My interest in Korea began with K-pop idols, but I truly started learning the language in my second year of high school through a Korean language class. In that class, I was introduced not only to the basics of Korean but also to its culture and food, which deepened my interest. Since then, I’ve dreamed of studying abroad in Korea to experience the country firsthand.
As I continued studying Korean at university, I realized that there were many cultural aspects and expressions that textbooks couldn't fully convey. This made my desire to study abroad even stronger.
In the future, I hope to work in the field of international logistics. I believe that experiencing life in Korea—a country with strong economic and cultural ties to Japan—will help me develop not only my language skills and cross-cultural understanding but also a global perspective that I can apply in my career.

Since beginning my study abroad program, five months have passed in what feels like no time at all. As I reach the halfway point of my time abroad, I have found myself reflecting more on the experiences I have had so far. When I first started studying abroad, I felt a great deal of anxiety about communicating in Korean and was especially worried about expressing my own opinions clearly. However, by being constantly exposed to the language through daily classes and conversations with friends, I gradually became more comfortable with listening and speaking. Being able to feel my improvement in Korean has given me a great sense of confidence.
On the other hand, during the early stages of my study abroad experience, I often felt overwhelmed not only by the language barrier but also by differences in my living environment and culture, as there were many unfamiliar things. During that time, I realized how fortunate I was to receive support from friends I met in Korea, as well as from kind local people who helped me even though we were strangers.
In addition, through interacting not only with Korean students but also with international students from various countries, I was exposed to diverse values and ways of thinking. This experience has broadened my perspective and helped me grow mentally as a person. As I move into the latter half of my study abroad life, I would like to continue cherishing these experiences and use them as opportunities for further growth.

Looking back on my ten-month study abroad experience, I feel that it was the most transformative and meaningful period of my life. During my time in Korea, I was fortunate to meet wonderful friends and professors, and every day brought new discoveries. Through classes and group projects, I had many opportunities to express my thoughts in Korean. Although I have not yet taken a language proficiency test since returning to Japan, I am confident that my Korean language skills have improved significantly compared with before my study abroad.
In addition, I had the opportunity to interact and live with students from Korea as well as from many other countries and regions. Through these experiences, I was exposed to a wide variety of cultures and values, which helped me become more open-minded and broaden my perspective. This ten-month experience not only improved my language ability but also taught me the importance of building relationships with others and the value of challenging myself in a new environment. I believe these experiences will continue to have a great influence on my future.
Although I still hope to pursue a career in international logistics, I would also like to explore new opportunities where I can make use of the language skills and cross-cultural understanding I gained through this study abroad experience, and find a path where I can contribute to society in my own way.