Staff Spotlight: Lindsay Sturt

Lindsay was born in England and first came to Japan in the Summer of 2014 at the age of 24. After having spent a fun filled month, attending the Summer Course, she was determined to go back and study long term. Having now finished her studies, she is now working to help students who have the same hopes and goals of going to Japan.

My favorite memory was the day I realized I wanted to come back to Japan long term. It was the third day of my holiday and I remember going to a lantern festival on Odaiba Beach, which they hold each year on Sea Day (A national holiday).

As I looked out over the bay, there was so much to take in. When the sun set, the city lit up creating a glittering skyline, with Rainbow Bridge to my right and the Yakatabune (Japanese party boats), decorated with red lanterns that reflected in the water, I don't know why, but at this moment I just knew I had to come back.

Having met so many people from different backgrounds and nationalities, I think that my communication skills have improved a lot, as well as my understanding of people and my patience. I hold a high amount of respect for my colleagues and look forward to continue growing as an individual alongside them.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with many Study Trip students and I’m always happy to hear them say they want to come back to Japan. Last Summer I was very fortunate to have met a fantastic group of people, that I now consider friends. One of the Italian girls I met was so lovely, she really enjoyed herself and had the nicest things to say about the Study Trip and all the staff.

When we shared the video of their trip on Facebook, she shared it and wrote the nicest comment. It was originally in Italian, but she basically said that she will never forget the incredible experiences she had thanks to the Summer Course. She then goes on to thank everyone and hopes to see everyone again soon. I then found out that she had applied to come back long term. So I’m now looking forward to seeing her in October and hearing how how everything goes with her studies and life here.

As I mentioned previously, I first came to Japan on the Summer Course, which I loved and will never forget. But if I could pick a course now, I would choose the Traditional Japan Study Trip. Not only do you get to see Tokyo for all it’s splendor, you also get to visit the old capital of Japan, Kyoto. It’s the perfect way to see the rich traditional image of Japan, as well as the modern brightly lit metropolis.

I also enjoy activities that require a hands on approach, so this course is perfect for people that enjoy being creative. Getting to make and then eat my own Sushi and Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) sounds like a great way to learn about Japanese culture and the language. As the course is from the beginning of July, it’s just before it starts to get really hot and humid.

The company is unique in that we have a lot of people from many different nationalities, who speak numerous languages. This means that we can have good relationships built on trust, which puts our students minds at ease before and during their time in Japan.

I think the best part of the job and when I feel most proud of my team is when we work together to improve the experience for the students and as a result at the end of the trip when the students are happy and enjoyed themselves.

The biggest factor of any successful company is that everyone works together towards the same goals. I think that one of the best things about our company is the diversity and that we are all able to be ourselves at work. It means that we have the perfect environment to work together in harmony. We work together and adapt fast to changes, do what we say we are going to do and we do it selflessly.