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JAPAN
- Sasha Juliard - sashajuliard@yahoo.com
Name of Program/University: Kumamoto Gakuen University
Years Spent Abroad: Fall 2007 and Spring 2008
Comments: "It was a great experience and I am very glad I did it. It was my first time to really experience Asia and it has left me wanting to taste more, literally and figuratively. The food and people made it an amazing time even though the weather wasn't always agreeable. I would defiantly recommend it for people wanting to explore something with a larger degree of difference between the US and Europe or Australia."
Two ninjas, err Montana students, in an epic dual in the Mountains
Enjoying the water and the weather, well maybe not the Australian Rory(on the Right)
Name of Program/University: Kumamoto Gakuen University
Years Spent Abroad: Fall 07 Spring 08
Comments: "Japan was amazing. It was such a different culture than in America, that it gives you an insight to the growing global community. You meet so many different people from all over the globe, and you make life-long friendships that you will never forget. Japanese itself is really hard, but when you come back it is like a secret code and a bond that you could never loose."
Wearing the traditional formal wear of Japan
A parade down the shopping district of Kumamoto
Name of Program/University: Kumamoto Gakuen University
Years Spent Abroad: Spring 2008
Major: Graphic Design
Comments: "I really enjoyed my short trip to Japan more than I would have ever dreamed. I only was able to do a semester due to my class schedule back here at MSU but I would have loved to stay a full year. People I met I became quick friends with and towards the end we were just becoming really close friends. Definitely my favorite part was meeting very interesting cool people that were always helpful and gracious. I hope to keep them as friends for life. Learning the language was much harder than I imagined but I loved the daily challenge of practicing and learning everyday. Living at the dorm with people from seven different countries was a very cool experience. Everyday eating food from a different country's cuisine, hearing about different countries politics, and experiencing each students pop culture through music, movies and clothes. I still look the students that are still studying at my university in Japan and dream of going back someday."
Me, in the white cowboy hat, enjoying a mexican meal with friends in downtown Kumamoto
We had a trip up to the mountains to have a fun Barbeque. Loads of fun even though it rained.
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Samuel Jensen - samsterjens@hotmail.com
Name of Program/University: Kumamoto Gakuen University
Years Spent Abroad: Fall 2007 and Spring 2008
Major: Agricultural Operations Technology, International Economics
Favorite Memory: "Making new friends and the sometimes random experiences I had with them are the most precious memories I have of Japan. I was fortunate enought to make many friends who were willing to drive us to the ocean, climb mountains with us, bring us to their houses, feed us and always teach us more about the language. As far as places go, Hiroshima was one of the most amazing places I went to while I was in Japan. It was so interesting and humbling to learn about the Atomic Bomb and what was going on in Japan during WWII.
Comments: "Kumamoto Gakuen University is an amazing place to learn about other cultures as well as make friends from all over Asia. In the dorms I lived with Koreans, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese. Almost everyone is friendly and outgoing, and they will always help you with whatever you need at the International Office. If you travel through Japan I would strongly recommend that you go to Hiroshima and if possible Nagasaki as well. They are beautiful places that are very tourist friendly. Also, one semester is not enough time to really get to know people and the culture. The second semester is always way more fun than the first.
On the walls near Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle and a Cherry Blossom tree
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