My Study Abroad Goals

I plan to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai in Japan. While abroad, I wish to really delve into the history and culture of Japan, through classes as well as practical experience. One of my goals is to see as many of the Kansai's significant landmarks as I can. Now, this may not be that many, as transportation is a bit costly, but a trip to another country is not something I've ever done before, and I think it would be positively wasteful not to see as much as I can while I'm there. After all, if I spend all of my free time in my room, I might as well be in America. Nothing will have changed. I want my experience in Japan to mean something. I want to be able to come home and know that my time spent there was valuable, and that I learned a lot that I would have otherwise never known.

Another goal is, of course, to improve my Japanese language proficiency. As my recent Japanese homestay experience has shown me, while my Japanese is adequate for basic survival, it is not good enough that I could put it on a resume in good conscience. I want to, at the very least, expand my vocabulary and grammar comprehension to the point that I can understand most of what is said to me and be able to, if only very basically, articulate any thought that may come to mind within the course of a conversation. Only then will I feel comfortable using my language ability in as a resume enhancer, as I would actually be able to translate most of what a speaker is trying to convey.

I would like to be able to apply what I learn in Japan to whatever future job I hold. If my language skills grow enough, I could try to become a translator or interpreter. Or, I could work in a museum with my knowledge of Japanese history. I am still not certain what job would best fit me yet, but I do think it would have to have some relevance to my study abroad experience.

Ray Cleavenger