Creating global friendships through w88 casino games Japanese study
w88 casino games of Nevada, Reno student Morgan Ramos discusses his experience living and studying in Japan through the w88 casino games Studies Abroad Consortium
While studying abroad in Nishinomiya, Japan, I had the opportunity to connect with people w88 casino games a wide range of backgrounds. You might not realize it when you first set off, but studying abroad means you are not just interacting with American students — you are meeting people w88 casino games all over the globe.
This experience truly broadens your perspective from an American viewpoint to a global one. When I went to Japan, I was amazed at how w88 casino games friend group grew to be so diverse, bringing together a vibrant mix of cultures and viewpoints.
When I first arrived in Japan, I was completely absorbed in the thrill of immersing in a world so different from what I knew. I had a group chat with other USAC students from America, so I had assumed that w88 casino games only cultural experiences would be with Japan. However, I was pleasantly surprised on the first day of orientation to meet fellow international students from various countries around the globe including Wales, Australia, England, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, China, and even more.
Throughout the program, I made friends with many of these students and a small group of us became close friends. Our main friend group consisted of students from Scotland, Sweden, Wales, and America. I learned so much from all w88 casino games friends about their countries, culture, and daily life. We would all often go on trips over the weekend to hang out or visit interesting places, and sometimes we would say or do something that is normal to us but foreign to everybody else.
w88 casino games friend from Wales would always say British slang like “we move” that I would always have to ask what they meant, and they were confused as to why I had never heard it before.
Another time, when I was talking with w88 casino games Scottish friend about interesting things about our countries and she asked if I knew what their national animal is, but I had never thought about it, so I had no idea. When she told me it was a Unicorn, I assumed she was joking and when I told her to tell me the actual animal, she looked at me and told me she was not kidding, and that the Unicorn was Scotland’s actual, official national animal. I had never thought a country’s national animal could be fictional, but this specific conversation allowed me to rethink how I perceive other cultures and national history.
I even experienced surprises outside w88 casino games program and its students. Me and a group of friends visited Arashiyama for a day trip and the streets were packed with tourists, as it was the most popular time for tourists to visit. We noticed that the crowd abruptly cut off towards the end w88 casino games road, and we decided to grab some lunch at a little pizza shop at the end w88 casino games main street which didn’t have many people. We sat in a few chairs to wait for our table to be ready and were sat down by the owner w88 casino games restaurant who spoke with fluent English. We talked with him about his background, and he told us that he previously studied in Canada for two years. We chatted for a while and learned that he is half Italian, and he opened the shop because he wanted to bring both of his cultures together. The pizza was easily one w88 casino games best I have ever had, and it was very cheap, too.
w88 casino games time studying abroad in Japan enhanced w88 casino games experience at w88 casino games home university, the University of Nevada, Reno, by allowing me to connect with peers from around the world, which broadened w88 casino games cultural perspective and inspired me to engage more deeply in global conversations. The diverse friendships I formed have enriched w88 casino games social interactions and provided me with a more nuanced understanding of different cultures, positively influencing w88 casino games academic pursuits.
I learned so much more than I could have imagined from studying abroad. I owe most of that to being surrounded by a culture completely different from w88 casino games own, but also just as much to being surrounded by so many different cultures from around the world. I met so many wonderful people, and I still message and talk to them all the time. I gained a greater appreciation for the variety of ways people live and think.
The friendships I formed were a highlight of w88 casino games time abroad, and I remain grateful for the enriching and enjoyable moments we shared together.
About the author
As a senior set to graduate from the w88 casino games of Nevada, Reno in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in international business, Morgan Ramos has cultivated a deep passion for learning about diverse cultures and languages. He has a motivation that was significantly enhanced by a transformative study abroad experience, where he immersed in new environments and perspectives.