Hey Wellesley!
I want to let you all know about an awesome opportunity: JASC.
JASC (Japan-America Student Conference) is a summer conference that brings together 36 American and 36 Japanese college students to travel around either country (this year it's America) for one month. During this month, you do a lot: travel, listen to lectures, visit important local sites, and most of all listen and discuss. Besides general discussion, you're also sorted into what we call Roundtables (RTs) for the duration of the conference. You stay with the same group for the entire time and discuss your topic in-depth with 9 other students, half-American and half-Japanese. The topics for this year are:
Art and Identity
Environmental Initiatives for a Sustainable Future
Immigration in the Modern Era
Modern Consequences of Historical Education
Morality and Justice
Smart Power in U.S.-Japan Relations
Technological Advancements and Society
You can read more in-depth descriptions here.
As part of the conference, you will be going to Des Moines, IA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and ending in Washington, D.C. You'll spend about a week in each place. While there, you'll visit local sites, listen to local lecturers and attend various events and receptions. It's a great opportunity for networking, especially for those of you who want to get involved internationally.
The dates this year are July 30th to August 24th.
The participation fee for the conference is $3000. This is includes all flights during the conference, all lodging, all food and all entrances fees for museums and such. There is also a need-based scholarship available, called the S&R Scholarship, so if the money is a concern, please check it out.
The application date for the conference has technically already passed, but it's been extended to March 31st, so you guys are in luck. It's a rolling admissions, which means they will accept applications until they have a full delegation or until March 31st, whichever comes first. The scholarship deadline is earlier than this, so you will need to have applied for both JASC and the scholarship by March 24th at the latest.
You can learn more about JASC online here, but also feel real to ask me any questions. I participated in JASC two years ago as a regular participant, and again last year as an Executive Committee member (an organizer). I'm more than happy to share my experiences and help you out any way I can.
If you have any friends who you think would be interested, please let them know too.
I hope you apply!
Cheers,
Kat
???s [email protected]