Growing up with a huge interest in Japanese culture, language and media I fit right into the Japanese Major Here at CSUMB. Growing up with my Japanese family members in the house was were Japanese culture got my attention. My Uncle, Aunt and Cousin would share with my folklore, Japanese animations and ideas from the culture. I truly fell in love with the idea of being able to understand the language someday, travel to the country and more. My family members moved away back to Japan and as I got older I really missed them.
When I arrived to CSUMB I had some goals in mind. I wanted to be able to speak Japanese well enough to function in Japan, Improve my art skills and I wanted to Visit my family members and see what life was like in this country I had dreamed about. I had never left the country before, but with the help of the faculty in the Japanese department and the Study abroad department I was able to go to Japan!
My time in Japan was life changing. It has expanded my world view and given me even more goals to aspire towards. Toyo University took great care of me in my stay in Japan. I was able to work while I was abroad and learn a great deal. The university was a fairly short distance to go and visit my family and I got to learn more about my Uncle's job. He was a english teacher there in Tokyo and I realized that could become my next step.
I have had some difficulties learning the language. But I am determined to improve my skills and get to the next level of listening and reading comprehension as well as speaking. I want to make my family proud, both in America and in Japan and of course my Sensei. CSUMB has completely transformed my life and I will share that with my future students. I want to connect to the students with my art to help make the classroom environment fun and memorable.