Category Archives: Our participants

Arao City, City Life, Hiroshima City, Kumamoto City, Our participants

Good Bye Session 1 2010

Good Bye Session 1

Before I start, I would like to say that for World Campus – Japan, starting on June 5th was something knew we want to implement from now on, that way our participants can go back home to summer jobs after having a few weeks in Japan. With that said, since it was the first time we were starting early this summer, only a few people got the opportunity to come. 5 People, 5 of the most different personalities and backgrounds I’ve ever seen.

Lu, from New Jersey with Chinese background; Yoli, Mexican-American; Kyle, tall, white, blue eyed American guy; Daniel from Luxemburg who was born in Switzerland and Ming, American with Chinese, African-American and Native American background. In Session One of World Campus – Japan 2010, we shared a lot of experiences and built up a lot of memories together like, ringing the biggest bell in the World in the City of Arao, Visiting Jikei Hospital and Kumamoto Castle in the City of Kumamoto and talking to a survivor from the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb in the City of Hiroshima.

Thanks to everyone who made Session #1 possible. For you, readers out there, please keep visiting the blog to read the stories of Session #2 in Nagasaki with the visit to the peace museum and the talk with a survivor from the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb and Uda (Nara Prefecture) with the visit to Big Budda in the City of Nara.

City Life, City Theme Activities, Kumamoto City, Our participants

Feeling the history around us

Kyle Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle was one of our first “authentic” Japanese experiences. It was our first chance to see a history much older than the opportunities available in America. We were standing, exploring and talking in a building older than anything in my home country. Although it sounds Cliché, I couldn’t help but feel that if walls could talk, this castle would teach me things I couldn’t even imagine or comprehend. The experience went past the artifacts we looked at, or the history we read. From the moment you entered the castle, you could FEEL the history around you. It was so much more than the feeling you got from a field trip, or a sightseeing trip. It was an opportunity to feel history.

After the castle a group of us decided to continue our tradition seeking adventure with…KARAOKE!!!!! Although they have Karaoke in the United States, it is nothing like the Japanese experience. Although we only had an hour (30 min. which of was spent on Lady Gaga?…) we sang, we laughed, and we had a few drinks. A true Karaoke experience in my opinion!

Karaoke experience was a perfect warm-up for dinner. LOC Members, World Campus – Japan Members, and even our Udon Sensei joined us for the evening. We found a nice dinner location in the center of town. I began the dinner with confidence, but was quickly impressed by Miki, who ‘Kanpai-ed’ me under the table! There was lots of laughter, and too much fun, but the best part was the ease in which people who from different countries, and backgrounds communicated.

The personal day in Kumamoto, was anything but. It quickly became about the group, and learning about one another. Instead of worrying about your own good time, it focused on enjoying the company of others. This night in Kumamoto, I will never forget.

(Kyle McElroy from USA)

Arao City, City Life, Our participants

First night down, many more to go!

Lu and Kyle

Lu and Kyle were part of a very excited group of people that had the opportunity to meet the night of June 5th at the Manda Mine Museum in Arao, Japan. Host families were nervous but excited to bring home a new daughter or son, and finally the work the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) has been doing for a long time, is paying off, as you can all see on the picture above.

Host families can be very diverse, sometimes we go from having just a single mom to having a young family with two babies and a pet. It makes us understand who they are and their very own family culture. Thanks for hosting us and making us feel part of the family.

Our first night was now done, many more are coming our way and the excitement keeps growing as the time passes by. We’ll keep sharing our experiences with all of you readers. Stay tuned!

Arao City, Our participants

Summer 2010 staff members are ready, are you ready?

Staff Training in Arao

After hours and hours of traveling from our home countries and cities, we finally made it to Arao, Japan. Tired? Yes. Jet lagged? Yes, Excited? Yes.
We spent a good amount of time getting ready and prepping everything for your amazing tour. All we need now is for all of you participants to get here so we can let the adventure begin.
Get excited, get packed… We are waiting for you. Are you ready?

Yui, Jake, Bertha, Hiro, Hideto and Celi,
Your staff members.

Our participants

Meet Yui Mihara from Japan in Summer 2010!

Yui Mihara

Konnichiwa!

My name is Yui Mihara and I’m the Assistant General Manager for the 2010 summer program. I will work closely to other managers to assist their areas, assisting logistics and will be the interpreter on the road. I come from Osaka, Japan where I was born and grew up.

This is my 1st time to work for WCI and I’m so thrilled to meet all new people, share the experience and discover my own country. I know that I will learn a lot about my own culture from the people we’ll meet, places we’ll visit and I’m very excited for the new challenges I will face.

I’ve been enjoying nothing better than working in an international environment for last 9 years; international school in Osaka for 6 years where I was responsible for operating several programs, admission, accounting and being a mediater between teachers and parents. I left home in 2007 to work for another organization called Up With People where I taught dance and coordinated a production with international group of people and had an opportunity to travel various countries for several years.

I love traveling, dance and movies. Meeting and working with people has always been and will always be something I pursue in my life. I enjoy getting inspired from people and having an impact on each other.

I can’t wait to meet each of you and get to know the individuals this summer. If you are still looking for something to delight your life, join this adventure with us!

(Yui Mihara – Assistant General Manager in the Summer ‘10 Road Team)