My time abroad really helped to shift my focus on the career I want after graduation.

While I was in Japan, we were required to have an inquiry project. Something that we were genuinely curious about and wanted to do serious research on while we were in Japan. Surprisingly enough chose a topic that I wanted to center a senior project around. Careerwise I’ve shifted to something more with government and policy making than having a more creative career.

While I was in Japan it really helped me find myself as a person. I was able to do a lot of things that I never thought I would be able to do or would like. Specifically getting on a boat. I have the biggest fear of bodies of water. I also can’t swim, so I never would have thought I would get on a boat. Some locals fishing even waved at us!

The most impactful thing was going out by myself. I went out a lot on my own when we had free time. I went shopping, out to eat and even to the movies by myself. It really helped me to enjoy spending time alone with myself.

It also forced me to solely rely on my Japanese skills. I thought I was subpar with my Japanese skills. But I really surprised myself when I was able to communicate with the Japanese students we were with and communicate with local Japanese people who did not speak English. I will say I have gotten more confident in my Japanese skills. By more confident I definitely mean it inflated my ego. It was so heartwarming to hear native Japanese speakers say my Japanese sounded good, or that they were so happy that a foreigner was learning to speak their language and speak it well.

The whole experience really taught me to be more lenient with myself. I learned to take life the “Japanese way.” To really slow down and appreciate the people and environment around me. Just to really appreciate the time that I have.

A takeaway I have from this is that an MSU study aboard is not just sunshine and rainbows. It’s not a  vacation. It’s a real educational and life-changing experience that has homework. And it really helps to perfect your time management when in-between projects you have a lot of free time.

The most exciting part of it is being able to call friends and family from a different country. My friends and family were always excited to see where I was even if it was at a hotel.

Not only that, being a low income, first generation black student in Japan was truly its own experience. I was able to experience something I never thought I’d be able to because of financial reasons. I’m the first person in my family to ever travel out of the country, so in a way, I was upholding mine and my families dream to travel and experience life.

Name: Keiara Dixon
Status: Senior
Major: Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Program: A Day in the Life of Japan