Most SJMC Japan Education Abroad students, one instructor and the graduate program assistant returned home safely on June 13 after nearly two weeks traveling across Japan, marking the official end of a program defined by cultural experiences, professional visits and shared experiences from Tokyo to Hiroshima and Kyoto.
Departure day came in waves as students left Japan on different flight schedules. The majority of the group checked out of Toyoko Inn early and made their way on a group charter bus from Kyoto to Osaka for long-haul flights back to Texas, while others split off towards other destinations.
Advertising sophomore Valeria Cerecer-Vargas stayed behind and later had some of her family members meet up with her to do some additional exploring.
“My family is catching up to me, so I’m meeting them in Osaka,” Cerecer-Vargas said. “We’re going to stay around Osaka, and then go to Tokyo and Kyoto. (We will be) visiting shrines, definitely doing some shopping and overall just enjoying the atmosphere and letting my family get to know the places that we’ve (SJMC Japan) been and seen.”
A few other students and one instructor extended their travels in Japan while two students continued on to South Korea before eventually beginning their journey home. Even with different routes and timelines, everyone spent their final hours in transit through trains, airports, layovers or long flights across time zones.
Advertising sophomore Delaney Dement took advantage of the free charter bus ride to the Osaka airport before venturing on her own further into the city.
“I’m extending my stay for a week,” Dement said. “I’m visiting a family friend and possibly getting a tattoo. My friend has lived in Japan for quite a while now; I haven’t seen her in, like, five years since she moved to Japan. Seeing her, visiting her and catching up with her in person – I’m just excited to catch up with her.”
For those returning directly to Texas, travel included connections through major airport hubs such as Seoul, South Korea, Seattle, Salt Lake City and San Francisco before arriving in Texas.
Between flights, students passed the time sharing photos and swapping stories from the past two weeks, everything from temple and shrine visits to late-night group dinners. The program took students from Tokyo to Hiroshima and Kyoto, where they visited historic shrines and temples, met with media professionals, rode the shinkansen and participated in cultural experiences ranging from tea ceremonies to exchanges with students at a local university. Along the way, they gained firsthand insight into Japanese history, journalism and daily life.
Then on June 13, things shifted from sightseeing to traveling home. Boarding passes, baggage claims and security lines replaced temples and train stations as students made their way back to the U.S. Many used their layovers to rest, organize photos, edit Instagram reels or revisit moments from the trip while adjusting to the long journey back across the Pacific Ocean.
Although most students and instructors have now returned home, one instructor is still completing international travel plans and will arrive in the United States in the coming days. Professor Gilbert D. Martinez decided to extend his stay in Japan to visit family in Okinawa.
“I’m going to Okinawa to visit relatives,” Martinez said. “I’ll mostly hang out with family and catch up with them and relax. Then, I’ll spend four days in Tokyo visiting friends before returning home on June 21. This will be my seventh visit to Okinawa in the last 10 years.”
Despite traveling on different routes, the group’s experience concluded with a shared sense of connection and reflection. The SJMC Japan program ended with new friendships, professional insights and a deeper understanding of Japanese culture that students will carry forward.
Looking ahead, students will reunite at Old Main on June 24 for final presentations reflecting on their time abroad and completion of the program, highlighting their best work.
About The Author
