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Noah Lavin

Age (while abroad): 20-21

Degree:  Art

Prior Language Knowledge: I had been studying Japanese for about a year and a half prior to studying abroad.

Where did you go? I went to Kumamoto, Japan!

In what school did you study?: I was a student at the Prefectural University of Kumamoto.

When did you go?: I stayed from March 2024 to March 2025.

Have you studied abroad before?:

This was my first time studying abroad, barring a short field studies trip in the past.

Why did you study abroad?:

Over the course of my college career I fell in love with Japan's language and culture, once I was given the opportunity to apply, I took it.

Would you do it again?

Of course! I would say that the year I spent in Japan was perhaps the best year of my life.

What was your favorite part?
For sure it was the people I met; I hope to maintain the bonds and friendships I made while studying abroad for years to come.

What was your least favorite part?
It would have to be the initial sense of isolation I felt, but through the friends I made and the resources available to me, i was able to get through it!

How has this study abroad affected your life now?
It has affected me greatly, my plans for my future have changed and I now wish to join the JET program and return to Japan! It has for sure reinvigorated my idea of my own future!

What did you learn, outside of academics, from your study abroad experience? 

Well, I would say the biggest thing I learned was an expansion of my communication skills, from talking to new friends, strangers or teachers in a completely different cultural landscape it was extremely fun process to learn from others and to in turn teach them about other cultures as well.

Daniella Cutler

Age (while abroad): 26-27

Degree: Communications: Media Studies

Prior Language Knowledge: Minimum. I knew a little bit about the written Japanese language (hiragana and katakana) but in terms of spoken only knew a few essential phrases and just enough to mostly get by.

Where did you go? I went to Kumamoto, Japan and traveled a relatively significant amount both around the prefecture (Aso, Oita, Amakuza, Yamaga, Nagasaki…) and a few note-worthy locations further from me in the the country as well (i.e. Tokyo, Kyoto, Sapporo, Niigata, Osaka…)

In what school did you study?: I studied at the Prefectural University of Kumamoto (or kenritsu daigaku in the native tongue).

When did you go?: Although I studied with PUK for over a year, I wasn’t physically allowed to travel there until early April of 2022 and then stayed until late September of the same year.

Have you studied abroad before?: Despite having traveled before this was my first time studying away from home.

Why did you study abroad?: I’ve actually had a love for world travel since I was very young and fell in love with Japan in particular years ago. It had been my dream to go back ever since and it was really something of a completion story that I felt like I needed to achieve. All my life in the past, when I traveled it was with others and I had a guide or someone to give me direction. I wanted Japan to be the one where I really did it on my own.

Would you do it again? In an absolute heartbeat. If given the chance I doubt I’d even think twice about it. And not just to Japan either–I’d be willing to go anywhere.

What was your favorite part?
The experience in its entirety. Honestly it’s hard to choose just one part because everyday felt like a gift and an opportunity. I loved the food, the people, the sightseeing, what I was studying…all of it was so unique from home and knowing that it was for a limited time made it feel really special and utterly memorable.

What was your least favorite part?
The COVID rules in Japan are still a lot more prevalent than they are in most countries so facemasks were basically essential everywhere I went which wasn’t the most pleasant and the tourist restrictions also meant friends and family outside the country couldn’t really visit me.

How has this study abroad affected your life now?
In so many more ways than I ever thought possible. Studying abroad gave me confidence I never knew I had and incredible friendships with so many amazing people. It also gave me a newfound respect for home and made me appreciate both what I had while I was there and what I had waiting for and supporting me back in Montana. It was like my love and excitement for life in general increased 10 fold.

What did you learn, outside of academics, from your study abroad experience? That I am so much capable then I realized. Studying abroad really encouraged me to move outside my comfort zone but in the most enjoyable way possible. I learned how to take leaps, build connections, admit when I was wrong, and rely on others without feeling guilty about it. I learned so much more about myself and what makes me happy and where I want to go next in life. Even if I didn’t necessarily figure out my dream career, I crossed a lot of things off the list and felt so much more prepared and able to finish my college career. Being home now, I feel so motivated to explore new options that resonate with me because I know I can accomplish them.

