By: Holly Riley

Studying abroad at Kwansei Gakuin University has been a meaningful experience that has taught me a lot about daily life and education in Japan. Each week brings new situations to adapt to, whether it’s learning the language, navigating classes, or figuring out everyday routines. 

One of the biggest parts of my experience has been studying the Japanese language. The classes are small and focused, which makes it easier to practice speaking every day. The teachers are patient and very encouraging. The lessons move at a quick pace, and I usually need to learn around 75 new vocabulary words each week to keep up. Outside the classroom, using Japanese in daily situations like at stores or train stations, helps me see my progress and keeps me motivated to keep improving. When I first arrived, I found the class schedule system very confusing, especially because I have dyslexia. The mix of Japanese characters, room numbers, and abbreviations on the timetable took me a while to decode. I often checked and rechecked which building to go to. Luckily, my friends and KGU buddies (Japanese students helping exchange students) were kind and helped me figure it out, and after the first few weeks, it became much easier to manage. Classes run from 8:50am-6:40pm. As I am taking the language track I have at least one class a day and 13 classes a week. 

Food life at KGU has been one of the more challenging parts of my experience. Living with celiac disease makes eating in Japan difficult, since many meals contain soy sauce or other ingredients with gluten. The campus cafeterias have a good variety of options, but it can be hard to know which dishes are safe. I’ve learned to plan ahead by checking menus, bringing my own meals, or cooking simple gluten-free food at home. Grocery shopping also takes extra time because I need to read labels carefully. If you have any allergies, I recommend learning the kanji for it, unfortunately as I have found out translation apps aren’t always accurate. Even though it can be limiting, I’ve discovered a few safe options, like rice bowls, grilled fish, and onigiri, that I can enjoy without worry. Over time, I’ve found ways to adapt and still experience Japanese food culture safely. If you are also a fellow celiac or just gluten intolerant, I highly recommend the find me gluten free map app. It shows you any nearby eateries that have gluten free food and their safety rating. 

Overall, life at Kwansei Gakuin has been full of small challenges, but each one has made my experience richer and more meaningful.