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Jalen Carter ’25 spent his childhood hearing his father’s stories from his time in the U.S. Navy and watching Japanese anime, dreaming of someday traveling to Japan himself. This semester he is studying in Tokyo through LR’s study abroad program. 

“This is my first time leaving the country and being on a plane. So, I’m new to flying, going through customs, learning new cultures and meeting new people. I love this whole process,” Carter shared. 

When he arrived at LR from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina in the fall of 2021, Carter reached out to the William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education almost immediately. There he met Brittany Marinelli, director for international education.

“Because I knew I wanted to study abroad from a young age, it was non-negotiable when I chose where to go to college. I didn’t want to wait to start planning, even though I was a freshman.”

Making the plan

As a first-generation student, Carter was unsure about the logistics of getting to Japan.

“I had no idea which school I wanted to go to, but Brittany and I sat down and researched schools. This one really shot to the top of my list because the benefits for international students included meals and accommodation, plus it’s located in the center of the city.”

Financing the semester abroad was another concern for Carter, and Marinelli helped him navigate that process as well. He secured scholarship funds both from Lenoir-Rhyne — through the Shuford Foundation — and Toyo University in Japan to cover his tuition and expenses.

“Both schools were very generous, and that made my life much easier in coming to study here,” he commented.

Studying and sightseeing

Now that he is in Tokyo, Carter is studying the Japanese language and taking courses toward his double major in international business and finance. Because the school is set up for large numbers of international students, the business classes are taught in English. The language classes are more challenging but also fulfilling.

“Japanese uses three alphabets,” Carter explained. “I’ve picked up the two basic alphabets and some of the third one. The third alphabet is the hardest part, and even most native Japanese speakers are still learning it.”

Outside of class, Carter enjoys the perks of life in Tokyo, such as public transportation and convenient shops and activities. He explores landmarks such as historical sites and temples in Tokyo and beyond. He recently traveled to Kyoto with friends from his program. These excursions give him an opportunity to pursue his love of photography and videography.

“I try to put together videos that are aesthetically pleasing to me while documenting things that inspire me,” he said. “I was influenced by my mom. She’s really good at taking photos, and that motivated me to try taking photos and videos on my own.”

Breaking the social shell

“Japanese culture is more formal than the U.S.,” Carter shared. “So, the people are harder to get to know well, but once you do get to know them, they’re really open and friendly. And once you make friends, they’re with you.”

Despite calling himself an introvert, Carter has been happy to move out of his comfort zone and embrace every part of his study abroad experience.

“I realized when I got here that it would be much more enjoyable if I made an effort to change, and once I started doing so, I realized how much fun it was getting to know other people.”

Carter hasn’t only been experiencing Japanese culture. Because his program attracts students from all over the world, he has been making global connections.

“I get to meet people from all over the world, and it’s always fun to learn about someone else’s culture. I’ve met friends from England, Pakistan, France, Korea — lots of places. When you start getting out there, it sets up a cycle. The more you travel, the more you meet people, the more you want to.”