Despite my disbelief, the time has come for the midterm exams for my classes here at Kansai Gaidai. Although in the past I’ve felt confident about my exams at Rollins, I feel a new sense of anxiety knowing that this semester I will have exams in Japanese. I usually like to spend my weekends traveling to new places, but this weekend I will have to take some time out to buckle down and study my japanese (speaking, reading, and writing!).
Lately I’ve also been feeling some stress after spending some time getting ready for my return to Rollins, as I am a Senior and Spring 2016 will be my last semester. It’s certainly been a lot to worry about, thinking about grad school applications, GRE tests, and my final classes on top of learning a new language in a foreign country. Many of the people of my program are either Juniors or Sophomores, but there are a handful of Seniors here like me who can understand the stress of upcoming graduation prep. In my program here at Kansai, there is an option for students to extend their stay, and spend the entire year studying abroad in Japan. At times I envy the students who are extending, because they get to experience all of the seasons in Japan and have more time to travel, but I am also excited to go home to see my family and friends, and to finish my last semester at Rollins. Although it may seem difficult now, I am confident I will be ready for my return home by the time December comes around!