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Rynn Legler

Age (while abroad): 21

Degree: communications

Prior Language Knowledge: Before going I had two semesters worth of basic Japanese.

Where did you go? Tokyo Japan

In what school did you study?: Nihon University

When did you go?: September of 2025 to August of 2026

Have you studied abroad before?: No

Why did you study abroad?:  I had several reasons for going abroad; but I mainly wanted to improve my language skills and be able to understand the perspective of and learn about a foreign culture. I also wanted the opportunity to be on my own, to become more independent as a person.

Would you do it again?

 Absolutely! Going abroad will always be one of my bestadventures.

What was your favorite part?
It’s impossible to pick a favorite part out of a years’ worth of experience but one of the highlights were all the new people and friends I got to meet. I also loved getting to do solo traveling and seeing how much my language skills improved between semesters. One of my favorite things was getting to go to different street markets and talking with the vendors. It was amazing to see how much closer I could get to people the more I understood the language and culture.

What was your least favorite part?
Paperwork in a second language; also getting lost in Shinjuku station. Although, getting lost made me much better at asking for directions.

How has this study abroad affected your life now?

I think the biggest change is that I can see more of the possibilities in my life as things that are actually achievable and not things that have to stay pipe dreams. Going abroad has also helped me to become much more self-assured in my decision making and changed the way I view and relate to the people around me. I think getting to experience a different culture first-hand has made me much more open minded to new experiences and able to connect with people in ways I couldn’t before.

What did you learn, outside of academics, from your study abroad experience?

I learned how to adapt to unexpected situations while making the most of every interaction. I also learned how to be willing to get out of my comfort zone to make new friends and try new things. Then there was the new set of everyday skills like riding the trains and buses and figuring out how to balance being a good student and still taking advantage of the opportunities around me.