Kaitlyn's panorama
Kaitlyn Purdy | Japanese studies major - Doshisha University, Japan
Kaitlyn contemplates ramen as a last meal
My two most memorable events from my first study abroad experience was being on earthquake watch the first day into the new year and experiencing snow for the first time.
One thing that I was told might happen in Japan is natural disasters. And so it did on the first day into the year 2024. I woke up to my bed shaking and thought my bed was broken but after looking at my bed it was fine and I fell right back to slumber. However, not shortly after that my roommates were yelling for us to pack to evacuate. I did not realize that what I felt half asleep was an earthquake. I then struggled to pack what was important and headed to the kitchen. The context behind the picture is me eating supposedly my last meal of the year. While everyone was watching the TV worrying about if we needed to evacuate, I was eating cup of ramen.
The second experience was able to happen because I didn't die and lived to see another day. It was the day I saw and touched snow for the first time. It was pretty for five minutes and then I wanted it to disappear. My hands, feet, face, and especially my nose was freezing cold and I wanted the sun rays and hot sandy beach like never before.