My Maymester in Japan
Four Weeks That Brought Life-Changing Clarity
By Amanda Curtis ‘19
A one-and-a-half week crash course into Japan’s economic, diversity, and political history and modern issues. Hundreds of pages of reading every night. That was all we had before hopping on a 10-hour flight to Tokyo and dive deep into our independent field research.
For some students, those two weeks were their first and only exposure Japanese culture before being expected to conduct a research project. While a daunting task, there is no one more capable of teaching this than Professor Katada.
For me, however, this Maymester was a culmination of all the research and learning I have done throughout my educational career. I have always been fascinated by different societies and histories, particularly the rich culture of Japan. To be able to finally immerse myself in Japanese culture, while also pursuing my academic interests through my research, was a truly life-changing experience.
Looking back at those four weeks as I sit here writing this blog post, it is clear the impact this trip has had on me, personally and professionally. When conducting my research, which was about the social implications surrounding female video game players in Japan, I got to not only dive deep into my prospective industry, but learn how to tap into a passion that I’ve always had. People have long known that travel is good for the soul and for our personal development. This Maymester managed to combine that with academic growth, pushing me further than I thought possible. And from my conversations with my classmates, I know I am not the only one who has received this clarity.
While I can’t share this clarity through writing a short post, I can share some highlights on the adventures we had in Japan.
Kyoto
Before even beginning our field research, we traveled to Kyoto where we spent our first weekend in Japan. Filled with delicious food, stunning views, and majestic temples, Kyoto was a breath a fresh air I didn’t know I needed. From visiting shrines in mountains and walking along rivers, I realized how important being outside is to me.
Because of our adventures in Kyoto, I have already been making sure I spent more time in nature. After the Maymester ended, I spent additional time in Japan, exploring the beauty the country has to offer. I spent days hiking up mountains to see giant Buddhas and exploring forests located around Japan. Without our time in Kyoto, and without the USC students I was with, I wouldn’t have fully understood this about myself.
Hiroshima
On our second day in Kyoto, we hopped on a train (and then a long bus ride) to Hiroshima. Having studied WWII extensively in the past, I was already aware of the tragedies that the nuclear bomb caused here. As I sat on the bus ride, I anticipated the sorrow and gut-wrenching despair that this city’s monuments would hold. Instead, the air in Hiroshima was peaceful and almost serene.
When we visited the Hiroshima Dome, the ruins of a building destroyed in the blast, I was overwhelmed with the strange beauty that coated the area. Instead of being filled with anger and resentment, the city and people of Hiroshima honored the tragedy that occurred by instilling peace throughout the land.
Inside the museum, which featured a special exhibit on the children who suffered through the horrors and brutalities of the bomb, my heart broke as I tried to understand what the people of Hiroshima went through, and continue to go through to this day. I sat outside and a gentle breeze seemed to almost brush away my tears. It was in this moment I understood why I care so much about fostering cross-cultural communication. I am now more conscious of what my bigger picture is. I want to be able to approach the world with the same level of peace and desire for harmony that the people of Hiroshima embody.
The Meiji Students
In our free time (when we weren’t holed up in a cafe working on our research), we spent a lot of time traveling around Tokyo. While the sights were unbelievable, and everyone should visit if they are able, they weren’t what made Tokyo, and this whole trip, so memorable to me. It was the people.
For our research, each person or team was paired up with two or three Meiji University students. These students were in the midst of their midterm season and yet they volunteered to spend their free time helping us USC students work on our projects. But, they quickly became more than research partners.
We spent a weekend with the Meiji students at a retreat at Lake Yamanaka, near Mt. Fuji. Though some work was done, the days were filled with laughter and genuine joy. I roomed with two Meiji students, Honoka and Yui, who introduced me to traditional Japanese baths, taught me how to properly use a futon, and truly cared about me, even after knowing me for such a short period of time.
They helped me practice my Japanese while I gave them advice on their English for our presentations. And after the retreat at our farewell party, they gifted me with heartfelt letters about our time spent together. Tatsuya spent his one day off of class showing my friend Isabel and I around his favorite places in Tokyo. Max taught me interesting historical facts about the places we went and gave me a book to practice my kanji.
Without the Meiji students, this Maymester would not be as magical as it was. I have made friends for a lifetime. Most importantly, I have learned more about myself through them.
If you have the opportunity to travel, do it. Learn more about the world and the people who inhabit it. And while you might want to spend your time exploring the best sightseeing places, don’t forget to speak with and understand the people there. Because that is what makes a trip so life-changing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Curtis is a rising senior in the Iovine and Young Academy (B.S. of Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation) with a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures.
