Undergraduate Study Abroad

My favorite course was called Kyoto Artisans and Their Worlds. In this course we would visit a different artisan’s studio every week and learn about their practice, the history of their artisanal tradition, and the current state of the industry. It was an incredible opportunity to learn all about different artisanal crafts including kimono, stone lanterns, pottery, Buddhist sculptures, and more. It was also a very unique opportunity to learn more about Japanese tradition, history, and culture through a lens that is quite difficult to explore as a tourist.

One of the things that motivated me to study abroad in Japan was that I thought it was very different culturally from Colombia, where I grew up. However, the more time I spent there, the more parallels I saw with my own culture. I would still say that Colombian and Japanese culture are quite different, but it was very interesting to see my perspective shift, and see how, in certain ways, Japanese and Colombian culture might be more similar than one might expect.

After my semester was over, I visited a city in the south of Japan called Kagoshima with a friend I made in the program. One of the nights we were there, we went to a bar and ended up talking with the bartender for hours. He told us he had a great interest in the nature of the United States, and showed us his picture books from a trip he went on to Arizona and Utah. As our conversation went on, he ended up asking us about the music of our countries. This ended up with me playing dance music from Colombia on the bar speakers. I really remember this as a very special experience, connecting and sharing a great time with a stranger from the opposite side of the world.

One of my most memorable experiences in Kyoto was visiting the two sweets shops outside of Imamiya Shrine, called Kazariya and Ichiwa. They both only sell aburi-mochi, a sweet made out of rice, grilled over coals, and topped with a sweet miso sauce. Kazariya has existed for around 400 years, and Ichiwa has been around for over 1000! After waiting in line, you are seated in a beautiful teahouse, and without ordering (after all, this is all they sell), the aburi-mochi and a pot of tea are brought over to you. The sweets are delicious, and the experience of eating at a shop with such a long history is so special. 

If I were to study abroad again (and couldn’t go to Japan), I would think of going somewhere that was very different culturally from Colombia and the USA, or somewhere I would never see myself living again. Off the top of my head, I would consider other countries in Asia, programs in New Zealand or Australia, or maybe somewhere in Eastern Europe.