Name: Robert Wu ’20
Major: Business Administration with a management concentration
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Experience: Wu earned a $7,000 to support studying abroad for a year at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. The competitive grant was awarded by the Hawaii-based Freeman Foundation, which seeks to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cultural understanding between the United States and countries of East Asia.
His year also is made possible through , an Earlham College-based program that links member colleges of the Great Lakes Colleges Association (including Ohio Wesleyan) and the Associated Colleges of the Midwest with Waseda. The Japan Study experience includes “cultural” internship, retreats and homestay.
“Besides coursework at Waseda University, I will be doing a homestay with a Japanese family in Tokyo. The homestay is a valuable resource that will help me to improve my Japanese language skills and make quality connections. It will also help with my ability to adapt in Japan and enjoy my study abroad experience to the fullest.
“I will also complete a cultural internship while in Japan. I was placed to intern at a Buddhist Monastery for a month during my winter break (in February). This internship will allow me to immerse into the cultural and religious part of Japan. I will be working alongside the other monks, waking up 3:30 a.m., (completing) long silent meditations, and eating only vegetarian meals.”
“My favorite moment so far in Japan was bathing in the night lights, loud noises, various intriguing vibes on the streets of Shibuya.”
“I wanted to spend a year in Japan because I felt that it was the perfect time to go abroad and learn and do various things that can be done only in Japan.
“While studying abroad, I will learn a new culture, create new memories and experiences, and enhance my Japanese fluency.
“Since I was a kid, I have always wanted to go to Japan, especially Tokyo, and this program and school are located in the heart of Japan.”
“I chose ³Ô¹ÏÍø as my undergraduate because OWU has the business major that I wanted. … Small liberal arts college, scholarships, change of scenery from the big city of Los Angeles, traveling opportunity, career services, and opportunity to be on the other side of the country were the reasons why ³Ô¹ÏÍø was the chosen school.”
“My plans after graduation are still up in the air, but I think there are two paths that I will take: continue my education in graduate school or jump right into the workforce and start working up the job ladder in a firm. The firm can either be in Japan or in the United States.”