Category Archives: Tama City

A Reflection on World Campus International Summer 2009 Tour!

September 18, 2009 Thomas Greve

Ray from America and Ashwin from Holland

Okay, wow. First of all, traveling with World Campus International this summer was my first trip outside of Europe and my first trip alone for more than 2 weeks. At first I was a little bit scared. Who will I meet and what will the program be like? Of course I read a lot about the program on the website, but still I could only create an image, which might be different from the real thing… and it was different. All the people I met there were so friendly and open! I am now back in my country called Holland and only now I realize what kind of people I met there and how they changed my whole lifestyle and way of thinking.

I completed all three programs of World Campus International this summer. I visited 6 different cities, lived with 7 different host families and each stay was an experience on its own. I met friends in Japan with the same interests as me, friends with the same passion, friends with a different way of thinking and friends with other customs. I never thought I would meet such a variety of people! Even when I met more than one person from one country, none of them had the same personality or interests. That was the beautiful part of the diversity I encountered. For me, I did not just meet people from Taiwan, Norway, China or Japan; no, I met people who became good friends. I never ever thought that I would get so close to the people I met in the World Campus – Japan program.

The life in Japan I lived was so different from the life I lead in Holland. Not only because it took place in Japan, but also because I was immersed in the World Campus – Japan life. At times we had a busy schedule and I was tired from the program, but it was all worth it. The things I have seen and experienced, shaped my imagination and helped me form opinions on matters like education, international relations and the role of media within the society. Also, my thoughts on different food, customs and languages. Personally, it was weird to speak English every day, but the more I talked with my friends, the more I became accustomed to it. Not only did I learn English, I picked up a little Japanese, Chinese, some Korean and even some New Jersey slang.

I have gained so much. Now, I am sitting in my chair in my house in Holland looking at pictures and videos from the program, reliving the moments. I am trying to reflect on the whole program, but I am still in Japan with my thoughts. I cannot reflect on my experiences if I am still there, can I? When I look at all the pictures and videos, I have come to realize that the time in Japan, which I enjoyed to the fullest, is over.

It might seem sad that the end of the program came. But, it is not the end of World Campus (cliché, but true). I am staying in contact with my new friends on Facebook and mail (people who are reading this and have no Facebook; get Faaaaaaaaaaacebooooooooook!) and I talk to them about everything and nothing as if we were never separated from each other. I think making connections with new people is the focus of World Campus International. Because, truthfully, the program would never have turned out the way it did without the people who were participated.

Thank you for this wonderful time and experience. See you soon!

(Ashwin Ramjiawan, Holland)

City Life, Omura City, Tama City, Video

Looking Back – Summer 2009 Program 1

September 16, 2009 Thomas Greve 2 Comments

WCI summer 2009 program 1 video

Videolink

Now that the 2009 summer tour is over and the blog posts are at an end, it is time to take one more look at each of our programs. We start with program 1, July 5 – July 22 in Omura and Tama. It was an intense and emotional program. We spent some time with a survivor of the atomic attack on Nagasaki, we took a day in each city to explore Japan’s education system, we were able to get to know some Japanese college students, and we saw, first hand some of the martial arts secrets of Sorinji. While everyone who was involved with World Campus International will have their own favorite moment, mine came when we visited a school for physically and mentally handicapped students. I was inspired and amazed at the strength of the students and faculty members. Take a look for yourself. This highlight video of summer 2009 program 1 will give everyone a taste of what World Campus – Japan does during our tours.

(Jay Kinsel, Production Manager)

City Life, Tama City

Summer 2009 Arigato Evento in Tama!

July 24, 2009 Thomas Greve

Program One ended perfectly with a superb Arigato Evento! Attended by Tama VIPs, host families, and the local organizing committee, the event connected each person that has touched us during our short stay in Tama and celebrated all the happy memories we have created. When saying good-bye to eight of our members (David from Austria, Hasiyna from USA, Yulin from Taiwan, Matt from Canada, Xury and Kun from China, Rie from Japan, and Torsten from Denmark), we could not help but feel sadness as the program comes to an end for several members. In just a couple of weeks, our group built strong relationships and felt unity.

Now, although we will be separated from the close friends, we have also gained new ‘kizuna’. Let’s persist with such energy as the summer tour continues!

City Life, Tama City

Crazy Day in Akihabara

July 23, 2009 Thomas Greve 1 Comment

For the Tokyo Metropolitan tour, among many different choices, I decided to go to Ueno and Akihabara, the street of “otaku”. After a walk in Ueno Park, where we saw a Japanese person in a Scottish kilt playing a Chinese game, our stomachs needed food. So we went for lunch at a spaghetti restaurant! Japanese spaghetti is not the same as the Italian one, but I have to confess, it was not so bad!

After lunch, we went to Akihabara, where we discovered a crazy world created by manga addicts, cosplayers and cute maids. All of us wanted a picture with a sweet maid who was selling sweets, but she would not agree to unless one of us bought something. So then, one of the Chuo University students who came with us bought dorayaki for everybody and the maid cast a spell on them…kawaiiiii! Lastly, we enjoyed the Akihabara atmosphere by walking in the crowded street, going into manga and anime shops, trying cosplay costumes and visiting a nine floor shop of electronic goods… But the most important thing is that I really had a lot of fun with my new friends!! Thank you guys 🙂

(Adriana Sanzone, Italy)

City Life, Our participants, Tama City

Personal Day in Tokyo!

July 22, 2009 Thomas Greve

More fun stuff from the tour!　

Every day is packed full of fun programs during the tour. But other than those programs, we have a personal day that we arrange by ourselves and get the opportunity to enjoy the city on our own. Even though I’m Japanese, there are still many places where I haven’t been to in my country.

In Tama city, I took this opportunity to have a small trip to Tsukiji, Shimokitazawa, and Roppongi with Janice, who is from the U.S. In the very warm sun, we had a lot of fun looking around stores in Tsukiji, trying to eat many different things, taking pictures, and especially we relished the awesome Salmon roe bowl.

The unplanned personal day can be fun and at the same time cause problems. Our mistake was that we bought a round trip ticket from the nearest station to central Tokyo and the free pass ticket of Tokyo Metro. The problem was, Tokyo Metro doesn’t go to Shimokitazawa from Tsukiji. Instead, it could take us only to Yoyogi-uehara, so we had to take a long walk from Yoyogi-uehara to Shimokitazwa. An employee at the station told us that it would take about 20 minutes, but it took much more than that, an hour! In addition, when we thought we had finally arrived at Shimokitazawa, we realized we had passed Shimokitazawa and actually arrived at the next station. We had to pay for another train ticket BACK to Shimokitazawa station which was the same amount that we paid for two GariGari-kuns while we were walking. But it was a good memory anyway. We had fun in doing window shopping in Shimokitazawa.

After that, we headed to Roppongi. Then we got together with Yuki Yoshida, who used to be on staff with the 3rd tour of World Campus – Japan. Reunion with former staff and participants in the city is also fun during the tour. We ate together and spent a good time with them talking about the old days and this program.

Personal day is only one day each tour city and despite it being an off day, it can be more tiring than daily programs. But, it is perfect for refreshing my feelings. I feel like I will make my days worthwhile and fun with the members of WCI and people in Tama city again starting tomorrow.

(Rie Hayase, Japan)

World Campus International Blog