There are three main reasons why I want to study abroad. First, I want to use the French that I have been learning since high school in a native environment and experience authentic French culture. Second, I want to broaden my horizons and gain new insights by living abroad. Third, as a linguistics student, I am interested in understanding how the Japanese language is perceived by French speakers.

I knew I wanted to study standard French, so I chose France over other French-speaking countries. Within France, Paris seemed ideal. However, the weather was the key factor. Since I cannot tolerate heat, I chose Paris, a relatively northern part of France. I searched among partner universities in Paris that offered my desired field of study. Ultimately, I selected the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), a French national institution that specializes in language education, where I could study linguistics.

Since I had never lived away from home, not even in Japan, I was worried about whether I could live on my own in France, a country I had never visited.

To prepare, I did what I always did and kept studying French. I didn’t change the way I studied just because I was going abroad. However, I wish I had studied Japan more in-depth, beyond what I knew as a Japanese person living in Japan, in terms of history, politics, economy, and culture. French people often ask questions about Japan that are difficult to answer unless you are very knowledgeable. There were times when I couldn’t respond.

Many students were motivated and willing to ask questions during class when they didn’t understand something. Though embarrassment in the classroom wasn’t entirely absent, it was far less prominent than in Japan. In the translation class for third-year Japanese studies students, we translated texts containing Chinese characters that are rarely seen even by native Japanese speakers into French, which was quite challenging. Since the curriculum was designed for completion within three years, the pace of the classes was fast. In Japan, I felt that even if students didn’t get good grades, they could still pass if they showed that they had put in the effort. In France, however, if your test scores were not good enough, you lose the credit regardless.

I belonged to two K-pop dance clubs, and I was the group leader of one of them. It was a great experience and cherished memory. I enjoyed dancing to music I loved and hearing and speaking a lot of everyday, casual French. This helped me expand my social circle. I also gained the courage to clearly express my opinions in French, to French people without feeling intimidated.

Once, while practicing dance outdoors with my club, another group forcefully pushed their way in and tried to take over our space. When my French friends started a heated argument with them, I thought, “This is something you just don’t see in Japan.” If this had happened in Japan, I imagined people would just think, “Some weirdos showed up. It’s annoying to give up our spot since we were here first, but let’s just move somewhere else to avoid trouble.” Seeing how French people stood up to injustice with such conviction—saying “Non!” and discussing the matter until they reached a resolution—was really impressive.

When I had the flu with a fever over 104 °F, I traveled alone to a hospital in the Paris suburbs to see a Japanese doctor, which took about an hour. I was able to get an appointment, get a prescription, and recover without issue by contacting the insurance company I signed up with through my university. My friends in the same dorm also helped me a lot, and I’m very grateful for that.

You may feel anxious and hesitant to take the chance, especially since you are about to face a completely unknown world. However, the fact that it is new means many amazing experiences await you, some of which you have never seen or imagined. Isn’t that exciting?