I love Japanese culture, especially art, so I wanted to get out there and learn more about the country and myself. I had no clue what it was like to even leave my country, so I felt very pressured on how I would make friends as well. However, through the COIL project, I was able to connect with students at Nanzan. It was reassuring that I would have at least one friend over there. My host family was a great support. I had a tough time during my study abroad, but they were always caring and tried their best to help me in any way possible. I think it'll help me in my future to be more open to other cultures and in understanding that while people are different, they can also be a lot more alike than you think. Japan also taught me so much about myself that I would've never learned otherwise.