I had originally hoped to study abroad as an exchange student, but due to the Corona and my upcoming graduation, I had almost given up on the idea. Around that time, I happened to be chatting with a friend and learned that there was a short-term study abroad program available. I was tempted by the fact that it did not require as much preparation as the regular exchange program and that I could do this during my summer break, so I applied right away.

I wanted to visit Canada once, and the fact that I could study business in English instead of just learning foreign language was a key factor in my decision. Therefore, I narrowed down my choice of a study abroad program and finally chose the University of Victoria in Canada, my desired location.

My biggest concern was whether or not people around me would accept my hearing impairment. I had informed the staff at my host university in advance, and I was able to speak to my professors beforehand. As a result, I could attend classes without any concerns, and I gained confidence that I could talk about my disability in English to someone I meet for the first time.

I did not prepare on my own much. Sophia University provided study abroad guidance three times before my departure, so I was able to interact with other students and felt secure about joining a program. During the guidance, I also learned about presentation skills and how to raise questions openly from professors who studied abroad, and I managed to take advantage of these lessons and become an active participant in the program.

I rediscovered the cosmopolitan nature of Tokyo. I didn’t really realize it when I was living there, but even though the urban areas in Canada may be big in size, compared to Tokyo, I found the atmosphere to be completely calm and relaxed. I realized that living in Tokyo is almost like studying abroad in its own way, especially for someone like me coming from a rural area.

I was shocked by the different values of my roommate. While I was there, I lived in a dormitory on campus, and I shared a bathroom with a British student. After she showered, she would wander around barefoot where we walked wearing outside shoes, which surprised me. This was something that may not happen among Japanese students, so I now look back and think it was a good learning opportunity for me.

I was completely unable to understand the British English of the students in the program. One of the participants in my group was a woman in her 40s, and I was so impressed by the way she was taking on challenges at any age, doing what she loves to do. Since I could not understand her English at all, I tried to communicate with her by asking her to write her ideas on a piece of paper. In the end, we were able to complete the group presentation.

There are various programs offered by Sophia University. The short-term study abroad program that I joined is highly recommended for those who think that an exchange program may be too big of an engagement, but just learning a foreign language is not enough. Studying abroad is not only about studying in a classroom, but also about enjoying yourself to the fullest and also about living life away from home. If you are considering an exchange program in the future, I hope these factors could be helpful for making your decision.