have thought to go to myself. I also learned so much cultural knowledge in my classes, like when we learned about and practiced ikebana and tea ceremony. My experiences with cultural exchange with Chubu did not stop when I left Japan. I am still in contact with many of the friends I made, and some of them eventually came to Ohio University themselves to study. I was happy to have the opportunity to show them around Athens and Ohio, like they had shown me around various areas of Japan. I even made many new friends with Chubu students as they came to OU. I am very thankful for the relationship between OU and Chubu that allowed me to have these experiences. I grew both intellectually and as a person; it was truly life changing. I am very grateful for my friends and teachers and everything I learned from them, as well as all other faculty involved with this program. I sincerely hope this relationship continues to flourish so others can have the same experiences I had.