Participating in this program gave me the opportunity to partake in traditional cultural activities that even many Japanese natives have never had the chance to do. I took a Japanese language course at Ritsumeikan University that covered Intermediate level conversation and reading comprehension, as well as a culture class that allowed us to interview Japanese locals of all ages to conduct surveys for topics related to Kyoto.

I was able to participate in field trips as part of the program. The field trips during the program were very enriching and gave me a deeper perspective on the culture. This included a pottery class with a famous potter, bento box preparation at a five-star restaurant, a taiko drumming lesson, and the chance to see a performance by geisha to name a few.

I tried my best to assimilate into the Japanese lifestyle while still visiting the major cultural sites. Between visiting local restaurants and museums, getting a haircut (in Japanese), attending a huge concert, visiting major shrines and temples, and meeting many Japanese locals along the way, I feel I got the most out of my trip.

None of this would have been possible without the Gilman Scholarship, though. I am grateful to be one of five recipients from FIU that summer to receive this competitive scholarship.

Takeaways