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Why Japan?
I have been interested in Asian culture for a good part of my life. I am currantly minoring in Asian American studies. I've taken courses and read books on a number of Asian cultures and topics and I felt I was ready to get some first hand experience abroad. Though, I had been to European, Latin, and Caribbean countries before, this would be my first trip to Asia and it would be my first trip traveling alone.
This trip means a lot to me. First, it is an emersion into a culture I have always loved and admired. Second, it's a mark on my own personal timeline - I'm an adult and can travel on my own. Furthermore, it's a look into one of my own interests that came from me and has no link to me from a family member or that was taught to me from a young age. I chose an interest in manga, anime, Studio Ghibli, Japanese poetry, Edo-period history, and Shintoism. And this is me jumping at my chance to really explore it. Third, it's the only time I've attempted to self teach myself anything legitimate. I've been teaching myself Japanese with the help of the language program Mango, which I got access to through my local public library. I've been studying Japanese for two months and already know greetings, common phrases, asking and understadning directions, and resturant and shopping conversation. That's nearly as much Spanish that 5 years of schooling taught me. And I chose to do it on my own with no motivation other than I would be in a place with it as the dominate lanuage for a couple of weeks. Maybe I am giving myself too much credit, but it felt like a lot of effort and dedication to me.
This trip is the first time I have done something large and elaborate just for myself. And I wouldn't want to spend that one chance to spoil myself any other way.
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