A manga-fied version of an incredible journey

I’m not quite sure at what age my interest in Japanese language and culture started. