My dorm’s very own Halloween costume party!
NAME: Vireak Nop
MAJOR: English/Professional and Technical Writing
PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange – Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan – Academic year 2024 – 2025
EMAIL: brandon.nop@sjsu.edu
BIO:
Hello! My name is Vireak, but I also go by Vir (read like Sir but with a V). I’m an English major plus Japanese language minor who had the opportunity to study abroad for the past year. As for why I decided to go through with this experience? There’s a lot to say, and it’s heavily nuanced. But, if I had to keep things brief–it was to challenge myself in both academic, personal, and cultural ways. Of course, I want to immerse myself in the language, culture, and REALLY try to grasp the language in its natural environment. At the same time, it would be my first experience living alone and navigating my daily life by my own accord. I believe I got a lot more out of my experience aside from just academics.
GOALS: What were your goals for studying abroad?
Academically, I wanted to improve my Japanese and quickly get to a conversational level. I feel satisfied with the point I had reached after my Spring semester there, but I am always looking forward to learning! For my personal goals, I wanted to see how I would hold up living independently. Because I didn’t have my parents physically with me, I was able to further develop basic skills like cooking, navigation, and trash management. It also let me experience living with peers similar in age to me, and seeing what I do and do not tolerate or compromise on when it comes to living with housemates. I learned a lot about myself while living abroad.
PERSONAL GROWTH: What was the biggest impact that your study abroad experience had on you?
Living in Japan for almost a full year, I think the biggest change for me was that I began to grow an appreciation for the mundane. The everyday life that no one really thinks about, at least here in America. Maybe it’s a form of romanticization, but I was appreciating the short walks to school, the small kitchen talks, and the common bus or train ride. Not everything in life has to be something grand or spectacular, it can be something small that just feels nice. Like waking up to a pleasant morning breeze. I felt as if I could truly live in the present without stressing about the future, unlike how I was living back home. I truly understood what it meant to be “living your 20s” for the first time.
ACADEMICS: How would you describe your academic experience abroad?
When it comes to taking courses abroad, it is expected to put in more effort on my end since the classes are not in my native language. While it definitely did take an initial adjusting period, I ended up being able to find my balance shortly after. Since I only lived a 10 minute walk away from the campus, I would do self-studying in the dorms and then put it into practice immediately with peers. The experience made me realize I needed to take the initiative more, so I am now seeing aspects of my SJSU life that are benefitting from taking that first step. For example, emailing a professor in advance to ask some questions I have, or reaching out to potential outgoing-abroad students who are too hesitant to start that conversation. I used to be in that same position, so I feel accomplished that I finally overcame my own hesitancy and have been able to apply it to SJSU and daily life.
CAREER: What skills did you learn / sharpen during your study abroad experience?
Aside from learning to be the one who takes that first step, I have further sharpened a skill of mine that is vital in Japan: reading the room, or “reading the air” as the Japanese equivalent would say. I find that it has made me more keen of my surroundings, and in turn has made me a bit more empathetic. It’s a skill that has helped tremendously in my personal life, and helped me gain a deeper appreciation for my parents and all they have done.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: How has your immersion impacted your perspectives on the world? Since I’m interacting with both native students in Japan, and exchange students from around the world: I learn and experience a ton of differences in how we think and interact, but I also see just how much we also have in common with each other. Growing up in San Jose, I have the privilege to have grown up in a primarily Vietnamese American community and perhaps get too comfortable with it. As a result, my knowledge and understanding of other cultural backgrounds is pretty surface level. Now, I feel as if my mind and eyes have both been open to the richness and beauty that makes our world so diverse.
FUTURE: How has study abroad prepared you for your future? Studying abroad gave me a glimpse into a new road I could potentially follow. While my major and minor degree might not necessarily be connected, I’ve been looking into ways I could potentially utilize both of the skillsets I’ve learned in the pathway towards both degrees. Even if we don’t think about it in terms of the type of job I could get: it taught me skills that allow for me to be more flexible.
TIPS: What advice would you give to future Global Spartans?
As cliche as it sounds: Just do it! If I hesitated any longer, I would have gone through my life with so many regrets. Of course, you’ll have regrets as your abroad program comes to an end, but it’s an experience you can only have now! So just do it! The SJSU Study Abroad department can answer any questions you have, and there’s plenty of students who are probably wondering the same things as you!
Also, knowing some practical skills wouldn’t hurt. Know how to say/ask a few things in the language of the country you’re going to, pick up some cooking skills, and most importantly: make friends!