Henry Lake
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Pre-business + German
Program: Kudan Holiday Course 3
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Email: jhlake@ad.unc.edu
Term: Summer 2023
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I chose to study abroad because I've always been interested in foreign countries and their ways of life. Specifically, from a young age, I've had a large interest in Japan. In middle school I knew that I wanted to have some sort of study abroad experience there during high school. I wasn't able to do a semester because each of my semesters were critical to my high school transcript and resume for college, so I decided on a summer. We picked this course because it was somewhat long (7 weeks), and had a lot of events/activities planned that would enrich the experience.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that I can adapt to new environments quite well. I did a homestay with a local family (parents in their 70s) in an older home. When I first got there, the change in the environment, specifically the house, was a lot to adjust to. But, I found within two weeks, I was very comfortable where I was living even though I had previously thought I'd never get used to it. By the end of a short two months, that house felt like my home.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
One of my favorite memories from my program was a night out that I spent with two of my closest friends. During the day, the entire program took a trip to Odaiba and visited teamLab Planets (which is a must do). After, we went out on our own, got food, and then went to a random local playground. This was one of the first moments when we realized we were really abroad, in a whole new environment, with people we had only known for a couple weeks. We stayed there for a long time talking and enjoying the scenery. It was very simple but it stands out to me a lot. The friendships you make on study abroad programs are strong and it's almost guaranteed that you'll make some life long relationships.
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
I would tell them to focus on the parts of the experience they are really enjoying. In general, the whole study abroad experience flies by, both the good parts and the bad parts. But, if you only focus on the bad parts, you're going to regret not appreciating the good parts once the program is over.
How do you identify?
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Memories
