Michelle Van

Hello everyone! My name is Michelle Van. I am a 2nd year student at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. I'm quite excited to be joining the trip to Japan this year as it is one of my dreams to travel around Asia. I'm originally from Vietnam, but have not traveled outside of the US or back to Asia in years. I've always wanted to learn more about other cultures and now I will be able to experience it in person.

I am looking forward to learning what pharmacy is like in Japan as we will get the opportunity to attend some lectures at KGU and visit a couple of pharmacies. Learning about Japanese herbal medicine will be very interesting as I have some exposure to Vietnamese herbal medicine as well so it would be very cool to see the differences between the two. I'm also very excited to be able to try Japanese food. Anyone who knows me would know that I love trying new food and would try just about anything at least once. Traveling is even better if you can eat all sorts of food right? Anyways, I'm excited to be sightseeing the beautiful shrines and temples as well.

Although I'm mostly excited for the trip, I'm most worried about the language barrier. I will hopefully be able to get by with some basic phrases and hand gestures. I hope to make the most of the experience regardless and look forward to my time in Japan.

Michelle Van

Fiona Luc

Hello everyone! My name is Fiona and I am a second year pharmacy student at the University of Arizona. I am very excited for our trip to Japan in just a few weeks because it is not only a great opportunity to learn about the different approaches to healthcare in a different country, but also a chance to learn more about the culture. I enjoy traveling and exploring new places and this trip will allow me to do just that, while at the same time gaining valuable insight and experiences that will benefit me throughout my future. 

During our time in Japan, I look forward to meeting the faculty and students as well as gaining perspective about the healthcare system and pharmacy practice and education in Japan and being able to identify those differences. I am also looking forward to trying all the different foods, going to the little shops, and doing some sightseeing. 

As for my concerns about the trip, much like my other peers, is the language barrier. However, traveling in a group with faculty who are native speakers or who are familiar with the language has helped reduce that concern immensely and I am excited for what’s to come!

Jenn Wrona

Hi everyone! My name is Jenn Wrona, and I am a P2 at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy at the Tucson campus. This trip to Japan is going to be the highlight of my summer, my year, and probably life up until this point! My family and I love to travel, and this will be my first trip to an Asian country.

When I first heard that the College of Pharmacy was traveling to Japan, I knew immediately that I NEEDED to be on that trip. Ever since I was younger, I had been fascinated by everything I had seen from the country from the food to the culture to the beautiful scenery, and it quickly became my dream trip to go on. With the college going, the stars aligned, and my dream vacation and my greatest passion in life, pharmacy, were combined!  

As it gets closer to our departure, I am getting more and more excited by every passing day. I am so looking forward to exploring the differences between pharmacy practice in the states and in Japan, specifically seeing the herbal pharmacies there. Also, I am intrigued by how the curriculum differs as we sit in on several lectures. Of course, I’m not only excited about the pharmacy side of things. Going to see the beautiful shrines, temples, and the food (oh, the food!) are all things that I am thrilled to experience!

As with a lot of my peers going on this trip, one of my biggest concerns will be the language barrier. Hand gestures can only get you so far when asking for directions to the restroom, and I have heard that translator apps aren’t always reliable. Regardless of whether I can find the restroom or not, I know that this is going to be a memorable trip that I have been looking forward to since the day I heard about it! 

Jenn Wrona

What a strange thing! to be alive beneath cherry blossoms. - Kobayashi Issa

Soon we will be departing for the fascinating and culturally rich east Asian nation of Japan. I have chosen to go on this trip because travel is one of my largest passions in life along with pharmacy, culture, history and philosophy. This trip clearly presented a combination of all these passions. I have traveled quite extensively in my short life and been exposed to a variety of cultures from all corners of the world but what all these experiences have been lacking is an exposure to pharmacy in those particular cultural contexts. Therefore what I am looking forward to the most is learning about pharmacy practice within the Japanese context, especially with regard to traditional Japanese medicinal/herbal practices. I hope to learn more about how their Shinto & Buddhist beliefs inform and impact their understanding of health, medicine and pharmacy.

Reflecting on the upcoming trip, as well as all international travel in general, that which makes me the most nervous is always the language barrier. This is something which must be overcome though and I look forward to practicing Japanese in the upcoming weeks and while on the vacation.

