Troy student on way to Japan

This spring, Suzanne Neary won't be going to her senior prom or high school graduation at Catholic Central High School in Troy. She has a good excuse: She'll be in Tokyo.

The teen will spend the next ten months living and studying in Japan, thanks to a $25,000 scholarship from AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. AFS is a not-for-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to high school students to create a more peaceful world.

"I'm looking forward to being on my own," she said, "and to learning a different culture. Everyone I've talked to has had a good experience."

Tokyo experience

The idea of studying abroad developed when Suzanne was thinking about going overseas for a summer. When the opportunity to go to Japan for nearly a year came about, she jumped on it.

"I always liked to travel," she said. "The furthest I've been is Florida. This will be the first time leaving the country -- except for going to Canada."

While in Japan, she will live with a family, attend a private girl's high school and travel throughout the country. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will provide her with free transportation and send her on trips. The program brings ten students from New York State, and ten additional students each from Australia, France and Indonesia each year.

Learning to talk

Since finding out in January that she would be going to Japan, Suzanne has been studying Japanese under the tutelage of Sister Mary Winifred Sullivan, CSJ, who lived there. As a result, Suzanne said, "I can get around. It won't be easy though."

The language can be intimidating. She explained that there are four writing systems in the country. "It's hard for some of the Japanese people to read the newspapers because the language is so complex," she said.

However, she expects that ten months from now, she will speak Japanese with ease. "They give you tests at the end of the year, and most [past participants] have proficiency," she said.

Plans for future

Besides helping her learn a new language and culture, Suzanne thinks the experience will help her grow in other ways as well. An only child, the experience of being away from her parents will help make the adjustment to college easier.

Being in Japan may also help her decide on a future career. She has been accepted at Northeastern University where she plans on studying government or law starting in the fall of 1999.

"This [year in Japan] will give me the experience to see if I want to go into foreign service," she said.

But while there are many benefits to the experience, she still has some fears. "I'd have to say that being in a place where I don't know the language is scary," she said.

Missing moments

There are also many things she will miss. "I will miss my Mom's cooking," she said, "and I love Italian food. I heard they have mostly rice-based food."

She will also miss participating in her school's graduation traditions. "That's the thing I'm really going to miss the most," she said. "My friends said they'll send pictures. But the scholarship is an opportunity that only comes along once in a lifetime.

"I think I'll miss the little things that remind me of my family and my dog," she said. "I feel bad for my dog because one day I'm just not going to be there."

Her family has supported her in her decision to go to Japan. "I think my Dad's more nervous than I am," she said. "It's an adjustment for them, too. I think they're really excited for me, and they encouraged me."

On her own

This will also be the first time that Suzanne, a parishioner of St. Augustine's Church, will be responsible for getting to Mass on her own.

"I'm pretty set in my religion," she explained. "There is a church that does Mass in English. It will be a train ride, but it will be nice to go."

When asked if she thought she had a lot of courage to travel by herself and live on the other side of the globe, she said. "Yeah, I guess so. You must have a lot of guts to go. But if a person is not willing to grow, they won't change. It's a great opportunity."

As she says goodbye to friends and family, Suzanne is balancing many emotions: "I'm very excited and nervous at the same time. I'm really starting to feel homesick."

(03-19-98) [[In-content Ad]]