Hey there!,

My name is Jurriën. Most people call me Jur. This year (2011) will be the first time that I’ll be participating in the World Campus Japan summer program. I’m from the Netherlands and am currenly living in the beautiful city, Leiden. I’m originally from the south of the Netherlands, but I moved to Leiden to study. I’m currently a 1st year student studying japanse culture and language. This is also the reason I’m participating in the project. It gives me a good opportunity to see Japan with a non-tourist perspective.

Other than japanese language and culture, I’m also really interested in other cultures and languages from all over the world. It would be great to meet a lot of people with different ways of thiking and get to know them. Sharing the experiences we had in our own countries and getting to know japan together.

Really looking forward to meeting everyone!,

Jur

Hi everybody!

My name is Joakim Gåsøy, and I will be one of the participants of World Campus Japan tour this year. I am 18 years old and I come from Norway. Currently I have only one more year at school before the university, where I want to study mathematics.

The first time I came in contact with japanese culture was when i found a manga book at a train about 8 years ago. Since then, my interest for Japan has just been growing, and it never ceased to surprise. WCI have given me the opportunity, not only to experience Japan from the inside, but also to meet people from all over the world. I am very pleased that I am given this opportunity, and I cant wait for it to start.

I believe that this experience will be importiant to me as a person, and hopefully for you too!

-Joakim

Jay Kinsel comes from Texas in the USA. This summer will mark his third year as World Campus International’s Production Manager. He has been a part of the last 15 WCI sessions.

Outside of World Campus International, Jay Kinsel still works hard theatrically. He is the Technical Director for The Studio School in Thornton, CO and spends a lot of time working on various projects. Most notably, he had his Off-Broadway, New York directorial debut in February with “The Ruin”.

He has a passion for travel and learning and honestly believes that the world can be changed.

Jay Kinsel is honored to be asked back to work with WCI at a time when we are so clearly needed.

こんにちは！

僕の名前はアルバロですが、アルフ、アルフィー、アルビなど何でも思いつくまま呼んでください。僕はオランダのライデン大学の2年生で日本語や日本文化を学んでいます。僕はスペイン人ですが、オランダで生まれほとんどオランダで育ちました。ほんの何年かはスペインにいました。

日本に対しての興味は13歳さのころから始まり、それ以来どんどん膨らみ勉強するまでになりました。大学（もしくは自分自身）で日本について学ぶのは楽しいですが、十分に本来の日本についてを学ぶことができないという問題があります。これが理由で僕はこの夏、ワールドキャンパスに参加することを決めました。

自分が日本語や日本文化の中に浸れるだけでなく、人々とも接することができるのは素晴らしい機会だと思います。もちろん、勉強面だけの理由でこのプログラムに参加するのではありません。このプログラムでは日本人だけでなく世界のいろんな国からの人たちと出会え、自分の境界線から抜け出せるチャンスがあります。そして食べる事が大好きなのも理由に入ります。ジョークはさておき、このプログラムで最高の経験をしたいと願っています。この夏にみんなに会うのが待ちきれません！

Hello everybody!

My name is Rianne de Rijke and I’m 24 years old. I live in Rotterdam in The Netherlands and I’m studying Japanese language and culture at Leiden University.

This year will be my second time travelling to Japan and also my second year with World Campus – Japan program. I will participate in the session 1, so I will be going to Omura in Nagasaki and Omuta in Fukuoka.

Last year I had loads of fun meeting new people from all over the world and staying with my host families. I also learned a lot about Japan and about other countries. What I enjoyed the most was doing the Thank You event with everyone and going to local schools to play with the children and learn about education in Japan.

For this year, I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. I also hope to have as much fun as I did last year and to learn even more, especially about the education system, since I hope to be a teacher some day.

See you in Japan!

With love,

Rianne