Hello, my name is Joshua Thrower, and I am a graduate student in Computer Science at Arkansas Tech University. I originally became interested in Japanese because of my brother. When we were kids, we used to watch anime together, so I was constantly hearing and seeing Japanese in one way or another. I officially started studying Japanese around the summer of 2024. I always knew that I wanted to learn another language, but I did not want to study Spanish because I had already taken it for half a year in high school. I ultimately chose Japanese because of my brother’s influence during my childhood and because the language itself seemed challenging and rewarding to learn.
Studying Japanese is the main reason I chose to pursue exchange studies in Japan. I specifically chose Nagoya University of Foreign Studies because, at the time, I felt intimidated by the idea of studying in Tokyo at Komazawa University. NUFS seemed like a more supportive environment for a beginner international student, especially because it specializes in foreign language and international education. I believed the university would provide more resources and assistance for students who are not yet fully comfortable with Japanese.
Academically, I expect the program to challenge me both in language learning and personal independence. I imagine the instructors will expect students to take their studies seriously and actively participate in class. I also expect the learning environment to be different from what I am used to in the United States, especially in terms of classroom structure, communication styles, and student discipline. Beyond improving my Japanese ability, I hope to learn how to adapt to a completely different academic and social environment.
I feel sad about leaving my home, friends, and family behind. This will not only be my first time leaving the country, but also my first time being away from my parents for an extended period of time and my first time flying on an airplane. I think I will miss my friends and family the most, along with the general feeling that “home is always home.” In Japan, I will not be able to rely on many of the comfort things I am used to, such as comfort foods, familiar places, and the people I normally spend time with. At the same time, I am excited to experience something completely new and step outside of my comfort zone.
The main ideology I will be bringing with me is treating people the way I would want to be treated. This ideology falls under the broader idea of respect in general. I understand that I will stand out in Japan simply because I am a foreigner, so I want to be as respectful and considerate as possible. Japan has a societal saying: “The nail that sticks up often gets hammered down.” Because of that, I think the more I can respectfully adapt and avoid drawing unnecessary attention to myself, the better my experience will be.
My preconceived notion of Japan is probably somewhat influenced by rose-colored lenses. Right now, I view Japan as an amazing place with beautiful culture, kind people, and delicious food. From my understanding, Japanese people can sometimes be shy or reserved, so I may need to be the one initiating conversations and interactions. However, I think one thing that will help me is the fact that I will be attending a foreign studies university, where many students will likely speak at least some English. I hope interacting with both Japanese and international students will help me become more confident socially, improve my Japanese skills, and gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture beyond what I have seen online or through media.
