Campus Clippings
One Student’s Japanese Learning Experience
Last summer, junior social work student Jessica Wollberg lived in a very different, yet very accommodating society. This is her first-person story:
Japan is often called the land of the rising sun, but for three months I had the privilege to call it “home”. Arriving in April and staying until June, I lived at Japan Lutheran College (JLC) and Seminary in the city of Tokyo. From the very beginning, I was immersed in Japanese culture and, as the only American student in this small Japanese college, one might imagine it was an extreme and sometimes difficult change. The faculty, staff, and students of Japan Lutheran were, however, amazing at providing me all the help that I needed for my stay and made me feel so welcome and comfortable.
While in the dorms, I made some really wonderful friends. During and after orientation, I was so nervous that I would not be able to communicate very easily with my fellow students, but God provided constantly for me despite all my petty fears and insecurities. JLC provided so many student activities and there were enough people who spoke English that I could participate in a few of them. Almost immediately I was enrolled in Japanese lessons which gave me a chance to learn a little about Japan through language and also made it easier to communicate.
Since I had gone to Japan for a comparative study in Social Work and culture, I was scheduled to make visits to different social work and welfare facilities throughout Japan. I went to three in Tokyo, two were connected to employing the mentally and physically disabled and one was a “children’s home”. It was incredible meeting the staff and clients of the facilities. Even though everything they said and explained had to be translated for me, I could see how much they cared for the people they worked to help and the sincerity with which they served those in need.
During my last month abroad, I went on a two week trip to the western portion of Japan to visit various cultural and social welfare sites, Kyoto, Osaka, and a small town out in the country called Gifu. In Kyoto, I went to visit ancient temples and sightsee Japan’s old capital. I was surprised at how easy it was to get around Kyoto (especially travelling by myself and knowing only the most basic Japanese). Then in Osaka I went to visit the human rights museum and stayed in the area where the largest homeless community in Japan is located. It was heartbreaking to witness all the poverty. Lastly, in Gifu, I had two home stays and volunteered at another work program for the more severely mentally disabled.
I am so thankful to God that I had such an opportunity and experience. Not only did I learn a lot about Japan, but I also learned a lot about myself and my own culture. Though I thought I knew many things about culture from reading books and taking classes, there are some ideas that cannot be adequately explained on paper but must be experienced to really be understood. My perspective is completely changed on the world. If anyone ever has the chance to study in another country, I highly recommend it.
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