Abigail Faith Invidiado Maraat
Student, III B.S. Social Work
Silliman University, Philippines

My Semester as an Exchange Student at J.F. Oberlin University

My name is Abigail Faith I. Maraat, a third-year social work student at Silliman University. In the spring of 2024, I attended J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, Japan as an exchange student for one semester under the ACUCA Student Mobility Scheme. I first saw the program on a post from the official Silliman University Facebook page and applied as soon as I could. This began an incredible journey that truly pushed me to grow emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

In Oberlin, I took courses on Intercultural Communication, Field Work in Japan, and Japanese Language Studies. While the courses I took were few, the classes were comprehensive. I was encouraged to think critically and reflect on the ideas that I had about what I thought I knew. It’s in these classes that I also made truly meaningful friendships with people from all over the world.

It was not too difficult for me to adjust to Japan. As a Third Culture Kid, I feel very grateful that I can navigate new cultural environments quite well. It’s also helpful that Japanese infrastructure is very convenient and efficient, which helped me navigate society easily. This is not to say I had no challenges. The most difficult part was trying to get myself settled in Japan as I was not staying in the dormitory. I had to navigate paperwork, accommodations, and commuting by myself.

My initial plan was to stay with my family and commute every day to campus. One semester in the dorm was equivalent to a year’s tuition in the Philippines. I realized that the commute would be too strenuous and had to find accommodation within my budget. Hearing this, my friend kindly offered to host me and for two weeks, I was welcomed into his family until I settled into an apartment nearby.

This season was the most challenging as I moved from place to place, but I am immensely grateful for it as I was fully immersed in Japanese culture and live in Japan in a way my peers did not. While Japanese culture and Filipino culture are vastly different, one thing I learned is that we both share a dedication to hospitality. My host family went above and beyond to accommodate me and make me feel welcome. I learned a lot about myself during this trip, and I believe I grew a lot as a person. The challenges I faced have taught me how to be resilient, disciplined, and hopeful despite everything. The friends I met have allowed me to be comfortable with who I am and gain a sense of assurance about my identity and values.

I am immensely grateful for this experience which never would have happened without the assistance of so many people. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. It took a village to get me to Japan and sustain my stay. The Silliman University Scholarship and Aid Division and the United Board Records Office were both instrumental in helping me navigate the application process and coordinating my application with the host institution. My teachers in the Department of Social Work were very accommodating and flexible which allowed me to study overseas without much of an academic hassle. My family in Japan went out of their way to help me, picking me up at the train station and helping me process documents. I’m grateful for my parents who never ceased to support me and encouraged me to pursue this program. Above all, I thank God and his immense grace that carried me throughout the entire journey.

For fellow students who wish to apply for the program, I would recommend they do thorough research about their host institution and the program itself to understand what sort of courses are available to take. I also recommend students to be more than financially prepared and make sure that there’s plenty of financial leeway for the duration of their time. Most importantly, I recommend students to prepare themselves for an incredible, life-changing experience.