Sawako Sonoyama
University of California - Berkeley
Sawako spent an academic year in Madrid, Spain. She says about her experience studying abroad, "Personally, I became more open-minded. I knew that there is more than one way of life, but I got to explicitly see it in action. I already had a love for other cultures, and I got to appreciate them even more. Also, I became more independent because I had to do everything myself in a different language. I had a fabulous time being in a different country, re-evaluating myself, meeting people with different backgrounds and future plans and making friends with the World-studying abroad is amazing."
For Sawako the best part of studying abroad was that "Every day I felt normal, even though I was in a completely different environment, this was an accomplishment." When asked if she felt comfortable as a minority student in Madrid Sawako says, "Usually yes. If you are Asian in Europe, Europeans assume you are Chinese. When I correct them and tell them I am Japanese, they are very interested. They are mostly interested about the language and writing. Most people, who got to know me well, viewed me as an American, not Japanese. So I became a normal gringo. Sometimes I would get rude cat calls, like "china! Chinita!" when I walk down the street. Or I would get exaggerated Asian actions, such as bowing. I usually just ignored it. Most of the time they (Spaniards) are not rude, just unaware and ignorant in regard to cultural sensitivity. I understand that for them, it is just the way it is, and it's no big deal. They don't mean it in a bad way. However, it's still incorrect."
Summing her study abroad experience Sawako says, "Studying abroad is very challenging because everything is extreme. You're highs are really high and lows are really low. All ranges of emotions are intense. It's hard to bounce up from a bad day because you are homesick and far away from your normal support network. But you will bounce back and once you do, it's really fun again."
With that said Sawako says she would study abroad again without hesitation. Asked if she recommends study abroad to other students Sawako simply says, "YES. To everyone. DO IT!"
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Sawako spent an academic year in Madrid, Spain. She says about her experience studying abroad, "Personally, I became more open-minded. I knew that there is more than one way of life, but I got to explicitly see it in action. I already had a love for other cultures, and I got to appreciate them even more. Also, I became more independent because I had to do everything myself in a different language. I had a fabulous time being in a different country, re-evaluating myself, meeting people with different backgrounds and future plans and making friends with the World-studying abroad is amazing." 
e. So I became a normal gringo. Sometimes I would get rude cat calls, like "china! Chinita!" when I walk down the street. Or I would get exaggerated Asian actions, such as bowing. I usually just ignored it. Most of the time they (Spaniards) are not rude, just unaware and ignorant in regard to cultural sensitivity. I understand that for them, it is just the way it is, and it's no big deal. They don't mean it in a bad way. However, it's still incorrect."