IAESTE Annual Review 2020/21

I went to Japan in the summer of 2019 for an internship through the
MITACS-JSPS summer research programme. I thought it would be a good
opportunity to reach out to local IAESTE members while I was there, so I
contacted a member of the TLSC (Tokyo Local Student Committee) through
Instagram. At the time, I was an executive member at a club promoting
IAESTE at my university and I had done an internship with IAESTE in
Austria during the summer of 2017. I was aware of IAESTE alumni groups
for backpacking and international events, so I did not think it uncommon
to get in contact with other members.
Based on my past experiences, I expected the response to be friendly and
hospitable, and I was not disappointed. After giving more information
about myself and explaining what I was doing in Japan, I was invited
to a Facebook page where events were being planned for IAESTE
trainees. I was excited because I would have an opportunity to meet local
students, which would not have been so easy if I were not a member of
IAESTE. I browsed through the planned events and immediately noticed
plenty of amazing activities such as hiking Mt. Fuji, touring Kamakura,
Dinner party in Tokyo
and sightseeing in Odaiba. I took note of the thoughtful itineraries that
were prepared for these trips, which I would later find to be a welcome
Japanese custom.
My Experience
with IAESTE
Japan
Summer reception & hospitality
Edward DeWit, Canada
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