Language Dossier

Experience in Fukui 

From 2024 to 2025, I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, at the University of Fukui. During my year abroad, my worldview changed significantly as I encountered new cultural perspectives and ways of living. Experiencing daily life in another country helped me better understand how cultural differences shape our own behaviors, communication styles, and values. Through this experience, I learned to appreciate cultural differences, improve my intercultural communication skills, and become more open to new experiences.

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Before studying abroad, my main learning goals were to improve my Japanese language skills and gain firsthand experience living in Japan. I always expected that studying abroad would mainly help me academically by strengthening my reading, writing, and speaking abilities in Japanese but, after spending a year in Fukui, my goals expanded beyond language learning. I realized that studying abroad was not just about mastering grammar or vocabulary, but about learning how to navigate a different cultural environment and communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds. Instead of focusing only on speaking Japanese correctly in class, I began focusing on using Japanese naturally in everyday situations such as ordering food, resolving problems at the bank, and participating in conversations with friends as it was the only way that I could in order to live there. My goals shifted from simply learning the language to try and fully integrate into the culture while maintaining my own identity, and understanding how people interact in Japanese society.

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During my program, I lived in the university dormitories on campus and became involved in student life by joining several clubs, including the acapella club and the rock club where we would sing Japanese songs and play guitar. I also tutored students and took Japanese language courses along with cultural competency courses taught in English. The language classes were very challenging as they required several hours of daily immersion in Japanese through reading, writing, and speaking exercises. Success required more than just memorizing vocabulary or grammar rules because I had to actively use the language in real-life situations. Living in Japan meant completing many everyday tasks entirely in Japanese, such as applying for residency, purchasing insurance, paying bills, withdrawing money from the bank, going to doctor’s appointments, and grocery shopping. Unlike larger cities such as Tokyo where more people speak English, the city of Fukui had far fewer English speakers. This forced me to rely heavily on my developing language skills and adapt quickly to communication challenges.

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One of the most interesting cultural differences I observed between Japan and the United States was the importance of group responsibility in Japanese culture. In the United States, individual expression and independence are often emphasized to the extent of deficit in groups. In Japan, however, people tend to prioritize the needs of the group and maintaining harmony within a community to its benefits and downsides. I saw this especially in my clubs and classrooms. For example, Students were very conscious of being punctual, prepared, and respectful toward others’ time. When I arrived late to events it caused me to reflect more on my actions and respect for others' time. It was more important to participate in a timely manner in order to contribute to our group. It was also harder to express true opinions in group projects as upsetting the group order of a senior would cause embarrassment. In order to navigate this, I had to learn the difference between culturally what is acceptable as critique of social order while maintaining my individualistic identity. Everyone has an individual identity and is constantly trying to find their way of fitting into the social status quo. Understanding our commonality in struggles helped me understand how cultural values influence everyday behaviors and social expectations.

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One of the most meaningful parts of my experience abroad was building friendships with students from different countries. When I first arrived, I was the only American student in the program. None of the other students spoke English as their first language, which made communication difficult at first. However, this challenge motivated me to study Japanese more seriously because it became the common language that allowed us to communicate. Over time, I became more comfortable expressing my thoughts and emotions in Japanese, and my confidence grew as I realized I could successfully communicate in a completely different language environment. Joining clubs also helped me overcome the initial feeling of isolation because music created a shared activity that did not always require perfect language skills.

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These challenges were difficult at first, but overcoming them helped me grow both academically and personally. I learned how to adapt to unfamiliar situations, ask for help when needed, and remain patient when communication barriers occurred. Simple tasks such as opening a bank account or scheduling a doctor’s appointment could take much longer than expected because I had to carefully explain my situation in Japanese. Each successful interaction built my confidence and strengthened my independence.

My experiences abroad also changed how I think about myself and my place in society. In Japan, I was often perceived first as a foreigner before anything else. People were curious about where I came from, why I was studying Japanese, and what life in America is like. These conversations made me more aware of how culture influences identity, and how you as a person can have multiple identities as someone with a culturally diverse family. I began to reflect more deeply on my own cultural background and how Americans are perceived internationally as well as the challenges that my own family who immigrated to America two generations ago, must have felt and received. At the same time, I realized that cultural differences can create opportunities for meaningful exchange rather than barriers.

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Overall, my study abroad experience greatly enriched my academic experience. Studying Japanese in a classroom in the United States is very different from using the language in daily life in Japan. Living in Fukui allowed me to apply everything I learned in real situations, which accelerated my language development and cultural understanding. Additionally, participating in clubs and interacting with local students gave me insight into Japanese university life that I would not have gained from textbooks alone.

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Thanks to the support of the program staff, my professors, my parents, and Clemson University, I was able to have an experience that I will never forget. Studying abroad helped me grow academically, culturally, and personally. I gained new friendships, developed stronger intercultural communication skills, and built a deeper appreciation for different ways of life. These lessons will continue to influence my future studies, career, and interactions with people from around the world.