Tellus
Tellus: (tel’us), n. 1. [Latin] earth, soil, and the land; a country; the world. 2. a collection of Willamette University student’s insights, stories, photos and thoughts from their experiences studying abroad.
Category: Japan
By bmendels on Jan 29, 2017 in Japan | Comments Off on Lost by translation
When I went to Japan for the fall semester of 2016, I had the time of my life. My host family in particular were some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I got to stay in a house that was built over a hundred years ago. I did however, have a particularly awkward incident […]
By mthompso on Jan 28, 2017 in Japan | Comments Off on Fulfilling a promise
I’m from a town of about 10,000 people in Oregon, where the tallest building I can think of is 4 stories high. I’ve never been one fond of heights. After enrolling at Willamette, I had been taught a few years of spanish, but I never really had the chance to speak it. I had lost my […]
By gwade on Aug 30, 2016 in Japan | Comments Off on Kamakura Daibutsu
By eedgerto on Sep 13, 2015 in Japan | Comments Off on Accidentally Hiking Up a Mountain
During my very long winter break, I expressed a desire to my family to go on a hike, like we used to when we went on vacation. Once in Japan, I decided to act on this desire (just without my family) and had what was probably the single most enjoyable day on my entire trip […]
By cphillip on Mar 13, 2015 in Japan | Comments Off on Kawagoe Festival
By ahigashi on Jan 29, 2015 in Japan | Comments Off on YouTube Fan Fest, Japan
By aamorris on Nov 24, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Tokunoshima, Japan
By tneedham on Sep 30, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Living the Dream
By vmigita on Sep 28, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Don’t look them in the eyes!
By juegawa on Sep 28, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Hiking Mt. Fuji
By afusek on Sep 27, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on A Day in Hiroshima, Japan (Spring 2014)
By kengstro on Feb 15, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on 流鏑馬 (yabusame) Mounted Archery
My host family showed me a flyer for an archery event at the park near our house. I convinced my friend Alyssa to go with me. The event was fun and the archery was amazing. The archers raced down a path and shot at three targets. They did this routine three times before the event […]
By adodge on Feb 15, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Takoyaki fun
When my friend invited our mutual friend Kelsey and me to come to her house, I didn’t realize I’d get to make takoyaki. I’d eaten takoyaki before and really enjoyed it, and had been wanting to learn to prepare a Japanese dish. Takoyaki seemed like a good choice. After all how hard could making small […]
By kterry on Feb 6, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on Creating New Bonds in Japan
When I decided to study abroad, I figured I would return having had the same experiences most other study abroad students have: a new perspective on life, improved language skills, etc. But my two most fond memories are not at all what I would have expected. The first is living with a host family and […]
By mlau on Jan 27, 2014 in Japan | Comments Off on The Most Important Lesson
Before I went to Japan, I always used to say “No, I’m not someone who does stuff like that.” I used to limit myself like that and tell myself that there were certain things that I would just never do because they “weren’t me”. I was wrong. Japan was a whole new, exciting world. I’d […]
By kahendri on Oct 29, 2012 in Japan | Comments Off on Sugimotodera in Japan (Alex Smith)
This photo I took is of the stairs leading up to Sugimotodera temple (杉本寺) in Kamakura, Japan. The temple itself is part of the Tendai sect of Buddhism and was founded in 734 BCE. Although it is a little bit of the beaten track, it is considered one of the oldest temples. The moss covered steps particularly interested […]
By mgarcia on Sep 30, 2012 in Japan, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sanja Matsuri
By lhenriks on Sep 6, 2012 in Japan | Comments Off on “Million Dollar View”
Click to enlarge This is a photo I took of what is known as the 百万ドル夜景 (Hyaku-man Doru Yakei) or “Million Dollar nightview” in Hakodate, Japan. I’m not sure what exactly the criteria are for a nightviews, but apparently it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world…or at least in Japan. While […]
By ebrigham on Feb 12, 2012 in Japan, landmarks/ famous places | Comments Off on
Going to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine at night was one of the most breathtaking experiences I had while in Japan. Wandering up the mountainside between thousands of torii gates, my friends an I were almost the only ones there. Pure silence except for the sound of footsteps. I doubt I’ll ever experience such a solemn, […]
By jhigashi on Feb 15, 2011 in Japan, picture, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Everyday Street + Anticipation
Throughout the preparation in being able to study abroad, it is always made clear that studying abroad can be and is a life changing experience for some people. To me this photo is of a street I always crossed to catch the bus that was part of my everyday commute routine, and brought my emotions […]