What inspired you to travel to Japan?
I have learned Japanese for years and I love Japanese culture so that inspired me to travel to Japan. I also wanted to work abroad in the future, so I think the internship in Japan will help my future career.
Why did you choose Meiji Internships?
I searched online for different programs and organizations, but I found that Meiji was the largest and had many positive reviews. It also provides students with a range of internships that suit their major.
Tokyo Tower
What was your favorite part about Tokyo?
I love Japanese food, so I had a good time in Tokyo. My favorite part of Toko was not only trying the different foods, but going to small Izakayas and talking with locals was a very fun experience.
Name a type of food every intern in Japan needs to try and why.
It is hard to choose because the food culture in Japan is really interesting. But I definitely suggest everyone to try OmuRice, which is rice with egg outside. There are many good restaurants, but I highly recommend a place called Tamago Kitchen in Harajuku. It is the go-to place for me during every trip to Tokyo.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The support from Meiji and my company made my stay extraordinary. Meiji always replies fast and organizes a lot of activities for us. Also, my company helped me learn a lot and enhance my Japanese level.
Which activities with Meiji were your favorite? Why?
Because of schedule conflicts, I was not able to go to a Meiji activity, but they offer a huge range of activities from tours to business events. During my stay, they had a Shibuya tour and went to a karaoke.
How did the Meiji staff support you throughout your program?
They were super friendly and always reply to emails very fast. Even though the person I contacted is based in Tokyo, I still got a same-day reply or a second-day reply from them. This made my application process really smooth. If I had any questions, their staff was always there for me. After I came to Tokyo, they also invited me to many activities and events. They had a Tokyo based staff who took care of the whole application process. They will conduct interviews, help you to land your internship, and help you to plan your schedule. They are very helpful and friendly.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I would have gone out of my comfort zone and met more Japanese people.
Can you tell us more about a typical day? What was your internship like?
I was completing a finance internship, so I dealt with financial statements everyday. My company helped me plan for my whole internship which consisted of two parts: long-term project and short-term project. For the long-term project, it will usually be a huge task and you should complete it day-by-day to achieve what you want in the end. In my case, it was to build a financial forecast for the company, and I had to manage my time carefully in order to complete the task. Short term projects usually contain client meetings and product demos, which are based on clients needs.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Walking around Tokyo and exploring the city.
What is something every first-time traveler to Tokyo should do?
If you are interested in Japanese culture, then hop into a local restaurant or Izakaya and try to communicate with locals. This will be a very fun experience and a good opportunity to make friends.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in a homestay. It was a fun experience, but my host family was far from the company. Living in a homestay was a good way to communicate with Japanese people and know how their daily life looks like.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Know a little bit about Japanese unspoken rules.
Would you recommend Meiji Internships to others? Why?
Yes, I would recommend it to others. It is a good way to land an internship in another country, and all staff members are helpful and friendly.
What do you feel is the greatest benefit of traveling abroad?
I think the greatest benefit of traveling abroad is getting to know a different culture and your future career path.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I am thinking about working in Japan in the future.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It was a part of my experience and I think it will help me and my future career someday.
