After months of excitement and anticipation, SJMC Japan Education Abroad students packed their suitcases and began their 10-and-a-half-hour-long journey to Tokyo on Monday. Students started their travels from various airports in Texas, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. While traveling can be a grueling experience for many, it also gives people the opportunity to get closer and bond over experiences and the opportunity they have ahead of them.
While waiting at the gate in Dallas, one of the solo traveling students encountered some other students from Texas State in the fashion merchandising abroad program where they will also be going to Japan for a few days and spend the rest of their trip in Vietnam. While boarding the flight, they shared their enthusiasm for both experiencing Japan through TXST.
Meanwhile, in Austin, digital media innovation major Berkelee Bryan reflected on a moment she will “remember years from now” as the group of students waited at the terminal.
While at baggage drop-off, Bryan sparked a conversation with the man in front of her about their travel plans. He, too, was traveling cross-country to go backpacking all over Europe. “We shared our excitement and wished each other safe travels,” she said. Bryan admitted she felt like it was a special moment between two strangers bonding over seeing the world.
For four of the 23 students in SJMC Japan, their journeys actually began on Sunday. They arrived nearly 12 hours before the majority of the group. Dubbed the Haneda Four, these four students found showers to freshen up, took public transit from the airport to the hotel, checked their luggage and went to Shibuya before the rest of the group arrived.
While students interacted with each other before this trip, there was a different kind of bond that began to grow once they arrived at their destination. Upon arrival at Tokyo Haneda Airport, one of the first things students wanted to do was see the viral 7-Eleven snacks that many people both online and offline have been raving about. The students went in groups to try the snacks and enjoy them with their peers. These snacks consisted of tamago sandos (egg sandwiches), onigiri (rice wrapped in seaweed) and delicious sweet treats such as chocolate-dipped grape gummies.
With all flights of the day complete, the final objective for the team was to unpack, have dinner and rest. There is much to explore in the coming days, and although the first night in Japan has just begun, students are eager to embark on the countless adventures ahead. Stay tuned for more!
To see posts from tonight’s adventures, make sure to check out @sjmcjapan on Instagram!
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