Experiencing Japan through education abroad creates lasting memories for William Pipes

18 Jul 2024    

William Pipes is a sophomore from Odell, Nebraska. He is majoring in nutrition, exercise and health science. In this blog he shares about his experience traveling to Japan at the end of May for the faculty-led Nebraska abroad program, “Nutrition, Exercise, Food & Culture in Japan.”

Deciding to take a study abroad opportunity in Japan has to be one of the best decisions I have made. I was able not only to spend two weeks in a completely foreign country, but also to have the opportunity to experience it as deeply as possible. 

This trip was not a vacation by any means, and over time, I felt less like a foreigner thanks to the program. We were able to meet and spend time with Japanese students from middle school all the way to graduate school. At night, I was able to go out with the whole group from UNL, which made everyone far better friends than I could have imagined. Because we went out, we had the freedom to explore Japan and all it had to offer us. 

I cannot stress how much I loved the food in Japan. I made sure to order something that I had never eaten and had no clue what it could be. Thankfully there were only a couple of times when I did not enjoy what I ate. 

Because of the program, we were also able to see parts of Japan that few others would think of visiting. In a way, this is what really integrated us into life in Japan. The whole trip far exceeded my expectations. I made friends from UNL and Japan, seen things I would have never imagined seeing, and built enough memories to last close to a lifetime. 

If anyone ever sees an opportunity to study abroad, I would want them to know there are scholarships and plenty of ways to help pay for the trip, so don’t regret not making those memories.

To learn more about global experiences in CEHS, click here.