Kaylea Henretty was celebrating her 10th birthday when a book changed her life.  

Her mother had found a book from the Japanese manga series Sailor Moon at a garage sale, which she bought and gave to Henretty as a birthday gift. Henretty was immediately drawn to the comic. Though the book itself was written in English, the back cover included previews for the next book in Japanese — a language which fascinated her.

"I was enamored with the fact that you read the book backwards and from right to left. I used to sit there and look at the language at the back like I could make sense if I stared at it long enough," she joked.

The book sent the West Fork native and U of A student on a path that culminated in a year-long study abroad excursion at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, through the U.S.–Japan Bridging Scholarship, where she is immersed in Japanese language and culture.

The Bridging Scholarship is a nationally competitive award allowing up to 100 academically outstanding U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in Japan in a credit-bearing semester or academic year program. In addition to receiving a cash stipend, Bridging Scholars participate in cohort programming designed to assist students build a future as a global citizen with a lifelong connection to Japan.

At Kansai Gaidai, Henretty has taken courses on special topics relating to Japan, including the sociolinguistics of deaf communities in the country, Japanese art and a class focused on Japan's relations with the United States during World War II.

"The courses have enhanced my understanding of Japan because I've been able to look at the broader image of the country and some of the influences that have led to today's Japan," she said. "I got to create a broad image in my mind because I was almost simultaneously learning about Japanese arts and politics in different classes. It's kind of interesting when you get to see what formed many cultural nuances and opinions of more modern culture by applying historical context to it. I think it's allowed me to deeply analyze what I've seen while living here."

Henretty, who is majoring in international and global studies, arrived in September of last year and will wrap up her studies in June. In addition to her studies, Henretty also experienced different aspects of Japanese culture: attending the Hokkaido Snow Festival; collecting goshuin, referring to stamps given to visitors of Shinto and Buddhist temples; meeting geishas; and celebrating her coming of age in Japan, a tradition that celebrates individuals' 20th birthdays.

The experience opened her eyes to another culture and challenged her to be resourceful and adaptable.

"I'm really glad I got to study abroad, because I think this experience has fully changed who I am," she said. "I think it stretches yourself and makes you rely on yourself in ways you didn't expect."  

The experience has not only changed Henretty's perspective, it's also changed her career path. When she first arrived in Osaka, she had her sights set on working as a foreign consulate and living abroad after graduation. But her time in the country has opened her eyes to "so many new possibilities" to what she can do with her degrees, including the possibility of working for a nonprofit organization.

It's also made her appreciate home.

"I've spent the majority of my life thinking about everywhere else, to where I didn't realize how much I didn't appreciate even the small things at home," she said.

"Getting to go abroad allows you to question and learn about yourself in ways that you may not be questioned at your home," she added. "I fully believe this experience has not only renewed my excitement to finish my degree but also further ignited my wonder for what the future will bring."

More information on the Bridging Scholarship can be found on the U.S.–Japan Bridging Foundation website. For more information on study abroad opportunities at the U of A, visit the Study Abroad website.