Entering my junior year as a finance major, I knew that I would need to have my head in the game when it came down to thinking about next summer’s internship and, potentially, my future with whatever company I end up at. For finance and some business internship roles, applications begin almost a year in advance. Thus, I have been in the thick of recruiting and interviewing right as my year abroad is beginning.

I am now more than halfway through my time studying abroad. It’s been full of amazing trips, new friends, interesting studies, and so many life lessons. One of the biggest things I think I’ve learned since being here is the importance of staying close to my people from home while also maintaining a balance to allow myself to make new friends. When I first arrived, I was calling my family and friends from home almost every day. I think this was a way to combat a bit of the homesickness that is to be expected when moving to a different country.

Hello Once Again!

It's good to be writing again, and I hope everyone who's reading is doing well! Today I will be giving some pointers and realizations I have had with learning Japanese since arriving a few months back. I've modified a few of my methods but of course those changes have only enriched my understanding of the language and the culture together. As a quick aside before jumping into the main stuff, I wanted to mention just how surreal it is that I've been making my strides here in Japan, as coming to this country was always a far off dream of mine since childhood.