My Maymester in Japan

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.