Reflections on Life Abroad
Posted by kevin
I’ve been living in Japan for the past 8 months and have learned many lessons along the way. First and foremost, I have realized how incredibly small yet diverse our world really is. It always amazing me when I remember that I am living thousands of miles away from home in a foreign society, yet living everyday life just as before. The people of Japan have been extremely gracious from the time of my arrival and although there have been times when I ran into frustrating cultural barriers, I feel that I have learned to accept and appreciate the Japanese way of life.
Although I was confident in my knowledge of Japan and its culture before arriving here, I have realized how much more there is to learn. It has really been interesting to see the world from the viewpoint of the Japanese and to coexist with its customs and culture. I feel now, more than ever, the difficulty and importance of global understanding. Had I not ventured to this country, I most likely would not have realized all of the things I took for granted back in America nor experience the refreshing sense of comfort I have felt from living in a completely different culture. Furthermore, I have been lucky to have met many people for various places around the world here in Japan and have been able to share experiences and viewpoints with them.
All the while, Aaron, our development team, and I have been working to get Speekit off the ground. I clearly remember talking to Aaron when the idea of Speekit was still in its infancy and we both agreed at that time that we wanted to make it a service that made a positive impact on the world. I can’t help but feel proud of how far we have come and be excited for the ambitious goals we have yet to reach. As Aaron has mentioned, we have encountered many hurdles along the way, but we’re inching closer and closer with every passing day!! I hope, more than anything, that in the end Speekit will grow to successfully play its part in promoting global awareness, understanding, and cooperation.
