Maki was born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan where some of the World Campus - Japan program participants get to visit every year, and she works as the Operations Manager at World Campus International.
Now she mostly works at the office and visits and supports the programs when she is needed. And as the Operations Manager, she has been in charge of the logistics and producing the Arigato event as well as supporting the program counselors.
In 2012, my first year as a part of the staff team, I and some other staff members decided to take a road trip during our break period between sessions. Then we rented a car and spent 4 days traveling from Hiroshima to Osaka through the Shikoku island. We explored so many places, stopped at a middle of nowhere, and found some amazing places where you would never find on a travel guidebook! We laughed a lot and learned a lot from each other. Definitely, it was my favorite travel memory and it was such an adventure!
I've been developed global awareness and found the way to step out of my comfort zone. I also have gained my language skill and my horizons have expanded a lot!
I first met the World Campus International as a local volunteer staff when I was a student. I've met wonderful participants and staff members from all over the world during the program and they had a huge impact on me. And they also made me opened up my eyes to the world and got me interested in going on adventures and challenging myself to new things. Since then, I've been involved with the organization and I always enjoy meeting new people and seeing their growth as a global citizen.
I have done most of the programs we offer, but the World Campus - Japan program would be definitely my choice! Even though I was born and raised in Japan, traveling with the participants from all over the world always allows me to learn something new. They told me so many good impressions about Japan and I’ve experienced a lot of traditional Japanese cultures such as Zen meditation, Kyudo, and Tea ceremony, which even not so many Japanese people have the opportunities to try in their whole life! And all those experiences made me realize that what a beautiful country I’ve been lived and rediscovered a lot about my own culture through their eyes!
However we offer a program in Japan, you'll be traveling with a group of people from all around the world! The program gives you opportunity to live with Japanese families and experience Japanese culture with other participants from different cultures which makes our organization so unique and makes your experience even more special! And our staff team is also diverse in culturally and each one of them has a great skill in many ways which I am so proud of!
I think if there is a team of people who come from different backgrounds, misunderstanding easily happens and sometimes it becomes a big problem. But the most important factor is to understand and value each other's culture, not only where they come from but also individual personalities. I believe these are the keys to bring the team together as one!