Final Thanks

I’m so happy Japan was the first country I went to abroad and I want to deeply thank The Kaua'i Bridge to College for supporting my journey. 

Coming from Kaua'i, one of the smallest islands in the state of Hawaii, before I joined The Bridge: Kaua`i to College or participating in AFS, I didn't really have a future planned for myself. Seeing just how large and diverse the world is inspired me to work even harder to make sure I can contribute back to my communities and grow into the person I want to be. My biggest dream is to pursue art and make enough money to be able to afford to live on Kaua`i. I want to achieve that by going to college for a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, or storyboarding and experience life outside the islands before eventually settling back home. 

This trip to Japan helped me open my eyes and see so many different lives and possibilities I could have. I never really thought that someone like me from such a small place could achieve and go to such large and amazing places, like Japan! 

I want to give a special thank you to Susan Davis for believing in me and giving me the support and encouragement I needed to make a goal for my future. She also introduced me to my incredible mentor, Sue Carlson, who has significantly supported me on my college search and helped me create plans for my future. Each person I met through the Bridge has genuinely made such a positive impact on my life and now I am much more confident in what I want to do after highschool thanks to those who have supported me.

And a huge thank you to my donors, who literally helped make my journey possible. I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart for the fact that you reached out a hand to lift me up to my dreams. Thank you for believing in my goals and trusting me to succeed. I hope my documentation gives you a look into what these past 5 weeks were like for me, and an idea of what I was able to learn. I love each of you and I would love to share more about my story! Please get in touch with me if you have any questions (8087200166 or morozovrin@gmail.com) so we can have a conversation about this incredible experience I got to have in highschool.

Nagoya Castle, Nagoya

I have gained new life long friends, an extended family, and connections with people from all around the world. I've learned to be independent, problem solve in quick situations, as well as learn about new social etiquette I had no idea about before. I was taught something new about each meal my host family gave me, such as learning about the correct grammar for Kaiten Zushi, the different names for Don rice bowl meals, and the celebration of eating eel on Doyo no ushi no hi (midsummer traditional calendar). Each person I met in Japan was very supportive and eager to talk to me, which I was surprised about. I had an assumption that people in Japan didn't like foreigners, but I was quickly shown otherwise with the amount of kindness and care that I received. I felt bad for believing this stereotype and it felt very nice to be corrected. 

My class from IC Nagoya!

Most importantly, I also learned a ton of Japanese! I’m far from proficient, but I am practicing and studying in my free time so that when I see my host family again, I can speak to them more clearly. 

My biggest challenge was having to say goodbye. This opportunity is once in a lifetime and I’ll never be 17 again in Japan with some of the coolest and most hardworking people I’ve ever met. This chapter in my life involves the most goodbyes I have had to face, and now that I’m a senior applying for colleges, time is moving by so fast and I’m still trying to grasp the last of it. Although moving away is scary, moving on is the biggest step in growth to achieve my dreams for the future. 

Thank you all so much for supporting me through every week of this adventure. Going to Japan has been one of my biggest dreams since I was little, and you helped it come true.

Thank you so much!!!

ありがとう ございます!!!