Emily Eisenstein ‘19, JFOU Fellow

Opening the door to my Obirin Coop apartment was like stepping into a slightly malfunctioning time machine: here was my past life, laid out exactly as I had left it. My favorite mug sat on the table atop a coupon from Ozeki Restaurant. The book I’d been reading remained on the stool next to my bathtub, along with a half-used Lush bath bomb. Only one noticeable change was visible: mold, everywhere.

Leah Aki Wood ‘16, JFOU Fellow

My grandparents met on the train from Kyushu to Tokyo and started dating as they went to school here. I often go to a park called Inokashira Koen in Kichijoji, one of their date spots, and am thankful that there were no cellphones back in the day because if there had been, it’s likely neither of them would have looked up on the train, and therefore likely that my mother would never have been born.

Leah Aki Wood ‘16, JFOU Fellow

Another day I met a friend at Shibuya Station, another main station famous for its busy pedestrian crossing or “scramble” (it took about one hour and fifteen minutes, and this trip had a train transfer). I started taking koto lessons (a one hour trip, three transfers), taiko lessons (a two hour trip, three transfers), and seeing a therapist (a one and a half hour trip, three transfers). I felt like I was going crazy.

Jenny Xin Luan ‘18, Hiroshima Fellow

I have spent over 200 days at this desk at the UNITAR office overlooking the Atomic bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. There are only a few months left in my Fellowship to appreciate this view and spend time in this city.

Jenny Xin Luan ‘18, Hiroshima Fellow

Now, my 5-day working week entails one day at ANT and four days at UNITAR including one day for GLH work. As a part of the three-man GLH operation team, I am responsible for website maintenance and communication with our global partners and potential partners. Here is a picture I took for the closest Hibaku Jumoku to the A-bomb hypocenter, the weeping willow, in spring as it is full of life and the brightest shade of green on the river bank.

Franklin Sussman ‘17, JFOU Fellow

Though I live on my own and there are few instances to use this in interpersonal relationships, there are a number of shops, restaurants, or other establishments that I feel particularly indebted to in the way this phrase conveys. Without these places, my time in Japan would be more difficult, dull, and meaningless. Without some of them, I literally might not have been able to survive. So, I leave this as a tribute to the ten places I will miss the most. Thank you for taking care of me.

Franklin Sussman ‘17, JFOU Fellow

First and foremost, I am proud of the effort I have put into my personal engagement in the LGBT community in Tokyo and the rewards that have come from it. Since the end of last summer I have been volunteering in the Delivery Boys program at community center akta in Shinjuku Ni-chōme, the gay district of Tokyo.

Kayla Johnston-Mitchell ‘17, JFOU Fellow

Flexibility is one of those things you have to invest a lot of effort into, but also doesn’t take that much time. Ten to fifteen minutes a day isn’t much, but after a few months you’ll be splittin’ all over the place.

Kayla Johnston-Mitchell ‘17, JFOU Fellow

Unlike in English, Japanese “girl power” can be a no nonsense female C.E.O, or a stay at home mom; both embody different versions of their own form of “girl power.” One of my goals while in Japan is to become That Teacher. The teacher who looks good, whose students are comfortable and excited for class, and who’s name is somehow known by all the students in the department.

Annelise Giseburt ‘16, Hiroshima Fellow

I came to Hiroshima to learn its history. Perhaps, to a certain extent, I’ve accomplished that goal. But over the last year or so, I’ve become increasingly interested in the history I’m witnessing.

During that time, Hiroshima occasionally felt like the center of the world. At others, it felt insurmountably removed, and no amount of modern technology could bring me closer to a homeland going through, well, a lot.

Annelise Giseburt ‘16, Hiroshima Fellow

There was one main reason I wanted this Fellowship: to live in Hiroshima. The city instantly captivated me when, as a college third-year, I visited for two days with my study abroad group. Dusk was falling as our bus rolled across rivers into the city, and by the time my friends and I ventured out to try to find the multi-story building filled with okonomiyaki shops, Okonomimura (we only made it to a shop across the street from the Mura, thinking we’d arrived), it was totally dark.

Henry Aberle ‘16, JFOU Fellow

When I first came to Japan I was pretty confident, maybe even a little cocky. A year prior I had studied abroad in Tokyo at a prestigious school, joined an all-Japanese member club at said school, and overall become accustomed to what felt like “normal life” here. As a Shansi fellow I came to Japan with the unreasonable expectation that I would simply pick up where I left off and everything would be as it had been—want for nothing.

Henry Aberle ‘16, JFOU Fellow

The first time I come to Tokyo I am 19 years old and really scared. It’s about 4:30pm when I arrive at Narita Airport. I’m probably a really ugly, jet-lagged combination of excited and nervous as I make my way up to immigration, but before I know it I’m sitting on the Narita express with an unwieldy suitcase by my side.

Chris Nguyen ‘15, JFOU Fellow

During my Shansi fellowship, feeling accomplished was always tied to the balance between learning a new language to communicate and actually making connections with people. As early on as my study abroad experience in Tokyo three years ago, improving my language ability was one of the main ways in which I measured my own personal success.

Chris Nguyen ‘15, JFOU Fellow

As a first year Shansi fellow in Japan, I realized early on that I have been experiencing two major transitions in my own life: going from student life to working life, and starting my post-­‐graduation life outside of my home country.

Chul Kim ‘15, JFOU Fellow

Job hunting in Japan these past few months has been an unexpected chance at introspection and contemplation. Looking back on my past 1.5 years in Japan, I grow increasingly fonder of the many memories I’ve made as a Shansi fellow.

Chul Kim ‘15, JFOU Fellow

I was always confident in my ability to study in the classroom, and unfortunately believed that my Japanese ability would translate easily to the real world. However, I soon learned that I underestimated the determination and courage it took to shift from textbooks to real-life applications. I’ve had a lot of embarrassing interactions with native Japanese speakers, ranging from a normal exchange with a store clerk to conversations with new friends.

Ariel Powell ‘14, JFOU Fellow

Recently I finished listening to a book titled A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. In this book, Tolle explores how one’s ego can negatively affect their life and ways to take power away from the ego. One phrase that stood out to me was, “this too shall pass”.

Ariel Powell ‘14, JFOU Fellow

During my break from J.F. Oberlin, I did some traveling. First I went to India with my Japan co-fellow and then I popped in to America for a secret visit home. And throughout all that traveling I realized something(s) about myself that I’m not sure have fully come to the surface yet.

Cassie Guevara ‘13, JFOU Fellow

On Monday evening of June 22, I gave a 47-minute English lecture to students, faculty, and community members at Obirin. My topic was a timely one; this year marks 70 years since the end of World War II, so I chose to present on wartime Japanese-American internment in the United States.

Cassie Guevara ‘13, JFOU Fellow

Although I have been interested for years in Eisaa, Okinawan taiko and dance, I never thought I would find a student performance group at my own Obirin University. Luckily for me, I was welcomed and accepted wholeheartedly.

Anabel Hirano ‘13, JFOU Fellow

Actually, I wouldn’t say my experience in Japan has been “exquisite.” “Fulfilling,” “challenging,” “eye-opening,” maybe. But, Exquisite Corpse is an incredible game. You can play it with any number of people, but the magic number is 3.

Anabel Hirano ‘13 & Lisette Lorenz ‘12 , JFOU Fellows

In the fall of 2013, the Japan fellows founded a club called “Great Language Engagement in English,” or “GLEE.” GLEE’s main purpose is to provide an alternative venue in which English language students can develop their language skills outside of the classroom.