Making new friends, visiting beautiful places — including the Hill of the Buddha, Takino Suzuran Hillside Park, and Mount Moiwa — and enjoying delicious local fare like shime parfaits were among the many highlights of Alyssa General’s study abroad experience this past summer in Sapporo, Japan.
General, who graduated from the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu in May, was one of three students to study on a five-week Japanese culture and language program from June 16 to July 19 at Tokai University Sapporo in Japan.
“Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said General, 24, of ‘Ewa Beach. “It is a completely different experience from just visiting a country for vacation. Being able to closely interact with native speakers on a daily basis helps you learn the little nuances in the language and culture. You also develop life-lasting bonds with the students you interact with at the host institution.”
The program was offered by the UH West O‘ahu Office of Global Engagement, which is now accepting applications for UH West O‘ahu students to study for five weeks at Tokai University Sapporo for summer 2025. The program will be from June 16 to July 18, 2025.
“The Tokai Sapporo program gives you a unique opportunity to not only learn Japanese language and culture in Japan, but also the opportunity to live the college dorm life abroad,” said Gian Otoman, International Programs Coordinator with the Office of Global Engagement. “You will get the chance to live at Tokai Sapporo’s international dorm along with local Tokai students during this summer program. It is a great way to make new friendships abroad and explore Sapporo with the freedom to do what you want with your newfound friends!”
General said she participated in the program because of her personal interest in Japanese culture and language. In addition, while General received in spring 2024 a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media with a concentration in Communications and New Media Technologies, she is currently pursuing an Asian Studies Certificate; the study abroad program fulfills the Field Experience requirement for the Asian Studies Certificate.
General said the No. 1 highlight of the entire study abroad program for her was interacting with the Tokai University Sapporo students through their classes and various campus activities, and making friends with them.
“We built the strongest bonds with our dorm advisors Maya, Mirei, and Haruka,” General said. “We would always hang out in the common area of the dorms and have meals together.”
She continued, “Our conversations in that room consisted of comparing American culture and Japanese culture, asking how to say certain phrases (in Japanese or English), and talking about mutual hobbies we had. Even though there was a slight language barrier, I worked hard to primarily speak Japanese when talking to either the dorm advisors or other students at Tokai.”
General added that she wishes she had the opportunity to stay in Sapporo longer because she feels like there is so much more to explore, from destinations to dishes.
“The food in Japan was the best I have ever had and I could tell that the food was prepared with quality ingredients,” she said. “It’s hard to say which food was my favorite, but I do wish that we had shime parfaits (a popular dessert) in Hawai‘i. Ever since coming back to Hawai‘i, I’ve been missing the food that I had in Japan!”
UH West O‘ahu students who are interested in studying abroad at Tokai University Sapporo in summer 2025 are encouraged to email uhwointl@hawaii.edu to inquire or apply for the summer program. The deadline for applications is March 21, 2025.
Click here to watch a video created by General of her study abroad experience this past summer at Tokai University Sapporo.
