Cursten Howard
Japanese Studies Concentration
While I was growing up in Roswell (GA) my dad’s hobby was bonsai trees. Because of that, I got to meet a lot of Japanese people as a child. This must have rubbed off on me, stimulating my choice to study Japanese language and culture in college.
I graduated from ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ in Spring 2022 with a degree in East Asian Studies, concentrating in Japan. While studying for this degree I was able to take classes in many different disciplines. This allowed me to approach Japan in myriad ways. Being able to engage with Japanese students both at ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ and at Nanzan University in Japan, where I did my study abroad, was particularly stimulating. Looking back, the most impactful experience while in the program was the anthropological research I got to do through a FUSE Grant. I completed a video project for which I translated an interview that was part of a series conducted with survivors of Japan's triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) of March 2011. I was able to present my research at two conferences, including ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s Annual Research Conference. This was an amazing opportunity for me as I got to do full-time mentored research with a stipend.
Currently I am working in Okinawa (Japan) as an assistant language teacher on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2024. I love living in Japan, surrounded by the culture I spent such a long time studying. With my degree in EAS I am planning to pursue post graduate studies in Japanese anthropology or to find work in international business with a Japanese company once I come back to America. I would recommend ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥’s EAS program to anyone who has ANY interest in Japan or one of the other East Asian countries. This program offers a well-rounded view of the country you want to specialize in. I was able to study so many different aspects of Japan and got to see how they are connected, giving me a fuller picture of Japan. I could travel to the country to learn more about and experience its culture, making deeper connections along the way.
I graduated from ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ in Spring 2022 with a degree in East Asian Studies, concentrating in Japan. While studying for this degree I was able to take classes in many different disciplines. This allowed me to approach Japan in myriad ways. Being able to engage with Japanese students both at ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ and at Nanzan University in Japan, where I did my study abroad, was particularly stimulating. Looking back, the most impactful experience while in the program was the anthropological research I got to do through a FUSE Grant. I completed a video project for which I translated an interview that was part of a series conducted with survivors of Japan's triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) of March 2011. I was able to present my research at two conferences, including ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s Annual Research Conference. This was an amazing opportunity for me as I got to do full-time mentored research with a stipend.
Currently I am working in Okinawa (Japan) as an assistant language teacher on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2024. I love living in Japan, surrounded by the culture I spent such a long time studying. With my degree in EAS I am planning to pursue post graduate studies in Japanese anthropology or to find work in international business with a Japanese company once I come back to America. I would recommend ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥’s EAS program to anyone who has ANY interest in Japan or one of the other East Asian countries. This program offers a well-rounded view of the country you want to specialize in. I was able to study so many different aspects of Japan and got to see how they are connected, giving me a fuller picture of Japan. I could travel to the country to learn more about and experience its culture, making deeper connections along the way.
