Class: 2025
Concentration: Comparative Literature, with a secondary in East Asian Studies and language citation in Japanese
House: Adams
Hometown: Zeil, Germany
Favorite Japanese food: Anpan
Japan-related experiences: 2023 RIJS Summer Internship Program (Keizai Koho Center)
What connections to Japan, if any, did you have before coming to Harvard? When I was about 8 years old, I stumbled upon a Spirited Away DVD in our local library, which introduced me to Japanese media and got me interested in Japanese pop culture. Before coming to Harvard, I self-studied Japanese for about a year.
What drew you to Japan, and how did you decide on your internship? Though my interest began with pop culture, now I am mainly interested in Japanese literature and philosophy/religion (particularly Zen Buddhism). My internship at the Keizai Koho Center in Tokyo gave me the opportunity to improve my Japanese and get to know Japan's culture and the business environment.
What was daily life like in Japan? During weekdays, I would usually take the (very crowded) subway train to Otemachi at around 9 AM and then work in the office until 5 PM. My work consisted mainly of planning and implementing conferences and lectures as well as writing summaries about them, which were then posted on the website. I also had my own research project, for which KKC connected me with Japanese government leaders and researchers. After work, I sometimes explored the alleys of Tokyo or spent the evening with my friends at the sharehouse where I stayed. About once a week or so, my colleagues would all go to izakayas or karaoke together, which was definitely a highlight of my time in Japan. On the weekends, I often went to matsuris, cafes, and museums in Tokyo and also traveled to Kamakura, Karuizawa, and Kyoto.
What are some highlights from your summer? One of my supervisors was kind enough to give me a ticket to Disney Sea and we went together with her daughter. It was one of the happiest days of my life! After my internship ended, I was able to travel around Japan and Korea for three weeks. Out of all the places I visited, my favorite city was definitely Kyoto, which is where I will be studying abroad in the spring.
Was there something that surprised you about living in Japan? People are incredibly kind and always think about others - I noticed this in both big (my supervisors taking me on trips) and small (filling other people's cups before your own) instances.
What advice do you have for others considering going abroad? Culture shock is real! Some things that helped me when I felt overwhelmed and homesick: talking to other foreigners in Japan (living in a sharehouse made that really easy), doing things that remind me of home, and spending time alone to recharge. It's also really common to get reverse culture shock when you get back home.
How have you stayed involved with Japan at Harvard? I've been taking Japanese every semester since freshman fall. Spending the summer in Japan has definitely made taking classes more rewarding - and vice versa! I've also taken classes on Japanese literature and Buddhism.
What are your plans after Harvard? I plan to move back to Europe, get a PhD in Comparative Literature, and go into academia.