As the school year comes to a close for most students of St. Paul Academy and Summit School, it is just beginning for sophomore Willa Grinsfelder who is spending the year studying abroad in Osaka Japan.

Grinsfelder left for Japan on Mar. 18 and will be spending the school year with a host family at a public school. Grinsfelder admits that though the experience has been fun so far, some things have taken getting used to. “Whenever I go out, I’m really the only white person on the street–and that’s never been the case before, and it’s weird,” Grinsfelder said. The school year has started for Grinsfelder, who is spending most of her time practicing with her school’s volleyball club and getting to know her host family. “The most fun I’ve had is joking around with my host family, and watching my host sister’s favorite boy band on TV,” she said. To see Willa’s photos and learn more about her life in Japan check out her blog. http://willaabroad.wordpress.com/