The moment SJMC Japan students had all been waiting for had finally arrived. The highly anticipated 17-hour journey to Tokyo came with challenges, excitement and a moment of drama. The experience marked the start of their international academic program in Japan.
The faculty-led flight to Arizona was smooth; many of the students enjoyed snacking on the Lotus Biscoff while on board. The group landed in Los Angeles where things took a sudden turn.
Upon landing, our plane was delayed because another plane with a minor maintenance problem was stuck at our gate. So, even though our flight arrived about 20 minutes ahead of schedule, we ended up with less time to make our connecting flight to Tokyo.
A wave of fear struck the students as some dreaded they would miss their next flight. Luckily, arriving at Terminal 4 was closest to the international terminal. However, LAX airport was massive, and with little time to waste, the group speed-walked through eagerly and determinedly. Along the way, a American Airlines adviser noticed the group and advised the students and faculty to pick up the pace.
PR junior Kendall Casanova coined the run as “The LAX Marathon.”
“They were literally telling me to slow down,” Casanova said. “Then a guy was like ‘Are y’all on Tokyo?’ and I said ‘Yes’ and he was like, ‘You need to hurry up.'”
Thankfully, in swift fashion, the group made it aboard, joining some of the others. SJMC Japan Academic Program Director Gilbert D. Martinez and social work sophomore Cat Chan were the last to arrive, just as gate attendants announced that we had less than a minute to board or we would lose our seats.
But that wasn’t the only drama of the travel day.
Upon arriving at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Chan ran into an unexpected issue of changing flights at the last minute and having trouble checking in her bags. American Airlines wouldn’t allow bag checks to Japan, instead only through LAX. Chan’s mother, who was also traveling that morning, took the bag with her.
Grad student Angie Vasquez also experienced TSA difficulties.
“I’ve been here all of 10 minutes, and I’ve gotten ‘random checked’, got hand wiped by TSA, and had my bag switched by an employee with someone named ‘Gomez’,” Vasquez said. “I’ve never been so awake.”
Once Vasquez alerted the employee of the problem, the bag was properly tagged.
Seven of the 13 members all met at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to depart for Arizona at 5:30 in the morning. Three of the members briefly dropped by to hang out with their fellow classmates just before their flights took off from Austin to Los Angeles. A few other students took alternate routes from San Antonio that would link up with the rest of the group in LAX. Upon departure, some students faced a few obstacles abroad.
Advertising junior Arman Hopkins had to adjust to the cramped airplane space.
“I’m lovin’ the leg room right now,” Hopkins said sarcastically.
Once the faculty-led group landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, they soon endured the challenges of navigating through customs. Not long after, the group reunited with the rest of the SJMC team, and emotions of excitement and relief poured out. Students were picked up by their local tour guide, Kumiko Nagazawa, and were transported by bus to their hotel where Asia-Pacific Academic Program Manager Zoe Gu assisted with check in.
Later in the rainy Tokyo evening, students broke up into smaller groups to eat out and try their first dining in Japan.
Hopkins, eager to explore 7-11’s snacks, tried out some of its sushi options.
“The sushi was absolutely delicious,” Hopkins said.
In the end, the SJMC Japan team was relieved to finally settle into their cozy hotel rooms and call it a day after concluding the long-enduring flight.
The SJMC Japan adventure had just begun.
About The Author
