East Mississippian discovers a new world in Japan

Apr. 20—It is often said the best way to learn a foreign language is to visit the country where the language is spoken, and east Mississippi native Jayden Williams is discovering this is true.

Williams, who is majoring in modern languages at Clemson University, is currently studying abroad in Nagasaki, where she is immersing herself in the language and culture of all things Japanese.

"My goal is language fluency, and immersing myself in it was the only way that I could think of to actually get good. I was getting frustrated back in the States 'cause I felt like I was at a wall and I couldn't get past that wall," Williams said. "Just by being here, I've improved leaps and bounds."

Williams, 19, grew up outside of Causeyville in northern Clarke County, even though she calls Meridian home.

As a little girl, studying in another country never crossed her mind.

"Thinking back on little me, I just wanted to ride horses and settle down on a farm with a boy and just have a simple life," she said. "And then something changed. I don't know what, and I was like, 'I have to see the world; I have to get outta here.'"

Williams dates her dream of studying abroad back to summer 2019 after she met a group of exchange students in downtown Meridian. The group was taking photos in front of the colorful mural outside of Meridian Underground Music, which is owned by her dad, Wayne Williams.

"They saw the building, the painting of the mural lady, and were taking pictures, and my dad saw them and you know how you can tell whenever people aren't from around here," she said, laughing. "He went and talked to them and then he found out they're all exchange students ... and he learned that some of them were Japanese, and I had like a very budding interest in Japanese things."

So, her dad called her to come and meet the group of students. Some were from Japan and others from China, France and Germany. Williams hit it off with the students, and they began following each other on social media. Her family also invited the students, who were studying at the University of West Alabama nearby, for visits.

"We kept in contact, and we saw them almost every other weekend and we would drive to Livingston. It was mainly the Japanese students we got close with," she said.

The following spring, after the Covid-19 pandemic hit and UWA shutdown, two of the girls were unable to secure flights back to Japan until early April.

"They didn't have anywhere to go ... and so we were like just come stay with us and we'll keep you for as long as you need until you're able to get flights back home," she said. "And that's exactly what we did."

Getting to know the Japanese students, staying in contact with them, learning about their culture and picking up bits and pieces of their language over the years all set Williams on her present path in college.

"Oh, 100%," she said of their influence on her major. "I don't think I realized that that was an option, like a career path ... you grow up and you're like, 'oh I'm gonna learn a language' and then you learn the colors and the numbers and then you stop and you never learn anything else.... But after they left, I was just thinking, I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but I have to get there."

A homeschool student, Williams was able to complete her high school studies early. Still too young to take the GED, she got a job instead and worked, saving her money to study abroad.

In August 2022, she enrolled at Meridian Community College, where she went all out to achieve her dream. She doubled up on classes, taking some short-term ones during breaks. A member of the Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College, she also held a part-time job. With more than 60 college hours, she graduated in May 2023 with her associate degree and was named one of MCC's Circle of Excellence honorees.

Last fall, she enrolled at Clemson University, where she is working on her bachelor's degree in modern languages with a focus on Japanese. She hopes to one day work in education, travel or for the government.

Williams was accepted into the USAC study abroad program this semester and is studying at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies. She arrived in Japan in late March and will return to the States next February, having completed two college semesters. While in Japan, she is paired with a native-speaking student who is helping her to grasp the language more easily.

After first arriving in Tokyo, she re-connected with the two Japanese students they gave shelter to at the beginning of the pandemic. Then she made her way to Nagasaki, set on a large natural harbor on the northwest coast of the island of Kyushu. Nagasaki was one of the two Japanese cities devastated by atomic bombs in during World War II.

"Nagasaki is actually really similar to Mississippi," Williams said, "just add mountains."

Otherwise, everything from the climate to the humidity to the rural feeling to the weather not being able to make up its mind reminds her of Mississippi.

In seeing the city, she has visited the Nagasaki Peace Park, which is located next to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial Hall near the hypocenter of the explosion.

"It's very heavy, but it is something that I think anyone, any American especially, but anyone who comes to the city needs to go to the memorials, go to the Peace Park and absolutely go to the museum," Williams said.

While a very emotional experience, she said the museum was also a very beautiful and moving experience.

"They did a wonderful job with the museum," she said. "Everything here, it's not negative. Everyone and everything is just like, 'yes, this is a horrific tragedy, and yes, it happened, but let us be the last people it ever happens to. Let there be peace from here on. Let this be a lesson.'"

Although she spends a great deal of time studying, William also has had time for sightseeing, visiting Mount Unzen, an active volcano, and Shimabara Castle and its nearby samurai district. Walking back from the NUFS Entrance Ceremony, she and her friends came across random stairs in the park. Walking up, they discovered a field of cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

"It was just gorgeous," she said of the breathtaking experience.

"People have been super helpful," she said of Japanese society. "Even with the language barrier, they appreciate that I'm trying to speak Japanese even though it's not grammatically correct. It's very, very broken. They really appreciate just the effort, honestly."

Contact Glenda Sanders at gsanders@themeridianstar.com.