The First Step

Beginning

How do you start a new adventure? You’ve probably heard the saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”—and you’re probably tired of hearing it. Still, it’s true. Traveling and studying abroad can feel daunting, yet in my experience, it’s all about the first step.

Making Decisions

I had thought about studying abroad in Japan for a very long time. Naturally, when I first heard that my university partnered with TEAN and I received some materials from them, I was interested. I signed up for emails but let the information sit for a while. I was busy with college at home. It was just too much to seriously think about college in a new country, too.

Nevertheless, in January, I learned it was a good time to apply for the fall program. I still wasn’t sure if I really could so soon or if it was a good idea, but I didn’t want to let the opportunity slip by. So I took the first step. I sent in my initial application. I wasn’t committed, right? It was just a little step.

Pushing Through

Once I saw the list of materials I needed to actually apply to my host university, J.F. Oberlin, I realized it was a much longer list than I imagined. I had choices I had to make. Was it worth it to go through this whole process if I wasn’t sure? I chose to simply start.

To begin with, I made a list of the easy materials and then wrote the items in order of increasing difficulty. I built momentum and eventually finished all the paperwork. It was a massive task, but because I took the first steps, I could thrust myself into the work and get it done. While it was a triumph, it was only one of the first stages. After preparation was done, there was the matter of actually studying abroad.

Taking the Leap

It’s hard to describe the feeling of leaving your home country alone for the first time. It is exciting, but there’s a moment of limbo: knowing exactly what you’re leaving behind, all your friends, family, comfort foods, and understanding of the world, and having no idea what you’re entering into. Walking into the airport, then onto the plane, while it wasn’t physically difficult, was a massive step that I had to take. Still, it was only the beginning.

Now What?

Once I actually entered Japan, I felt a bit at a loss as to what to do next. Everything had been leading up to this time. Now what? The steps I had to take were now unclear. Why did I choose to study abroad in the first place? It was hard to remember. A couple days into my program, I was searching “bad experience study abroad reddit,” trying to figure out what could be missing. 

I was having fun with my fellow international students, sure, but I was also unsure what was happening at any given time and trying my best to understand the simplest interactions with local people. Everything was actually much harder than it was at home, and twice as uncomfortable. I felt like I was missing something.

Forward Motion

Eventually, I realized I had to go do things and find things I wanted to do. Taking the first step into making plans or asking to be a part of something is scary. But ultimately, it is more than worth it for the experiences you gain.

In those first few weeks, I began to join groups as often as I could as they headed out to various places. I was able to visit Enoshima, Harajuku, and lots of restaurants and stores with groups like these, and had a good time. I also started looking up places in Japan to visit. While researching locations to visit while you’re abroad is a good idea before you arrive in a country, I think it’s maybe even more fun to make plans as you go.

The Payoff

Recently I went on a hike on the Old Tokaido Road near Hakone with some friends. I found that it was difficult scheduling, planning, and executing, and I had to keep it small so that it didn’t get too complicated. Yet, it was worth it for an unforgettable experience.

We breathed in the mountain air, got soba at an almost hidden restaurant, nearly collapsed from the sheer quantity of stairs we climbed, and tried amazake at a traditional teahouse. It was an incredible experience and will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. That’s the sort of good travel experience that people are always raving about. It’s not just about being in a location; it’s about taking that step, deciding to do something, and experiencing life.

Final Thoughts

Really, in study abroad or life in general, it’s not just the first step you have to take. It’s also every step after that. But if you never start, then you’ll never go anywhere. So be bold and take the first step. It may not make your journey easy, but it will guarantee that you’ll move forward.

Christie Hicks, Olivet Nazarene University, is studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, with TEAN.