Lasers abroad: Nick's postcard from Japan

Nick poses in front of the Himeji Castle. Photo courtesy of Nick Fernandes

If you told me when I first stepped foot at Lasell University that I would get a chance to study abroad in Japan, I would either A) think you were just trolling me or B) lose my mind from all the excitement. My semester abroad at CIEE’s Open Campus in Kyoto feels like a dream come true! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of visiting Japan, especially because of its pop culture aspects like anime, manga, and video games. A lot of the franchises I’m interested in, like Pokémon, Dragon Ball, and Evangelion, originated from that country, so it makes sense why I would want to check out the birthplace of these masterpieces. 

I chose this program specifically because the idea of an Open Campus Block sounds more exciting when you consider that you’re not dorming in a typical university, but instead you have classes in one building and then the rest of the day you get to explore the city and interact with the locals. We also go out on excursions every weekend, ranging from a flea market held near Toji Temple to an overnight trip to Kobe with a tour of Himeji Castle. 

Nick stands next to the Evangelion Statue in Toei Kyoto Studio Park. Photo courtesy of Nick Fernandes

I found out about this program freshman year, thanks to Maria Adkins, and immediately told my advisor, Ken Calhoun, how much I wanted to make this happen for my junior year. Given that I’m the only Lasell student in the program, let alone the only graphic design student in the program, that didn’t stop me from making connections with people from other universities, as we usually hang out after class, grab dinner, and even do karaoke (mind you, I’m no singer but put on "Danza Kuduro" and I’ll be in the zone). 

Living in Kyoto has been a blast so far. Our dorms and classes are close to the city with lots of shopping plazas, business areas, and a ton of gachas and arcades that I go to on the weekends. I’m next to a lot of small cafes that I usually visit to either get my homework done or fill up my sketchbook. The language barrier isn’t too strong, as there are a lot of places that use English as their second language, especially for foreigners and tourists, but I brought a few books with me to practice speaking Japanese and having basic conversations when I order food or ask a question. I’d recommend the book "Handy Japanese Conversations with Tanaka san" if you ever visit Japan and want to practice speaking the language outside of classes or Duolingo. 

I’m enrolled for Blocks II and III, which cover six weeks and two courses per block. For Block II, I’m taking Japanese Literature and Japanese Pop Culture. Despite counting as electives back at Lasell, I feel like I’m learning more about the culture and its creative origins because of them. I am looking forward to Block III, which starts in late March, as I get the opportunity to take a manga and art class taught by a PhD candidate who’s been creating illustrations and character designs for over a decade.  

A view of downtown Kobe, Japan. Photo courtesy of Nick Fernandes

I also secured an internship at Kura Monzen, a contemporary art and antique gallery in Kyoto that produces a vast catalogue for each of their exhibits. I’ll have the opportunity to participate in their 60th anniversary of the Japan-Korea friendship program by photographing a collection of pieces by Korean and Japanese artists, writing up descriptions of them, creating digital and paper catalogs, and advertising them on social media. 

My favorite part of Japan is its artistic expression. I’m so used to the dull, minimalist styles and designs that America puts out, and it gets a little discouraging that there isn’t much bold expression and that “doing too much” is usually frowned on. However, Japan feels the opposite. Everywhere I go, I see vending machines with cool doodles, train stops with colorful posters, stores with expressive typography, and even garbage trucks with doodles made by elementary school kids. It gives me hope that this country takes design and illustration to heart, and it inspires me to keep igniting my creative spark, even after my time abroad. 

By the time I’m writing this, it’s only been week the of living in Japan, and it’s been a total vibe. I miss all of my friends and family back at home, and I’m sending them my love from this article, but I know they want me to keep adventuring and enjoy my time overseas, so I’ll be sure to keep at it. I can’t wait to come back and share my experience with you all!