The transition of power is never easy; the training wheels come off as quickly as they come on, but there is nothing more rewarding than being able to figure things out. It also helps when you have a great group of people around you who can help at any turn.

It is a lot of fun trying to figure out a new position as the date of our first issue gets closer and closer. There are a ton of things that need to be addressed, but after a long summer it is easier said than done to get back into the swing of things. 

I was in Japan this summer, traveling overseas through SUNY Oswego’s study  abroad program and I had the time of my life. I  had the opportunity to see so many cool and interesting differences between our culture in the U.S. and their culture, as well as learn the language. I had the idea to go on an abroad trip to Japan in November 2021 and ever since then, I have had the goal to go fly across the world without knowing anybody and take in a whole new culture. 

I studied at a SUNY Oswego partner school in Japan, Akita International University. I met so many amazing people and made great friends from all over the world: the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong, Canada, Buffalo and so many other places. Experiencing Japan for the first time with a group of people I did not know was a scary thought because we all came together to learn and grow and over time, it was not so scary. 

My favorite parts of the seven-week trip had everything to do with the culture. Akita is located in the northwestern part of Japan and is an area pretty similar to Oswego itself. It was a huge town or city, surrounded by lots and lots of farmland. Where the university was located was extremely peaceful and while a larger city-area was nearby, I found myself enjoying the nature and scenery more than the city itself. 

Once the program ended, I was able to travel around the country for an extra week to visit cities I did not get to see during the program. 

I enjoyed my trip so much; everything I learned and experienced  has given me a sense of accomplishment that I never thought I would have. Before college I never thought I would go abroad for that long of a time, let alone go on a trip at all. 

The trip I took this summer has helped me prepare for this semester and becoming the Editor-in-Chief. I am very excited to see how much we grow as a staff this semester and see what we can change to make ourselves better as a whole. 

Photo by: Bagus Pangestu via Pexels