Author: PHERNANDEZ

Having the privilege to experience another country and culture for four months has given me much perspective and opportunity to grow as an individual. Our semester started earlier than that of the Japanese students, so we had an easeful transition into our new daily routines. Once the Japanese students began their semester on campus, I…

Interactions in Japan have deemed themselves to be quite interesting, in my opinion, the longer I have experienced life here. From customer service to the various methods of interactions with different social groups, the Japanese customs of formality and respect run deep. In Japan, there exists the concepts of honne and tatemae, which essentially describe…

It feels a bit surreal to say, “I am leaving, in less than a week, to live in Japan for four months.” A myriad of coincidences and life events have brought me to realize this expedition has been an unconscious dream of mine, now turned into a conscious reality. I say this to remind you,…