Japan: Macy Lor (Final Reflections)

Program: AIP Internship in Tokyo, Summer

As my study abroad experience comes to an end, something that I will take away from this program is how it gave me a glimpse of what my future might look like. Before coming to Japan, I imagined exploring different parts of Japan every day and having the opportunity to gain professional experience. In reality, living on my own and working full-time has made me realize I was experiencing what everyday adult life would be like. I would spend the day commuting to different work locations, completing my work responsibilities, and returning home feeling physically and mentally drained. By the end of the day, I just wanted to rest or go for a walk to let out my emotions before doing it all again the next day. I also didn’t expect how lonely it could feel to come back home to an empty apartment after a long day of work. I did enjoy being independent and learning how to live by myself without my family being there. But there were moments when I missed having my family nearby. At home, there was always someone to talk to about my day or simply spend time with after work. In Japan, I experienced what it truly felt like to come back in silence, whether that was cooking dinner or watching TV by myself.

Being independent helped me grow in so many ways. I learned how to budget, go grocery shopping, and commute by myself. It also taught me how important it is to have a strong community and support system. This experience revealed to me that I should have a greater appreciation for my family and the community I have back home. It reminded me that even after a long and tiring day, there are people who care about you and want to listen to you. I have also thought about how finding a sense of community will be important wherever I work and live in the future. It can be friends, coworkers, neighbors, and church to share everyday experiences with to make it feel like home. Even though there were moments of silence and loneliness, they became some of the most valuable lessons I learned during this program. It has taught me to appreciate the people in my life who have supported me and not take those relationships for granted. After reflecting on my experience, it was much more than completing an internship or living the study abroad life. My experience taught me what kind of life I want to build in the future after graduation, where strong relationships and a supportive community are included.

One of my favorite memories that I will take away from this program is the time I spent with my two friends. While we were busy with our internships throughout the week, we often spent time together every weekend. For that reason, we made it a tradition to hang out on the weekends, whether that was shopping, trying new restaurants, catching up over a meal, and even visiting different places around Tokyo. Those moments became something I always looked forward to after a busy week of working. Every Sunday, my friends and I would go to church together, which allowed us to slow down and reflect before starting the next week again. After church, we would explore different neighborhoods around Tokyo, such as visiting local cafes and shopping at Shibuya. Looking back, it just wasn’t the places that we visited that made the weekends memorable, it was the conversations and memories that my friends and I made along the way. After a long week of work, it was comforting to know that I wasn’t the only one struggling because they were going through similar experiences themselves. We were all able to celebrate each other’s accomplishments and challenges of our internships, and supported each other along the way while living in a different country.