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William Liedl
William Liedl is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Japan.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.
Participating in a Shinto ceremony with the other members of my study abroad group as well as local Japanese men in the community was such an amazing experience and was a really a great opportunity to learn hands on about the culture of Japan.
Why did you choose the program in which you participated?
I wanted to study abroad so that I could experience a different culture in a way that is unobtainable through books and pictures. I also wanted to study the history and language of my study abroad destination as it was important to my field of study.
Describe your overall study abroad experience.
This is an amazing opportunity to not just visit another country but to actually live there. There are some things that you can't quite understand if you are only there as a tourist by living there for over three months as a student and having so many experiences with your Japanese peers will have such a positive effect on your life.
How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?
This trip has greatly expanded my knowledge of people of my study abroad country and I have been able to bring back many of the things that I experienced and learned over there and integrate them into my classes, especially classes that deal with the history of this area and why decisions were made as they were.
What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?
Just to try to do some things on your own every once in a while. Hanging out with the group is fun and important but some of the best learning experiences occur when you venture out on your own and try new things.