Letter of Gratitude to Japan

Written by Jayden Gridiron SU26 AMJ I

My experience in Japan was indescribable. This was the most memorable experience I have ever had. Thanks to CIEE, I was able to make lasting relationships and make lifelong memories. The community was always inviting and always pushed me to try new things and explore. The environment helped me feel more comfortable and at home than I did in America. Never have I felt truly complete before this experience. The reason is that the community pushed me to live outside my comfort zone at all times. Japanese culture helped me learn more about myself than I ever thought I could. I learned how to be patient and gentle with the things I have been given in life. I also developed a higher sense of gratitude for everything and everyone around me. I learned lessons that will stay with me through my everyday life.

I met amazing people that I will forever cherish in my heart because they helped me gain a confidence I never knew I had. I honestly believe that Japan helped me understand myself to the fullest extent. Throughout my stay in Kyoto, Japan, I also visited many places in Osaka and Tokyo. Places like Fushimi Inari allowed me to make those lifelong friends at the beginning of my trip. Those same friends pushed me outside my comfort zone, allowing me to understand myself better than I could have ever imagined. I met people from Singapore and China who each taught me lessons that I could take back. The staff members within my program made me feel more comfortable each day as I learned to speak the native language as well.

I am sincerely grateful for them because they allowed me to feel more at home within a foreign culture and country. They involved me in activities and allowed me to engage with the culture in a multitude of ways. The excursions were amazing as well. My favorite excursion was definitely when the staff took the students to Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. The reason was not just because the sightseeing and roller coasters were fun. My real reason for picking this excursion as one of my favorites is because at the end of each excursion they set us to leave back home ourselves. This allowed me to immerse myself in the culture and customs fully. I loved that my experience in Japan was different from a regular 2-week vacation. It felt as if I was living in Kyoto; I worked, ate plenty of food, spent time with friends, and traveled when I wanted to. I had a choice on how to spend each day I had in Japan. My gratitude could never be expressed enough, whether through gifts, gestures, or words. I am forever grateful for the friends, the education, the staff, the lessons, and the adventures I have had on this study abroad program. I am forever grateful for Japan.

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