Author: Veronica Ivester | Major: History | Semester: Summer 2024

Exploring the lively streets and narrow alleyways of Kyoto

This past May I had the incredible opportunity to spend two weeks studying abroad in Japan with the Honors Passport program. Determined to study abroad as soon as I possibly could, I decided that summer
after freshman year would be ideal, and I was drawn to this particular program for a number of reasons. The Honors College visits a different place in the world each year through the Honors Passport program, meaning each destination is unique; Japan is not a very common study abroad destination, so this program made studying in Japan readily accessible to me, an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up. Having never been abroad before, I was also excited to be led by two faculty members who are experts in their fields— Doctor Kelly Hammond, professor of Asian history, and Doctor Kim Sexton, professor of architecture—who could provide us with important contexts at every site we saw. From walking through meticulously designed gardens to watching the Sumo wrestling championship, I gained countless unforgettable experiences that have opened my mind to perspectives far beyond my own. One of my favorites of these experiences was the time we spent in Koyasan, the mountain town where Shingon Buddhism was founded in Japan and taught by the monk Kūkai. We explored the beautiful Garan temple complex, designed to perfectly incorporate the buildings into the surrounding nature. The experience was incredibly immersive as we stayed the night at Kongo Sammai-in Temple on traditional futons on tatami mat flooring. We were able to attend the monks’ early morning prayers.An experience I’ll never forget. Our learning and study in this program were primarily through exposure, participation, and immersion, which was perfectly suited to my learning style. Another impactful experience I had was our visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which memorializes the victims of the atomic bomb during World War. Before entering the museum, we all sat and listened to fellow student Hallie Stiff give a presentation on the dropping of the bomb itself as well as the history of the museum. The main component of our grade for the program was that we each gave a 15-20 minute presentation to our group at the site we were presenting about. She explained that the museum focuses on the devastating experiences lived through the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima and discussed the initial pushback against the museum for not addressing the atrocities Japan committed during the war, particularly against China. As I was listening, I realized I had learned very little about the Pacific Theater of World War II in any of my classes; the focus was always centered around Europe and the United States’ involvement in the war. My mind was opened to all of this history that I had never been exposed to before simply because it did not immediately involve the U.S. and I now plan to take Doctor Hammond’s class on World War II in the Pacific to better my understanding. As a history major this was very impactful to me as I now have an even greater drive to uncover perspectives and contexts beyond what I think I already understand. Despite this criticism of the museum’s focus, however, the museum itself is incredibly moving, and its message against the utter devastation brought by total war is powerful and so important.

Outside of our daily schedule, I got to make some of the coolest memories while exploring during free time, especially in Kyoto. While wandering the streets, we would happen upon a shrine or temple that, a few steps in, felt completely separate from the bustling urban landscape, serene and secluded. I got to see multiple street performers in Kyoto; one that especially stood out to me was a talented beatboxer who worked rhythmic English “thank you” into his performance after we tipped him. We stumbled upon a professional marching band marching through the street— a performance especially awesome and surreal as a former high school drum major— that felt so unique yet so familiar to the marching music I’ve performed and watched back home. But the coolest encounter was getting to meet and become good friends with a woman from Germany. While walking back from our lunch break one day, some of us had a little conversation in English with someone who was walking in the same direction as us. She said her name was Dara and that she was visiting from Germany. We exchanged contact information and ended up meeting up for dinner multiple times, over which we got to learn from each other what life was like in our respective countries, comparing laws, school systems, and understandings of the world, while also simply getting to know each other and become good friends. It was simply incredible.

Studying abroad was a surreal, eye opening, simply amazing experience that I am so grateful for—something I wouldn’t have even considered possible for a freshman without the support of the Honors College. It is absolutely my favorite college experience thus far, and I look forward to doing it again!