Paula Traut

Paula Traut is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Japan.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

During my time in Japan, I was able to travel by plane and train to a small pottery town on the island of Kyushu. I went with one companion and we completely immersed ourselves in rural Japanese culture. We had to use the limited amount of Japanese that we had learned from class and do our best to navigate and make sense of everything. I was able to meet up with a friend of my Ceramic professor from CSB and he showed me around to a number of famous pottery kilns and studios. It had always been my dream to visit that part of Japan and see studios and kilns like that. It was a dream come true to actually be there. I will never forget it.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated? 

I chose to study abroad in Japan because I have always been interested in Japanese art and culture. As an art major with an emphasis in ceramics, I was particularly interested in Japan because of its rich history of ceramic production and patronage. I also chose Japan because out of all of the programs, I felt that it would be the most challenging program for me, on a personal level. The thought of studying abroad in Japan was intriguing and also very scary, and that is why I simply had to choose it.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

I spent almost four months living and studying in Tokyo, Japan. During that time, I learned a little bit of the Japanese language and also learned a great deal about Japanese culture. In the time that I spent outside of class, I learned more of these same things empirically. From my experiences, I believe that I have become a better, more tolerant and more informed person with a broader perspective on the world and a more open mind.

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

While I was in Japan, I believe that I was challenged to be more independent in ways that I had never been pushed to be in the United States. When I went out to buy groceries, for example, I was faced with a huge language barrier and other obstacles, like street signs I could not read. The more that I went out on my own in Tokyo, the more I realized I was capable of. I feel like studying abroad in Japan has made me a more confident individual and has helped me to understand capabilities that I had never before been aware of.
The time I spent in Tokyo also made me realize how big the world is and how many kind, intelligent people there are in it. In Japan, I experienced generosity and patience to degrees I have never seen in the United States, and these experiences have left their marks on my temperament. I think our trip has helped me to develop more patience and understanding for others.

What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

I would suggest that students put forth some serious dedication toward learning the language of the country in which they are going to study. Having basic proficiency with the host language will allow the students to move away from the larger tourist centers of their host countries and get involved with host citizens in more natural settings. This will help them to get a better picture of the country where they are studying and will provide them with a more enriching experience of that place.