This is a trip I've been looking forward to for a long time.
When I was in High School, I've always wanted to be an exchange student in Japan. I'd watch shows like Yu Yu Hakusho and read manga like Midori No Hibi and was fascinated by the Japanese high school uniform. If I were mandated to wear that as a uniform in high school, that'd be NICE. And also, whenever an episode ended, my reaction would often be, "Damn! If I were in Japan, I'd be watching the next episode right now and not have to wait for Cartoon Network to broadcast it two weeks later!"
But my anime nerdiness aside, one of the things that also compelled me to Japan was it's rich martial arts culture. When I was younger, I decided to take up Jiu Jitsu. Why? because I wanted to be a SAMURAI. But I was 13 and played Dungeons and Dragons in my free time, so I'm sure you can see why. Over time, I matured as a martial artist. I decided to try my hand at MMA, mixed martial arts. And from there, I decided to take up kickboxing. I made this sudden realization after watching a highlight video of K-1 MAX fighter, Masato.
I began to "prepare" for a Japan trip. My father hired a Japanese International Student from Bloomsburg University to teach me privately. It was fun and learned a little bit, but I wasn't able to keep it up because of Wrestling and already taking French and Spanish in school. This is about where I started to take an interest in Japanese music. I assumed that if I listened to it enough, I may be able to pick up small amounts of Japanese - which is true, I've used song lyrics to memorize vocabulary in my Japanese classes now that I'm in college.
In my Sophomore year of college, I took up Japanese and decided to minor in it as well. Going to Japan has always been one of my goals during my education, since I was in high school and the reason I chose Temple was for it's study abroad program and their Japan campus. It is also the reason I chose my International Business major. I want to put my language skills to use. I want to be able to travel. I want to experience other cultures.
I understand that my main purpose to conduct this trip is not for martial arts or to relish in all my anime nerd glory (Not that I watch much anyway nowadays), but these are major motivators of my decision to study abroad. I will go to class just like everybody else and try to get my grades up as if I were still in Temple Main, but when it comes to time out of class, I'm going say to myself, "I'm in JAPAN," and enjoy myself as I learn a few new things.
My flight leaves out of Allentown in a few hours, I'm all packed, and ready to go.
When I was in High School, I've always wanted to be an exchange student in Japan. I'd watch shows like Yu Yu Hakusho and read manga like Midori No Hibi and was fascinated by the Japanese high school uniform. If I were mandated to wear that as a uniform in high school, that'd be NICE. And also, whenever an episode ended, my reaction would often be, "Damn! If I were in Japan, I'd be watching the next episode right now and not have to wait for Cartoon Network to broadcast it two weeks later!"
But my anime nerdiness aside, one of the things that also compelled me to Japan was it's rich martial arts culture. When I was younger, I decided to take up Jiu Jitsu. Why? because I wanted to be a SAMURAI. But I was 13 and played Dungeons and Dragons in my free time, so I'm sure you can see why. Over time, I matured as a martial artist. I decided to try my hand at MMA, mixed martial arts. And from there, I decided to take up kickboxing. I made this sudden realization after watching a highlight video of K-1 MAX fighter, Masato.
I began to "prepare" for a Japan trip. My father hired a Japanese International Student from Bloomsburg University to teach me privately. It was fun and learned a little bit, but I wasn't able to keep it up because of Wrestling and already taking French and Spanish in school. This is about where I started to take an interest in Japanese music. I assumed that if I listened to it enough, I may be able to pick up small amounts of Japanese - which is true, I've used song lyrics to memorize vocabulary in my Japanese classes now that I'm in college.
In my Sophomore year of college, I took up Japanese and decided to minor in it as well. Going to Japan has always been one of my goals during my education, since I was in high school and the reason I chose Temple was for it's study abroad program and their Japan campus. It is also the reason I chose my International Business major. I want to put my language skills to use. I want to be able to travel. I want to experience other cultures.
I understand that my main purpose to conduct this trip is not for martial arts or to relish in all my anime nerd glory (Not that I watch much anyway nowadays), but these are major motivators of my decision to study abroad. I will go to class just like everybody else and try to get my grades up as if I were still in Temple Main, but when it comes to time out of class, I'm going say to myself, "I'm in JAPAN," and enjoy myself as I learn a few new things.
My flight leaves out of Allentown in a few hours, I'm all packed, and ready to go.
日本に往きましょうよ！
(written Jan 8, 2007, Posted Jan 12, 2007)
(written Jan 8, 2007, Posted Jan 12, 2007)
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