In just a couple days, Texas State’s SJMC Japan Education Abroad program will be embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. Over the next few weeks, students will be traveling all over Japan, seeing everything from shrines to temples to monkeys, all while creating Instagram and web content to document their journey for everyone back home.
Students are scrambling to prepare for the trip in a multitude of ways. Some students are out shopping for new clothes to rock in Tokyo. Others are grinding away on Duolingo trying to learn as much Japanese as they can, and some are making a list of all the top tier sushi bars to try. Regardless of how they are preparing, one thing is clear: the anticipation and excitement are becoming overwhelming.
In the last few days before departure, students shared what they were doing to prepare both physically and mentally for the program and for the nearly 12-hour-long flight over the Pacific Ocean.
Aiden Fitzpatrick, a digital media innovation senior, plans to watch a movie or two and promptly pass out for the rest of the flight, while other students like Kendall Casanova, a public relations senior, plans to fill her time reading books.
To ensure that she won’t forget anything for the trip, Angie Vasquez, an SJMC graduate student, created a list of all the items she caught herself grabbing at throughout a given day. One of her biggest challenges was picking out the right outfits to wear and be comfortable in.
“Not only are we going to be doing a lot of walking, but it’s also warm,” Vasquez says. “Japan is also a modest country, so you need to cover up a lot of skin.”
While some students worry about their clothes, others, like Miya Coleman, a journalism junior, are getting ready to part ways with her loved ones.
“I don’t usually spend so much time away from home,” Coleman said. “The hardest part has been preparing to be away from my girlfriend and family.”
Since this is her first time flying internationally, Casanova is pretty nervous about getting through airport security.
“TSA check-in is just so stressful,” Casanova says. “Especially when packing my skincare and makeup.”
Unlike Casanova, this will be SJMC Japan Academic Program Director Gilbert D. Martinez’s fourth time traveling to Japan with the study abroad program, having previously taken students in 2019 and 2023 (with faculty partner Jon Zmikly) and 2024 (with faculty partner Sara Shields).
Martinez emphasized to students, many of whom are traveling internationally for the first time, that managing one’s time wisely is crucial for having the best experience.
“I often recommend to my students to find the right balance between getting their assigned work done as well as enjoying Japan to the fullest,” he said.
One thing is for sure: These students are about to make memories that can never be stripped away from them.
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