How studying abroad showed me the world isn’t so foreign.

Walking through Tokyo's busy streets during study abroad.

Growing up with a rare medical condition, I know what it’s like to be confined to a hospital bed. I often wondered what existed beyond those four walls, and at times I believed experiences like studying abroad were beyond my reach. Before coming to Japan, I was anxious about leaving my comfortable routine for a month and living with strangers in an entirely different country. While travel excites me, I worried about fitting in with my program and finding a sense of home in a foreign city. Confronting that lingering sense of limitation empowered me to pursue studying abroad despite my uneasiness. 

When I got off the shuttle bus and found myself standing on a random sidewalk in Shinjuku, Tokyo, I noticed the moisture in the air, a mix of food, gasoline, rain, and the constant sounds of traffic. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, part of me wanted to run back home to a life that felt familiar and comfortable. But I heard the voices of those strangers, the ones that I would spend the next month with, sharing their excitement while admitting they were just as uncertain about what the next month would look like; we were all hesitant. The peers who initially seemed so different from me were just as eager to explore and experience. It took me a moment to realize that. I began to find comfort in being uncomfortable as my fears dissolved when I recognized pieces of myself in these strangers who quickly became friends. 

On my second day in Tokyo, my new friends and I went to Don Quijote. It’s overstimulating, eye catching, and full of things you don’t need. I bought a silver Casio watch as a symbol of my trip, but also to keep the time on me. Its square digital face isn’t something I’d usually go for; it felt touristy, and the locals definitely knew where I bought it, but it marked the beginning of a new time zone and a new era in my life. 

A few weeks later in Kyoto, I met a boy my age who happened to glance at my wrist and then pointed to his own. We were wearing the exact same watch. Within seconds he pulled me over to his friends to show them our matching wrists. This surprising moment made Japan feel smaller. I traveled across the world expecting to feel foreign, yet I found myself connected to a stranger through something as simple as a watch. It became a small parallel in the contrast of our lives. 

Sitting at the long hostel breakfast tables with a mix of my friends and strangers, all of us eating the same meal, taught me about the quiet unity of food. While some of us came from different countries and spoke different languages, we were connected at a shared table. It reminded me of lunches with my friends back home, where belonging felt just as natural. Attending a Japanese baseball game was another highlight of my trip. In a time when the world can feel divisive, it was powerful to witness such unity and enthusiasm in another country. Walking through the city at night, I stumbled upon Omoide Yokocho, “Memory Lane,” wandering down the narrow, lantern lit alley until I found my favorite cash-only yakitori restaurant. I brought my study abroad friends back, and we stayed long enough that the chef stepped out from behind the counter to take photos with us. Moments like that made this foreign city feel familiar. 

Outside Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine in Kyoto, wearing the Casio watch I bought in Don Quijote

Omoide Yokocho, "Memory Lane" A narrow alley full of lively restaurants and bars.

Stopped to take a photo with Garard Sensei on our walk to the tea ceremony.

Film image taken at the Meiji Jingu baseball stadium, watching the Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Shinjuku, Tokyo after dark.

Studying abroad isn’t just about learning the differences between cultures, it’s about experiencing the similarities that exist within everyday life. What I discovered is that connection transcends borders––people share the same love for food, music, art, and community. 

As someone who once thought studying abroad was beyond my reach, the Gilman Scholarship transformed that perception into reality. It empowers all students from all cultures, languages, and backgrounds to develop global skills and gain international experience. Especially for underrepresented students, Gilman opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. When students from diverse backgrounds go abroad, they help reshape global narratives. Curiosity, resilience, and commitment to learning can transcend perceived limitations. 

Apply to scholarships, talk to the study abroad office. Contact DSPS and ask your questions. Don’t let fear of the unknown prevent you from exploring the world. The world is less foreign than you think.

You can review the Gilman Scholarship eligibility requirements and find the application and more here: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Review the SBCC Study Abroad programs here: https://sbcc.edu/studyabroad/programs/