Arigato gozaimas. Thank you. This was one of the first phrases I heard in my initial foray to a non-Western country in my final year of grad school, as I took up a life-changing opportunity to study in Japan. I was completing a Master’s degree in International Affairs at Carleton (NPSIA) and had somehow completed a bachelor’s degree and one full year of grad studies, both in international development, without stepping foot into another country. After all those classes studying and writing about other cultures, histories, economies, and political systems, I was finally going to experience living in one for a semester.
International University of Japan Campus
I would be studying at the International University of Japan – a graduate school nestled in the north western mountains of Niigata prefecture in Minami-Uonuma, a rural, picturesque village full of rice patties and ancient temples. But what was I doing there? Why did I go half way across the world to be perplexed by the Japanese language, ancient customs, limitless manga, and high speed trains (shinkansen)? I asked myself that more than once as I attempted to navigate through those new and unfamiliar waters, but in the end, the answer was obvious. Are you studying an international field? Here are three reasons why you should go abroad:
- New opportunities and experiences: Although my experience lasted only one semester overseas, it opened up a lot of things for me: doors, opportunities, and new ways of thinking about myself and the world I live in. It is astonishing to look back and think that I was only two semesters away from not having gone abroad to study at all. This would have been a tragic shame.
- Support is available: I had had a chance to study in Cuba during my undergrad studies but my Spanish wasn’t at an intermediate level at that point, and so I was unable to participate in the semester-long exchange. Other opportunities presented themselves, but I never seemed to have enough funds to afford the prohibitive travel costs while also paying for my tuition. I was fortunate enough to land a scholarship through the Government of Japan (JASSO), which made a huge difference in allowing me to study overseas.
- Kick-start your global career: Since my experience in Japan,
Minami Uonoma Precinct, Japan
I have lived in Kenya for six months as an intern through the College of the Rockies (COTR) and the Canadian International Development Agency –now part of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) – where we travelled around East Africa, and landed a job at COTR in an exciting international department that focuses on both international students, exchange opportunities, and international projects. Through my work, I have travelled to Burkina Faso, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines, with upcoming work in Bolivia and Thailand. There is no doubt in my mind that my initial experience studying abroad paved the way for me to do this, through broadening my skills set, gaining cross-cultural experience, and improving my language skills along the way. It is no wonder that, according to Student Center, 88.4% of alumni recently survey agreed that their education abroad experience(s) had contributed to their career achievements to-date and that 91.6% of all skills obtained or enhanced during study abroad experiences are still applied in respondents’ current careers.
Study abroad is not a magic bullet solution for everyone. There are challenges in terms of finances, culture shock, academic settings, and a host of other potential issues. However, as the world becomes more globalized and all sectors of work shape and become shaped by international events, having a cross-cultural, immersive experience in another setting will become essential.
It may not solve all of the problems around the world, but it will certainly help us understand them, and each other, a lot more.
I can’t imagine where I’d be or how I’d think if I never plunged into a semester in another country, which at the time seemed like another world. It shaped my worldview, adaptability, self-awareness, and communication skills – all which I use on a day-today basis in my job today.
Arigato gozaimas, Japan.