Jawad’s Japan Journal: From St. Joe’s to Shibuya
When I came to the US chasing the American Dream, I never imagined it would take me all the way to Tokyo. What started as a quiet idea in Professor Jake Shore’s SJNY 200 class at St. Joseph’s University turned into reality faster than I could believe. As an international student majoring in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Business Administration, I thought studying abroad would never fit into my schedule. But Lakeland University’s Tokyo campus made it possible.
Right by the Sumida River, filled with students from over fifty countries, it quickly became my second home. When I arrived, I knew almost nothing about Japan. I wasn’t into anime, didn’t speak Japanese, and once even greeted someone at 11 p.m. with “Ohayō,” which means “good morning.” But people were kind, and every mistake became part of the learning.
Through the API exchange program, I moved into a dorm with fifteen other Americans. The rooftop view of Tokyo still amazes me. On weekends, API takes us on trips to hot springs, temples, and festivals. I’ve written wishes on ema plaques, collected omamori charms, and made taiyaki that spilled out of the mold. At a summer fireworks show, I stood with locals in kimonos watching colors light up the sky.
Tokyo has given me so many memories and friendships. My friends and I explore Akihabara, Asakusa, and Ikebukuro, study together, and share late-night snacks from vending machines or 7-Eleven. It’s a mix of laughter, long talks, and feeling at home in a city that once felt so far away.
It’s not all fun though. I’m taking twenty-one credits in eighty-nine days: six at Lakeland, a Japanese class, an honors course at St. Joe’s, and two online. The professors here know every student by name, and their passion makes every class meaningful.
Even five thousand miles from Brooklyn, I still carry St. Joe’s with me. The motto Esse non videri — “To be, not to seem” — stays close to my heart. I still juggle my roles in Go Green, the Computer Club, the Book Club, and the Food Pantry Committee — all while working around a thirteen-hour time difference.
People often ask how I can afford this as a triple-majoring international student. Scholarships from St. Joe’s, Global Studies, and API made it possible. Lakeland’s tuition is around two thousand dollars, and API covers housing, flights, excursions, and support. I might be the first international student from St. Joe’s to do this, but I hope I’m not the last.
Tokyo isn’t just a stop in my life — it’s a home that helped me grow. My accent now shifts between Brooklyn, Bengali, and Japanese. Studying abroad didn’t take me away from my life; it added to it.
I’m Jawad Zaman — triple major, international student, and proud Bear. Sayonara for now, Brooklyn. I’ll be back, bringing a piece of Japan with me.