Overall Integrative Narrative
Growing up, Pokémon was the first anime that initiated my interest in a culture other than the Mexican-American culture I grew up with. I immediately began to study its background, and the first step I took started with me studying Japanese offered in my middle school. It took me a while to understand the strange symbols I was introduced to, but I managed to get the hang of it. I continued learning in classes of Japanese for the next five years, into high school as well. Although the previous school I transferred from did not offer Japanese, it did not stop me from trying again to continue my studies of the Japanese language and culture. By studying Japanese, I was able to have the amazing opportunity to study and immerse myself in the Japanese culture. I was able to study both my majors, Business (Management and International Business) and Japanese (Language and Culture) during my year abroad in Chuo University, located in the Tokyo Prefecture.
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By studying abroad I was able to accomplish a number of goals I had set up for myself. One was that I was able to openly practice the language to native speakers and become comfortable speaking Japanese by the time I return from studying abroad. A key way to becoming proficient in any language as I have learned would be to practice using the language every day. (MLO1) However, I have noticed even though I studied the language vigorously many years, it wasn't until I studied abroad in Japan that I was finally able to use it.
Learning how to speak the language, however, was not my only goal. I wanted to be able to successfully immerse myself into the Japanese culture as well. (MLO5) I knew there were cultural differences between Japan and America such as greeting others with bows instead of handshakes. (MLO2) By understanding these cultural differences before studying abroad, it made immersion in the daily life of Japan much easier. Participation in the culture is not useful for me in the Japanese culture side but for my Business major. If I conduct business with a Japanese company in the future, I feel confident in having the knowledge of properly introducing myself by respecting their greeting customs.
Taking culture courses at CSUMB and while studying abroad also helped me understand different aspects of Japanese society and other cultures to compare them. (MLO3). I was fortunate enough to grow up with the knowledge of these two languages because of my Mexican-American upbringing. Both of my parents are from Mexico but they raised my siblings and me in the United States. When I studied abroad, I enthralled other students when I introduced both cultures with holiday and food festivities. By taking Latino American cultures, I was able to understand the culture I grew up from a different perspective.
Through all the classes I’ve taken, I decided to combine both of my interests of Business and Japanese into my final capstone project. My topic of sweet shops perspectives helps me to see how a certain business does in Japan. The reason I chose sweet shops was due to the fact of my experience with running one. Since 2010, I have ran a cupcake business with my sister as a side hobby, filling out customized cupcake orders for friends and family. After extensive literature review and surveying students, I was able to compose a PowerPoint presentation and final research paper of my findings. (MLO 4)
With all of these factors combined, I feel I truly understand the Japanese language and culture. Even with so many years of Japanese language under my belt, I know there is still so much more that I need to study. I am continuing this by going back to Japan, as I got accepted into the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. With this full-time job in Japan, I will be able to continue studying the language and culture firsthand. With everything I’ve learned for my Japanese major, I feel I can successfully represent CSUMB in my future endeavors while also enjoy what I am doing.
Learning how to speak the language, however, was not my only goal. I wanted to be able to successfully immerse myself into the Japanese culture as well. (MLO5) I knew there were cultural differences between Japan and America such as greeting others with bows instead of handshakes. (MLO2) By understanding these cultural differences before studying abroad, it made immersion in the daily life of Japan much easier. Participation in the culture is not useful for me in the Japanese culture side but for my Business major. If I conduct business with a Japanese company in the future, I feel confident in having the knowledge of properly introducing myself by respecting their greeting customs.
Taking culture courses at CSUMB and while studying abroad also helped me understand different aspects of Japanese society and other cultures to compare them. (MLO3). I was fortunate enough to grow up with the knowledge of these two languages because of my Mexican-American upbringing. Both of my parents are from Mexico but they raised my siblings and me in the United States. When I studied abroad, I enthralled other students when I introduced both cultures with holiday and food festivities. By taking Latino American cultures, I was able to understand the culture I grew up from a different perspective.
Through all the classes I’ve taken, I decided to combine both of my interests of Business and Japanese into my final capstone project. My topic of sweet shops perspectives helps me to see how a certain business does in Japan. The reason I chose sweet shops was due to the fact of my experience with running one. Since 2010, I have ran a cupcake business with my sister as a side hobby, filling out customized cupcake orders for friends and family. After extensive literature review and surveying students, I was able to compose a PowerPoint presentation and final research paper of my findings. (MLO 4)
With all of these factors combined, I feel I truly understand the Japanese language and culture. Even with so many years of Japanese language under my belt, I know there is still so much more that I need to study. I am continuing this by going back to Japan, as I got accepted into the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. With this full-time job in Japan, I will be able to continue studying the language and culture firsthand. With everything I’ve learned for my Japanese major, I feel I can successfully represent CSUMB in my future endeavors while also enjoy what I am doing.