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I left the US at 17 to finish high school in rural Japan. The bold decision helped me build my dream life in Tokyo years later.

AbiFeb 4, 2024, 20:14 IST

I attended high school in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, for my senior year.Abi

I grew up in Oregon, but I moved to rural Japan to finish high school when I was 17.
Unlike my experience in the US, school commutes were longer and clubs were an even bigger deal.

In 2015, at 17 years old, I made the brash and brave decision to leave my life behind in Oregon and move to Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, for my senior year of high school.

Looking back, my choice to leave the US resulted in the cultural experience of a lifetime.

Here's how my Japanese school differed from what I was used to in the US, and how it opened the doors for me to build my dream life in Tokyo.

Long commutes to school were the norm.

Japanese students don't always go to school based on where they lived. Abi

The teachers come to the students instead of us switching rooms.

Like my elementary classes in the US, class members stay the same for the entire year.Abi

Physical education was choice-based.

I was much more comfortable with the gym classes in Japan.Abi

After-school extracurriculars were very important.

I was involved in a dance club at my Japanese high school.Abi

School events were super fun.

If you've ever seen an anime, you might be familiar with the annual Japanese school festivals.Abi

Going to school in Japan helped me create a life for myself in Tokyo.

My high-school experience led to my adult life in Tokyo. Abi

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