Studied to become a global citizen,
working to create
stronger relationships in a globalized world.

I have spent my whole life as a bridge between people - primarily my parents and the rest of the world - and it is a role I have fully embraced. Ever since I was an elementary school student, I have been entrusted with the task to translate and interpret between English and Spanish for my Peruvian parents in virtually every aspect of daily life. Due to such experiences, my interest in learning different languages was roused, pushing me to seek fluency in Japanese. This is because of the constant presence Japanese culture has had in my life since childhood, through my consumption of the nation's popular culture and media, and my participation in sports such as karate, thus sparking my desire to study the language in order to delve deeper in my interests. Once I decided to study Political Science, I was sure that the study of the Japanese language would become a great asset in my career goals. As a result, my time as a university student has been dedicated to learning Japanese language and culture, as well as learning about the relationship between the United States and Japan, and even studying abroad in Kyoto during the summer of 2018.

 

In the summer of 2018, I took part in the Intensive Language and Culture in Kyoto program offered at FIU. During the program’s duration of five weeks, I was able to adapt to the lifestyle in Kyoto; sharing an apartment on Horikawa street with a roommate, taking the bus to classes every day, riding the trains to return home after our class excursions, and running daily errands.

 

Once I returned to the United States, I was soon accepted as an intern at the Florida Delegation, Southeast U.S./Japan Association, Inc. (SEUS/Japan Assoc.), - as well as its sister organizations Florida/Korea Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (FlorKor) and Florida/China Association, Inc. (FCA). These organizations connect American businesses in the Southeast of the country with those in the Asian countries that each organization includes in its name - Japan, South Korea, and China. Working under the Executive Director, Dave Woodward, I helped in the registration of delegates for the SEUS/Japan Assoc. 42nd and 43rd annual joint meetings in Savannah, Georgia and Tokyo, Japan, respectively. As an intern, I not only grew accustomed to administrative and clerical work, but I also researched economic ties between the U.S. and Japan as well as news material for the organization’s newsletter.