I wanted to study abroad because I had never lived overseas for an extended period of time. I also wanted to learn more about American politics, which was my minor in the Department of English Studies, and this was one of the reasons I considered studying abroad. I chose to apply to George Mason University near Washington, D.C., the center of American politics, in order to improve my English and to grasp the dynamism of American politics.

I was worried about being homesick or facing culture shock, but once I got there, all my worries were gone, and I found myself having a discussion with friends about differences in cultures that I was fascinated by. I wanted to improve my English to some extent before studying abroad, so I took level 1 of the English Proficiency Test (EIKEN), which helped me to start my life in the US smoothly, as I was already quite fluent in English, and was able to receive positive feedback during my job search, as well. On the other hand, my listening comprehension was still weak, and I wish I had studied even harder.

Even though the titles are the same, there are differences in the scope of course coverage for various reasons. For example, in the subject, National Security Theory, we sometimes covered North Korea in Japan, but not in the U.S., probably due to geographical factors. It may be interesting to attend a course similar to what is offered at Sophia and learn the differences between the two.

There is not a single person who has studied abroad that says, “I wish I had never gone” On the contrary, there are many people who choose not to go to study abroad and say, ” Oh, I wish I had gone!”. Most worries are manageable, but no regrets can be taken back no matter how hard you try. Please make the first step forward.