My STEP project, Japan – Similarities and Differences in the Built Environment, was a two and a half week study abroad that focuses on the architectural, landscape and social differences and similarities of Japan and the United States. During the trip we took guided tours, visited famous architectural sites and got to explore the vast cities and cultures. During the day we compared architecture, landscapes and urban practices, while during the afternoon we were given free time to experience Japan on our own.
I have been lucky enough to travel to many different Western countries outside of the United States, but have never been to Asia. I have gained much from those experiences and thought myself a well versed traveler, however this trip took me out of my comfort zone and showed me things about the world and myself that I was not aware of. Additionally, I learned so much about different architectural practices and gained a new insight into how cites can operate. Overall, I grew not only as a student on this study abroad but also as a citizen of the world.
The first experience that was a major shock to me that I feel like I really gained a lot from was my first time trying to order in Japanese. Coming into the trip I had tried to learn some basic phrases and sentences to help me get around without having to rely too much on the phone. In my past travel experiences I had done the same thing with a more successful outcome, this time was a bit different. My second day in Japan, during our free time, me and some of the people on the trip stopped into this local restaurant to grab some food. However, the chef spoke little to no English, but I thought that my time using Duolingo would be sufficient enough to get us through. Unfortunately that was not the case, I was not only unable to communicate my order to him but also unable to understand what he was saying to me. After some confused looks and pointing, I realized that we were supposed to order at a tablet station instead of at the food-pick up.
This preliminary experience with the language humbled and embarrassed me at the moment however it was a vital aspect of my journey. From this experience I not only learn about the language but also about the difference in cultural practices. It was very common in Japan to have no-contact setups, something that I was not entirely aware of. Although in the moment I was embarrassed, I believe that that moment set me up for all of the learning and absorbing that I did during the rest of the trip. It is in the moments where we mess up that we make the most progress. During the rest of the trip it would have been easier to use Google Translate, but I thought that learning from my mistakes and trying again would have been more beneficial to my experience. In the end my efforts paid off and I was able to order food without needing assistance.
The second moment that allowed me to grow and learn was being on public transportation. In the United States and even in Europe it is common to see groups of people speaking and conversing on public transportation, but in Japan the social norm is very different. My first time riding the subway, our group got on and continued our conversations from before we boarded. During the ride I think nothing is out of the ordinary and I take time to look out of the window and at the advertisements in the train. It is during this time that I notice that our group is getting a lot of stares and faint whispers. I think nothing of it but then begin to realize that no one else on the train is talking; other than the voices of the people I am with, I can hear nothing but silence. After me and some other people figure this out we tell the rest of the people on the train to talk quietly because we realize that we are being very disrespectful. From this interaction the group, again, experienced embarrassment for being the stereotypical loud Americans. However I can say that from this first interaction we learned that on the trains we need to be as respectful as possible. This experience shows not only how to be respectful of strangers in this public space but also how to be observant and aware of the impression that we as tourists are leaving for the locals.
From all of the cultural differences that I learned about on this trip, I also took a lot out of the academic side. As a City and Regional Planning major with an Architecture minor, I learned so much about the different practices and styles that are common in Japan. In city and regional planning we learn a lot about Tokyo and how it’s a mega city, but nothing in a textbook will compare to actually experiencing the city for yourself. Seeing how dense the city is and imagining how many people live in a single block was crazy for my mind to wrap around. As a student who takes interest in transportation planning, seeing the 5 AM daily commute in Tokyo was transformational. I never believed that a city could operate so efficiently with on-time trains and everyone perfectly lined up like I was in elementary school again. Comparing the way the United States’ transportation system works to Japans was an enlightening experience.
My experience in Japan has taught me so much about myself and about the world that we live in. I think it can be easy to forget that places like Japan, with all its differences, are out there, but after being there I have gained an insight into the world and how small I actually am. I was able to take myself out of my comfort zone and from that I was able to learn about the culture. From this trip I learned how to be flexible and observant while learning so much about architecture and the built environment. When it comes to academic knowledge that I gained, I hope to carry these experiences and use them to build an environment that is outside of the “ordinary” or “conventional”. I hope to take these practices and translate them into work that I can present and hopefully make a career out of one day. Overall, this trip has allowed me to grow so much as a student and as a human and I hope that I can continue to build off of this experience for the rest of my life.