またね, Nagoya

It's been a bit since I said my final farewell to Nagoya and Nanzan University. I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect but I wanted to get out my final thoughts of my study abroad experience in Nagoya with IES Abroad while it’s still fresh. And possibly just rant about how much I loved this semester. 

Looking back to my first ever blog, I find it funny how nervous I truly was. I know it’s easy for me now to say, “Wow, I was being so stupid and nervous for no reason,” but hey, we live and we learn. Living and studying abroad in Nagoya has been nothing short of amazing. While there were some ups and downs, I can say that all of the ups easily outweighed the downs. I met so many amazing people, visited so many amazing places and experienced hundreds of new things that I know I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t choose to study abroad. I hope you’re buckled in because here’s where my ranting starts.

Let’s start with the people. To the people I went to Okinawa and Hokkaido with, to the people I would eat lunch with, and to my fellow IJP 2 classmates, you guys are all amazing. I honestly don’t think I could’ve done this semester without y'all and I’m so happy that I am able to say I’ve met you and can call you my friends. You all genuinely made this semester so much fun, whether it was from class or to just going out in Sakae or traveling with IES Abroad, I have made so many crazy but awesome memories with everyone. Special shoutout to my friends Tayler, Maya and Honor who I hope to have a Midwest reunion with soon and to my boyfriend (who I hope will keep his promise and take me to Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens the next time we’re in Nagoya)

To my host family, thank you so much for taking me in and caring for me. I really felt like I had become part of your family and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If I was able to redo study abroad and do a homestay with you, I would do it in a heartbeat. I had such an amazing time living with you and going on adventures with you, whether it was to Gifu or just going to play arcade games at the mall. I hope we can see each other again in the future!

To the IES Nagoya staff and team, thank you so much for making this semester memorable. I am so lucky that I was able to study abroad with IES Abroad and meet so many amazing people and see so many different places. I’ve been able to experience so many new and different things that truly have opened my eyes to life and culture in Japan and I’m so thankful for it. Thank you to Nami for being an amazing program manager, taking us on amazing field trips and helping us navigate life in Nagoya! It really wouldn’t have been the same without you!

And lastly, to the people thinking of studying abroad in the future. I can safely say now that my opinion has not changed and to just do it! Studying abroad is such a different but amazing experience you can’t get from simply traveling, it’s living the everyday life, learning the language and immersing yourself into the culture of the country. I feel like my view on so many things have been broadened by studying abroad and I have so many new experiences I would’ve never gotten if I didn’t study abroad. If I was given the chance to do this all again, I would do it in a heartbeat.

And to those who followed and read my blog, thank you so much for coming along on this journey with me! If you have any questions about the IES Abroad Nagoya program, please feel free to contact me (my instagram is @kaytin_1605) and please, if you’re thinking of studying abroad with IES Abroad, do it!!

Until next time,

Kaytin Taba