Small Steps to Big Connections 

Written by Miranda, Program Coordinator

Hello! My name is Miranda, and I am a Program Coordinator here at CIEE Kyoto. My first experience in Japan was as an exchange student at an all-girls school in Western Tokyo during my sophomore year of high school. It was a year full of joy and excitement, but I also struggled with homesickness and anxiety in a way I hadn't experienced before. One of the most important things I learned was how to push past the feelings that turned into fear, as if there were a wall in my head that I had to get past. 

The most transformative moments were often the simplest ones: challenging myself to sit with a new group of girls at lunchtime, or using a phrase I had learned in Japanese class to start a conversation during dinner with my host family. Despite my initial hesitation, saying yes when classmates asked me to join volleyball, cooking, and photography clubs became a pathway to build friendships and learn more about Japanese culture every day. Over the course of that year, I realized that my fear of making mistakes and the belief that the language barrier was too big to overcome were really just walls in my head. Small, consistent steps were enough to build the confidence to carry me over them. 

When I moved back to Japan more than three years ago as a participant on the JET Programme, I struggled again with communicating in a new environment. While people in Osaka are often considered more friendly and outgoing than their Tokyo counterparts, I was still surprised by the lack of small talk and banter compared to what I was used to growing up in the U.S. Shop owners’ use of formal language could feel intimidating, and the formality of some interactions sometimes created a sense of distance. But time and again, I reminded myself that the path over these perceived barriers and toward connection was much closer than it seemed. Although it may be less common culturally, small steps--such as sharing a smile with a stranger or sharing a curiosity--have guided me toward some of the most enriching experiences. 

Growing up in the heart of the live music scene in Austin, Texas, music has been a love of mine since I was a kid. In college, I helped plan our school’s spring music festival and became involved in event coordination. Later, I interned at a record label. I knew that when I came to Japan, I wanted to explore the music scene. Pushing past my nerves toward exploring something unknown, one day, I struck up a conversation at an izakaya with someone who I overheard talking about a music event I was interested in. The conversation introduced me to the Kansai music community, and I also learned about a music festival in Ishikawa Prefecture where I would later volunteer as a staff member. Then, at that music festival, I learned about another one in Fukushima Prefecture, where I also had the opportunity to volunteer. These new and exciting experiences, among others, have been some of the most fulfilling during my time in Japan. I think back to that conversation at the izakaya and feel grateful for the courage I had to start that conversation with my neighbor. 

My advice for anyone studying abroad in Japan is to be forthcoming in your communication. Talk to as many people as you can, even if you feel like your Japanese language ability is far from where you wish it were. Listen to yourself when you feel compelled to talk to someone, and let that feeling of curiosity guide you past the nerves you may feel. Simple steps--talking about your interests, sharing a smile with a shop owner, or saying yes to an invitation--will undoubtedly lead you to experiences that will enrich your life in Japan. You never know what might be on the other side of the wall.