Michigan 4-H's first Academic Year Program delegate returns from Japan
Print
EmailMichigan 4-H’er Jillian R., of Macomb County, shares her story of traveling abroad to Japan for an eleven-month stay through a 4-H international exchange program.
Jillian R., of Macomb County, is no stranger when it comes to representing Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H internationally. In 2023, Jillian traveled for eight weeks to Nihongo, Japan, through the States’ 4-H International Exchange Program. Jillian shared her experience with readers in the MSU Extension article, “Youth gain global citizen skills through 4-H exchange cultural immersion experience.” Recently, Jillian traveled to Japan again as Michigan 4-H’s first LEX Academic Year Program (AYP) student. This program, which sends high school students abroad for eleven months, is highly competitive. Jillian retuned to Michigan this summer and is graciously sharing her story with readers once again!
The following are excerpts of Jillian’s academic year in Japan story.
“The second I arrived at Tokyo’s airport, I had to stand in Customs for over an hour. My flight was long, I was hungry, and I was exhausted. Finally, I walked through the last set of doors and was met by my host family and coordinator from the HIPPO program. With no hesitation, they welcomed me in and we went back to their home.
At first, I worried about what I was allowed to do, what I could ask for, and how to express my thoughts and feelings. About a month and a half in, I became overwhelmed by the new culture, responsibilities and emotions. My host family noticed how upset I was one day and sat down to talk about what I was going through. My host siblings didn’t always know how to communicate their support because of the language barrier, but they found their own ways. My eight-year-old host sister hugged me and brought me small gifts, while my ten-year-old host brother insisted I come sit at the table to eat with him. Those moments showed me how much they cared, and after that I felt more comfortable opening up. From then on, we grew very close. Every day with them was filled with hugs, games, laughter and learning.
School was another major part of my exchange year. I attended a high school in southern Tokyo prefecture, where I was the only exchange student in the entire building. Like many exchange students, I worried about making friends, especially since my Japanese wasn’t anywhere near fluent. But within the first week, I made several friends who were patient and eager to connect. They wanted to practice English with me while I learned Japanese, and it resulted in us teaching each other slang words and little phrases. We talked about childhood shows, tried foods from each other’s cultures, and laughed about cultural differences. I also joined two clubs, the science club and the flower arranging club, which quickly became my favorite times to socialize and practice Japanese.
Looking back now, a few months after returning to Michigan, I have no regrets. The first three or four months were the hardest, with the highest highs and lowest lows. I sometimes questioned my choice to go abroad, but in the end, I built strong relationships, explored the country, and learned way more about myself than I ever expected. Surprisingly, my hardest moment wasn’t adjusting to Japan's language or culture; it was saying goodbye when I had to board my flight home!”
Jillian has become an inspiration for other 4-H’ers with an interest in global, cultural and international passions. Michigan 4-H can't wait to see the ways youth traveling abroad in the summer of 2026 will make international connections, experience life-changing opportunities, learn about new cultures and more!
MSU Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program help to prepare youth as positive and engaged leaders and global citizens by providing educational experiences and resources for youth interested in developing knowledge and skills in these areas. To learn more about Michigan 4-H’s international exchange programs, read “Michigan 4-H International Exchange Programs 50th anniversary partnering with States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs.” For more information about 4-H learning opportunities and other 4-H programs, contact your local MSU Extension office.
