Jalesia study abroad in Japan this summer

Hello, my name is Jalesia, I also go by, Jae. Thank you for checking out my campaign. I am a video production and emerging media arts student at Portland Community College.

This summer I will be studying peace and conflict in Japan on a PCC Study Abroad program. This is my first time traveling to a country where the language, culture and customs are very different from my own. I will be way out of my comfort zone and into, what I like to call, the adventure zone where lots of learning and a new perspective on life awaits me. My main objective while visiting Japan is to grow, to let myself be a stranger in a strange land and explore the experience with a beginner’s mind.

I have appreciated Japanese culture through films, media and food for several years now. Since I was first introduced to sushi, anime and Hayao Miyazaki movies like Spirited Away, I've had a growing desire to visit and experience the culture first hand. As a storyteller and aspiring filmmaker my goal is to tell meaningful stories that feed the soul. I am very excited that we get to visit Hayao Miyazaki's production studio, Studio Ghibli, as one of our trips along with various historical sites in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Like Osaka castle and the Peace Park monument that was once a site of devastation from bombing, during the WWII conflict, now standing as a monument dedicated to peace and restoration. We are also fortunate to get to hear a first hand account from a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima. I’m glad I get to learn more about peace studies and the mediation process by way of the rich history and culture of Japan. I believe the insight I gain from this study abroad experience will help me to be more successful at work and in life.

I look forward to documenting my time and experience abroad by compiling photos and footage of my travels. Hopefully I'll have time between classes to flex my editing and multimedia skills to produce a short travel video that I can share with others. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to inspire someone else to study abroad too! I feel truly blessed to have such an amazing opportunity to visit this beautiful country and have the well curated experience my school is providing. I truly would not have been able to do something like this on my own.

Now, in order to afford this trip, I could use your help to cover some of the additional costs my financial aid does not cover, like my plane ticket and other personal expenses. I greatly appreciate your donation of any amount to help me reach my goal.

Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign.

I wishing you all the best,

Jae.