Overall I deeply look forward to the upcoming trip and developing friendships. To come together as fellow pharmacy students and pharmacists with the intention of strengthening bonds in the pursuit of improving health on a global scale and alleviating the suffering of the human race.

“In the cherry blossom's shade 
there's no such thing 
as a stranger.” ― Kobayashi Issa

Britt Myslinski

ONWARDS TO THE EAST!

Hello, my name is Cindy and I am going into my third year of pharmacy school come fall semester.

Ever since I could lay my hands on a game console controller, I've grown up on Japanese pop culture from anime, video games, cosplay, conventions, manga and the like. My foremost reason for joining the UA Japan Trip 2018 is to experience where all this love stems from. I had gone a couple times for lay overs under unpleasant circumstances. This time will be a positive experience amongst friends and fellow pharmacy students.

Second reason is to discover how different pharmacy practice is from the west to east. I find learning is favorable in any place and situation. As an Asian American, I have experienced some of the cultural mentality my family has towards medicine, but I want to broaden my horizons. Although this trip is only ten days, I'm sure we will all be able to soak up just a taste.

I am looking forward to enjoying the food, reveling in the eastern culture, and having a new experience. I can't wait to get my hands on souvenirs to bring back home. I'm stoked to get to meet our Japanese cohorts and have an adventure with them as they show us things to do.

The only real worry I have is actually watching my wallet. I've been working hard to make sure I have some souvenir money. For I know I am in good company amongst my UA comrades and our Japanese cohorts. I am on the edge of my seat for this trip. Let's go!

David Perez

Hello, my name is David Perez.  I am a 3rd year pharmacy student at the University of Arizona. I was fortunate to be able to travel to Thailand with the College of Pharmacy last summer. I enjoyed my experience so much I decided to travel with the college again.

Japanese culture fascinates me as does pharmacy practice. I look forward to learning about both the Japanese culture and pharmacy practice. I anticipate meeting the Japanese students and faculty from Kobe Gakuin University and Osaka University. Most importantly, I am looking forward to the food ;).

My main concern is the humidity in Japan. I have lived in the desert all my life and humidity is NOT something I’m used to. I learned a few tricks in Thailand that I hope will make ~80% humidity easier to bear.

I can’t wait to meet everyone!

David Perez

Konnichiwa

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

I decided to embark on the IPSF trip to Japan because of my curiosity. There is much to explore in this life and world, and I have never been to Japan. Japanese culture fascinates me from the what little I have been exposed to through literature - the mindsets, the community, and the overall Eastern culture. 

I am eager to learn about the pharmacy practices in Japan but it is not what I am looking forward to the most. What I am looking forward to the most is the experience. To be in another country with no prior experience in their traditions, language, lifestyle, etc. I am excited to embrace it all. Aside from all of that, I am extremely thrilled to eat sushi  in Japan.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get a reservation for Jiro Ono's sushi since that waitlist is about 3 years.  Next time. 

As for concerns, or anxieties, about this trip rest with the fact that I have not been exposed to true Japanese culture. While it is something I look forward to the most, it simultaneously is what I am worried about as well. Language, formalities, etc., everything is going to be different and in ten days I don't expect to master it. 

I look forward to the trip.

Yana

Harrison Taylor

Hello everyone!

My name is Harrison Taylor and I am a P2 pharmacy student at the University of Arizona Phoenix campus.  I originally was not going to be joining in on this trip to Japan, however when a spot opened up and my friend prodded me into action, I decided it would be worth a shot to see if I could take the spot.

I have been training Okinawan karate for 13 years now and have wanted to visit Japan for a while.  Though there will be no time for training while I'm in Japan this time around, I think this will still be a very fun and educational experience as I get to know the students at KGU and learn about their culture.

I'm looking forward to meeting my pen pal and the other students and learning from them.  I am also greatly looking forward to the lectures we are going to attend and the site seeing that we will be doing during our time in Japan.

My only real concern is the language barrier.  I have learned a very minute amount of Japanese (certainly not enough to be able to hold even a simple conversation) through my martial arts; though if you need me to count for you in Japanese, I definitely have you covered there.

I look forward to seeing everyone there!