World Campus International Team in San Diego, California

Bob and Zac


During this past week, General Manager, Bob Sloat was in southern California for a day to work with WCI’s North American marketing partner, AsiaLearn at the campus of the University of California – San Diego. Bob and Zac Einerson, AsiaLearn’s Western United States Regional Director (left to right in photo) spent time on the beautiful campus talking with students and letting them know about the World Campus — Japan program options for Spring 2009. Positions are still open at this time so apply today by clicking here!

March 9th – 23rdGreater Osaka Area

March 26th – April 9thGreater Tokyo Area

April 12th – 26thGreater Nagasaki Area

Check out WCI’s New Brochure!

broschure title


After posting the recent website updates including new photos from all the classes and refocusing our written content, we are following these changes with a new version of the World Campus – Japan brochure. Below you will find two links, one is if you would like to email the brochure and the other is a larger file that can be used to print copies of it.

WCJ brochure for email

WCJ brochure for print

Thank you for telling people about the World Campus – Japan program!

Introducing AsiaLearn!

World Campus International is working with the North American-based marketing company, AsiaLearn as a partner to help get the word out about the World Campus — Japan program throughout Canada and the USA. They work with about 200 universities and attend around 400 study abroad events annually and are happy to let people know about our exciting short term programs in Japan. Each Regional Director has territories and contact information that you can find below. Please feel free to be in touch!

Ashley Borden
Western Canada
aborden@globalinksabroad.org
303-951-4042
Eric Anderson
AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY
eanderson@globalinksabroad.org
720-470-9872
Chad DuMond
Eastern Canada
cdumond@globalinksabroad.org
970-219-4100
Jeff Clifton
AR, IL, IN KY, MI, OH
jclifton@globalinksabroad.org
720-224-7461
Dan O’Brien
FL, MN, SC, VA, WI, WV
dobrien@globalinksabroad.org
540-989-0780
Lindsey Lauman
IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE, OK, SD
llauman@globalinksabroad.org
276-494-3112
Danielle Gentry
CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
dgentry@globalinksabroad.org
781-608-0688
Michael Creech
DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA
mcreech@globalinksabroad.org
720-261-2311
Elizabeth Adams
AL, GA, LA, MS, NC, TN, TX
eadams@globalinksabroad.org
910-232-4743
Zac Einerson
AK, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA
zeinerson@globalinksabroad.org
970-412-5564

Thinking about My Time in Japan This Past Summer

Amanda



WCI bridges people from around the globe to become part of the world community. Various activities were offered as part of the program curriculum. From living with host families, getting to know Japanese cultures to communicating with various people from other parts of the world. With that, people’s views change!

Over all, this program is not a normal program because a sense of becoming a family happened for most of us. It started from our first meeting at the Narita airport, where almost all members came from all over the world. When we introduced ourselves to each other, we all made an effort to not let language and other differences become an obstacle. In the first several days of the program, we stayed together in an accommodation, where we got to know each other before eventually meeting local Japanese community members.

During our first city in Ueda, it initially felt strange to live with families as foreigners. But in the long run we felt very lucky to be able to experience the direct interaction and welcoming spirit by the locals. During the theme activities of Food and Society, we were taught about how Japan processes the land and their resources to produce food. Other memorable activities included the Firefly Festival, interacting with pupils from a junior high school, where we played, joked and studied together and also the courtesy call to the mayor’s office. And definitely, the “Arigato Evento” could not be forgotten.

The second city, Tama, was the last city for the first session. Tama was the “Hello Kitty city”, with the presence of the Sanrio Puroland amusement park. There were plenty of contrasts between Ueda and Tama. Tama is part of the greater Tokyo metropolitan with various modern and sophisticated facilities. This city theme was Population and Society. We were taught about the development of this city in the past 60 years. Metropolitan tours were very impressive because we got to know so much about the younger generation and how it contrasts with the older generations with differences but also with respect. Host family day was also very special for us, where we experienced things all day long with our host families. I even got to visit Tokyo Disneyland, the place of my dream! We also met Kyoko Nathalia Takahashi, she was a person of Mexican-Japanese descent and it was truly wonderful to be able to meet her.

Out of all of the participants only, I, Lita and Jackie were to only stay for the first session. We all wanted to join the second session and stay with our newly met friends until the program ended. The idea of leaving was really very sad and touching.

The third city, Toride shi, had a Community Revitalization theme. It was the beginning of the second session, where we met the 4 new members before Lita and I had to leave. Truly a very pleasant matter! My short stay in Toride shi taught me a lot as well about Japanese culture such as kite instruction, Koto (Japanese zither), Shakuchi, Karate, Bon dance, Takoage, and Turushi, as well as the production method of sake!

After returning to Indonesia for a short time, I was quite fortunate to have the opportunity to once again feel the fresh Japanese air, the beauty of city scenery and the height of the skyscraper buildings. Yes, I once again returned to Japan to join my friends in the second session! It was a surprise to the group and I really startled everyone! Possibly I was mad, I did not have common sense, but I dared to come back and was so happy! The fourth city, Mito shi, is the city proud to be the home of the sticky, protein filled Japanese natto and also gave WCI insights about nuclear energy during a power plant visit as well about an international business at the Canon Company. Mito, was also the city that had the nearby beauty of the sea. We experienced the Hanabi festival, the fireworks festival to celebrate the summer season. Truly a beautiful experience!

Hiroshima was the last city in Summer’s 2008 trip to Japan. The city theme was Peace and Conflict. On August 6, 1945, this city had been attacked by an atomic bomb and was destroyed. However, with lots of support and hard work, now Hiroshima is now one of the biggest cities in Japan and is very much alive. And on August 6 each year, many Japanese people along with people from around the world recall the incident by holding a peace ceremony as well as a lantern festival in the spirit of remembrance and peace. Words could not describe the environment where everyone gathered with mutual promises to always maintain peace between individuals, families, ethnic groups and internationally.

The end started our separation and really inauguration ceremony to what is to come because we successfully undertook the WCI Summer 2008 program. There were so many feelings that spilled into one- happiness, sadness, relief, frustrations, love, and many others. WCI was not only a summer season program but became part of our family. The experience we lived was now a beautiful new community that was created by us together. Yes, we felt very sad because of being together for so many days but we had to go back to each of our homes and other realities. However one day we will definitely meet again as an intact family. Yes, we are already planning the reunion party!!!!

(Amanda Soeprobo, Indonesia)