Name: Kalei-ann Lopez
Major: East Asian Studies
Program: Japan: Japanese theater and language
Traveled Abroad Before: No

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: When I think about my experience in Japan, the first thing that comes to mind is the people and their culture. Immersing myself in Japanese society was both different and fascinating, and I truly enjoyed it.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: I chose this location because I am currently studying Japanese as part of my East Asian Studies minor, and I felt that going to Japan would motivate me to use and improve what I�ve learned. Additionally, I had some credit requirements that needed to be fulfilled.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: One thing I found interesting was how often umbrellas are used. Whether it was raining or a bright sunny day, people were always carrying umbrellas. Another cultural difference I had to get used to was not walking and eating, as it�s considered rude. Something I absolutely loved was the ease of transportation and the affordable, delicious food you can find everywhere. There�s so much more I could mention, but I think these are the highlights that stand out the most.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: I would advise a student going on the same program to be prepared for rush hour, as you'll often be packed into a subway car with no room to move. It�s best to avoid those times or wait for a less crowded train. Another tip is that when shopping at grocery or convenience stores, you�ll need to ask or be asked if you want a bag, since plastic bags cost extra. Lastly, people may bump into you without apologizing, this is just a normal part of the culture and not meant to be rude.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: I would recommend that a student going on the same program bring an extra suitcase or duffel bag, as the amount of stuff you bring back tends to add up quickly. Another important tip is to save up money before going, while everything is generally affordable, there�s so much to see and do that it can quickly add up. Lastly, I�d suggest setting aside dedicated time to study and do homework, as it can be easy to get caught up in all the new experiences and forget about your responsibilities.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: My academic goal while studying abroad was to better my Japanese understanding and comprehension.

Question? Email Kalei-ann!

Name: Matthew Engbers
Major: Statistics
Program: Water In the West Program
Traveled Abroad Before: No

Q: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your study abroad experience?
A: The national parks that I was able to see and the people that I got to experience them with.

Q: Why did you choose this destination?
A: Being such a long way away I knew that traveling to the southwest in my 20's wasn't the most possible thing. After seeing this program though, this was a perfect experience to get some credit and take a trip that really intrigued me.

Q: What are some things that surprised you about the campus, the classes, the culture, customs or traditions?
A: While it was still in the United States and a lot of the social norms were the same, I noticed a larger amount of political stereotype division. Outside of cities, there seemed to be a lot of conservatives that would make comments about our group and the way we looked and acted, while being in cities there were a lot more people who most would categorize as liberal. There was obviously a large population of Mormons in Utah and that was a new experience since it doesn't exist much outside of there.

Q: What are some things you would like students to know about studying abroad in this destination or the program provider you studied with?
A: Be prepared to do everything. While a lot of times you're very tired, looking back I'm glad I never chose to miss any of the experiences. For instance, we had an option to see the sunrise at Bryce Canyon and even though the wakeup time was 4:00 AM it was still so worth it for the experience.

Q: What advice would you offer?
A: Make lots of friends and be prepared to drive A LOT. The driving was long, but it was always a great opportunity to catch up on some sleep or play car games with the amazing people that you meet.

Q: What was your academic goal while studying abroad?
A: Geology was always an interesting topic to me and honestly, I was just hoping to learn more about what it was. This trip allowed me to learn a plethora of things about geology and why things are the way they are. They also had us keep a journal as 'homework' and now being able to keep that I can look back at everything I learned and experienced so I'll never forget it!

Question? Email Matthew!