I was thinking the other day about how much of an impact international education has had on my life. It’s taken me on many adventures and led me into teaching for about 13 years. But it has always come back to international travel and education for me. So I decided to write an essay about how much of an impact all of my experiences have had on my life and how they will play into the next part of my life in international education. So here is what my experiences have meant to me and what I hope they’ll mean to someone else.
I know I would be great working with college students at the college level for following reasons. First, my own travels and experiences have prepared me for working with diverse groups and individuals. Second, when I was in college I would act as a tour guide and introduce foreign students to my friends, family and interesting places. Third, I have a natural ability to connect and get along with almost everyone I meet. This ability will help me prepare students for their off-campus and international experiences.
My first experience overseas was the summer after my freshman year in high school. My experiences on that first trip made such an impact on my life that I went from being just an average student to one that excelled. This made me eligible for a yearlong exchange to Japan my senior year through Youth for Understanding. Even before I went to Japan my senior year, I had gotten the travel bug and spent a summer in Dortmund, Germany and Villa Velha, Brazil the following two summers.
After returning from my year abroad, I attended the University of Iowa and majored in Asian Languages and Literature. I also lived in the Foreign Language House. There I was able to live and interact with students from Japan, Germany, Russia, Peru, etc. I would often invite our international students out to various campus events, movies and dinner to help them feel more welcome. Having been a high school exchange student, I know how important it is to feel welcome and included, even if you turn down an invitation. I also know how important it is to encourage involvement in various activities. In addition, I worked with many of our international students and members of the different language houses to help put on cultural events that included a Japanese Omatsuri, Oktoberfest and Mardi Gras.
During my undergraduate studies, I spent 3 semesters studying at Nagoya Gakuin Daigaku University in Seto, Japan. I started off my exchange living in the dormitory for foreign students. While it was conveniently located on campus and allowed me to easily attend the Broadcast Club of which I was a member, I wasn’t getting a chance to experience all of the real culture that I wanted to experience. I took it upon myself to go out and find my own host family for the last two semesters of my exchange. This was a great experience as it allowed me to get off of campus, experience life and provided more than enough opportunities to practice my Japanese.
After completing my BA at the U of I, I spent four years living and working as an assistant English teacher in Niigata, Japan. During that time I would introduce various American holidays and traditions to my students through decorating the teachers’ room and having small cultural events with the English Club.
I returned to the U.S. and the University of Iowa and earned my MAT in Japanese so I could continue to use my international experiences and my Japanese language skills. It was during this time that I was able to get to know my fellow classmates very well. I planned many outings around Iowa, showed them around Iowa City and even introduced them to my friends and family. I have kept in touch with some of them and have since traveled to meet them. I also frequently go back to Japan to visit friends. In all I have studied, worked and traveled in Japan for over eight years.
Upon completion of my MAT degree I moved to Wisconsin where I taught Japanese for seven years. I always talked to my students about my experiences and why being open and accepting of diverse opinions, beliefs, customs, food, etc. is so important. I also warned them that when they’re surprised by something, they really need to choose your words carefully because you can never take back what you say. The person you say it to will never forget even if they forgive.
My natural ability to get along with pretty much anyone has helped me in all of my endeavors. Even though I may not speak the same language as someone, I always find a way to communicate. It may be a big smile and a lot of gestures, but I always seem to hit it off with people I meet. I think this is partly why my international travels have affected me so much. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their cultures and beliefs. I share this passion with everyone and try to encourage them get out and experience the world.
These experiences have also taught me to be flexible and adaptable to new and/or fluid situations. These skills are invaluable in any situation, even more so in education where we deal with such a wide variety of students and colleagues.
In conclusion, I am confident that I have a lot to offer students who are considering an international experience in the terms of advice, stories and support. I have a solid understanding of what it’s like to be living in a foreign country with a very different culture from your own and will use that to prepare students for the biggest adventure of their lives.
If you’re a former student or a student… I hope you take advantage of your youth and get out there and see the world and talk to as many different people as you can. Life is too short to meet everyone, go everywhere and learn everything… to do what you can to get the most out of your time.