Hi I’m Eli! I’m a 15 freshman who is going on a trip to Japan in the summer of 2025. This trip will be for a month and I will get to learn about Japan’s culture and language by participating in daily activities through a program called CIEE. I take Japanese in school and have always been enamored with the country and its people. I love anime and am extremely interested in Japanese history. The idea of getting to experience living in a completely new environment is extremely enticing! I will learn how to manage my own things and live on my own for the first time. Learning important skills like independence and organization. As well as communication skills and being forced to meet new people and try new things. Most importantly, I will learn a completely new language and come to appreciate a completely different way of life. I fully expect to come back from this trip a different person with important life lessons. This trip means the world to me and I do not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Unfortunately, the trip is quite expensive coming in at around $9,000. With your help however, we can make a big dent in the cost so my family can comfortably pay without having to worry. It may seem like a lot, but if enough make even small donations, I believe we can reach this goal before the summer! Thank you for taking the time to read my story even if you end up not donating and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!