This spring I am traveling to Japan to stay with a host family and shadow students at my teacher’s old school. I am overwhelmed with excitement to engage in new cultures and build special connections. I can’t wait to experience life across the world, and discover new parts of myself I would’ve never known if not for the opportunities of traveling abroad.
In first grade, a new girl joined my class. She looked a lot like me, petite and fair-skinned, with a black bob and bangs. Her name was Yuki and I thought the cute name matched her charming demeanor. We quickly became best friends and stayed together every day during school. She was fairly shy, like me, but also brave, her fearlessness shining through during recesses when she would climb on top of the monkey bars and hang upside down, encouraging me to do the same even though I was scared of heights.
She was from Japan, and while she spoke very quietly, she could read and write well. She wrote me sweet letters, and I remember the messages shared on paper deepening our bond even more so than small talk conversations. Knowing languages is key to navigating unfamiliar circumstances. It not only gave her the ability to communicate, but helped her form profound friendships.
I am thankful I get to learn Japanese at my school and have the chance to put it to use with the guidance of my teachers and peers. Having knowledge of this foreign language will make my trip more meaningful and productive. It will help me communicate and have confidence to actively interact and engage with my surroundings. I hope to utilize my Japanese skills to form relationships and venture outside of my comfort zone like Yuki did.
A few months after she arrived, she came to class one day with miniature origami boxes. Everyone in the class got one, and inside of mine laid a squishy mold that smelled so delicious I tried to take a bite. Alarmed, Yuki said it wasn’t edible and stopped me before I consumed the scented Japanese moldable eraser. I had never seen anything like it, and decided to carry it around in my pocket everywhere I went. Underneath was a note expressing her gratitude for our friendship, and saying she would miss me. Confused, I asked her what she meant, and she said it was a parting gift for her last week here. My heart dropped. I hadn’t known she was leaving, that her family was only on a sabbatical. Before she left, I joined her on top of the monkey bars for the first time. It was exhilarating.
It occurred to me that my home, this town I was born and raised in, was a completely new environment for her, and that we would never experience it in the same way. I realized there are certain things in life you can never have. You can never have someone else’s experiences or see the world through another’s perspective. But you can enhance your own through the power of language. I remember finding Yuki’s origins mysterious and alluring, making me wish I could live in Japan too. Would my life be more fun? But I learned to replace impractical desires with actively pursuing more experiences for myself, forming my own, beautiful relationships, and expanding my worldview– something no one can ever have or take away from me. I want to go on new adventures, learn about people who are living completely different lives, and share with them what mine is like. I want to create unforgettable memories and explore outside the comfortable bubble I’ve always lived in.
I am beyond grateful for the chance to experience overseas school, home, and city life. I look forward to further developing my Japanese skills and comprehension by pushing myself to use everything I have learned. I will take advantage of sharing a common language to create long-lasting connections and stay in touch with people I meet (perhaps by writing letters). Languages serve as tools and pathways to explore the world. They are beautiful in that they foster heartfelt bonds and bring people together. By having a stronger understanding of fresh lifestyles across the globe, I will grow as a person and absorb more of what life has to offer. I will be able to view the world through a new lens, enhanced with color.