Abstract:
In the fall semester of 2015, I studied abroad for three months at Sapporo University in Sapporo, Japan. I made many discoveries during my time in Japan and expanded my cultural knowledge, but since I was attending university, I mainly got the perspective of a Japanese college student. I began to observe the differences between myself and a typical Japanese student, and I also observed the similarities. I came to the conclusion that culture and age were two major factors that affected what we had in common and what we didn't, and I grouped my observations into five categories that I could compare and contrast: social outings, drinking culture, social hierarchy, sexuality and body-image, and education. I composed a memoir to present these observations, and I drew upon my personal experiences and the experiences of some of the other exchange students, as well as articles and other sources concerning Japanese culture. My objective is to explain the impact that age and culture have on our ability to connect with others, and to promote cultural understanding and appreciation.
