Connection

When I first passed my requirements for this program, worry struck that I might not get accepted since I didn’t really know how I fared against the others that also applied. Luckily I did get accepted – a reason why I’m writing this now – and I am grateful for it since I will be able to go to one of the places of my dreams at such an early age and meet new people from both my hometown and Japan. In my opinion, this program began when the DLSU delegates first mingled in a small conference room. Although I am really bad at socializing or even striking up conversation, just listening or joining in with conversations has already given me a feeling of connection with the students of this program. We all had our first impressions of each other through that activity though I think I can assume that we all still had a small mask from our shyness or we were ‘nagkakahiyaan’ because of meeting for the first time. From this small get-together, I gained a sense of how we would all be experiencing our trip as individuals and as a whole alongside our mentors and the Japanese delegates.

Besides the social aspect of this program, academics and technology are also among my thoughts before embarking on this journey. Japan is known for their academic and technological prowess; from androids to automated bathrooms, Japan does not fail to put a smile on my face for showing the world through the media how innovative their people are.

Once we land and I breath the first few whiffs of Japanese wind, I do hope that all of these thoughts won’t just dissipate into thin air and will carry on as fruits of the journey.

Fernweh

From the beginning, the NITAC Exchange Student Program has given me a sense of academic responsibility with the application process including a research paper, accomplishing them alongside other requirements, and the event duration just a few weeks before the start of school. Although it has played a role in my applying for the program, academics weren’t exactly at the top of my list of reasons for wanting to go to Japan.

I’ve always wanted to travel and Japan is one of the places that I dream of exploring. With the internet and media showing me all of these great things about Japan, it isn’t hard to imagine why I would want to go to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Films, especially anime, have given me all of these great shots of scenery in their country – cityscapes, rural landscapes, cultural shots. Taking a look at all of these beautiful shots set a light in me to go there and take my own shots of the wonderful places to see, in the city and anywhere we may be.

This program has opened up a lot of great curiosities for me and I have high hopes that the hosting country won’t disappoint in showing me what great wonders their land may bring.