Willow Peterson

Age (while abroad): 22

Degree:  Political Science, Organizational Communication Minor

Prior Language Knowledge: Before studying abroad, I studied Japanese for a year. However, I only knew basic
Japanese and it was difficult for me to speak spontaneously.

Where did you go? Kumamoto, Japan

In what school did you study?: Prefectural University of Kumamoto.

When did you go?: April 2022 - September 2022

Have you studied abroad before?: No

Why did you study abroad?: I studied abroad to expand my worldview, interact with a new culture, and challenge myself.

Would you do it again? I would 100% do this again! Studying abroad was an unforgettable experience.

What was your favorite part?
My favorite part of studying abroad was meeting new friends and living each day like it was a new adventure!

What was your least favorite part?
My least favorite and most difficult part of studying abroad was the language barrier.

How has this study abroad affected your life now?
Studying abroad has positively impacted my life. Before arriving in Japan, I thought I had my career path figured out for me. During my semester abroad, I realized how much I enjoyed living in another country, speaking another language, and meeting new people from around the world. Because I want to continue to build from these valuable experiences, I want to alter my career path to engage in intercultural communication and challenge myself through experiences abroad.

What did you learn, outside of academics, from your study abroad experience? I learned the significance of risk-taking, the ability to adapt to challenging or complex situations, and the importance of cross-cultural communication. The knowledge I gained about the world around me and myself during this experience will greatly assist me in my future endeavors.

Emily Harris

Age (while abroad): 19

Degree: Psychology, Creative Writing minor

Prior Language Knowledge: Sukoshi (a little) - just the basic Japanese greetings and some Spanish in high school

Where did you go? Kumamoto, Japan

When did you go?: May-June 2009 (One month with Scott Harris' MSUB Business Faculty Led Trip)

Why?
"Before, I had gone abroad for Martial Arts and spent two weeks in China, Japan, and South Korea. My favorite country of the three was Japan. Also, I was able to get credit for going abroad and having the experience of going to Asia."

Would you do it again?
"Yes. I would especially go somewhere for longer if I knew the language and had the resources. I am planning on going back to Japan next Christmas and New Year to see my host family and the friends I've met here from Japan at MSUB. I'd also like to go to Europe -- Germany or Austria where it is beautiful."

What was your favorite part?
"What I liked about Japan was experiencing the culture. It is so different from American culture. It is completely different." Harris was telling me of an example of just how different Japanese culture is from American. She was in Tokyo and it is the most populated place, but the crime rates are so low. She told me how everyone lived by the honor system. One of her friends left her camera in the subway bathroom. When they boarded the train and departed from that stop they realized it and went back to this stop after only traveling one stop. By this time her camera had already been found and turned into lost and found. Harris also told me how much she enjoyed the deep baths that the Japanese had each night to relax them, and when she was done she was able to enjoy walking across heated floors.

What was your least favorite part?
There really was not too much that Harris did not care for, but there was the little annoyance that a drink of soda did not receive free refills. Additionally, Harris experienced sorrow as she left Japan. After a lively learning experience she did not want to return home so quickly.

What was the easiest thing about the study abroad experience?
"The application process was only a page long and I had to write a short paper, but it was such a simple process that I would do something ten times longer just because of what I experienced in Japan!"

What was the hardest thing/challenge you faced studying abroad?
Traveling abroad Harris did not face hard challenges that she could not easily overcome. The most difficult aspect of the whole ordeal was transitioning back to daily life.

How has this study abroad affected your life now?
"This study abroad program has changed the course of my life!" Since she has been touched by the culture and people of Japan, Harris now wants to go back and teach English. Harris exclaimed to me, "I had my life planned and then it changed my plans!"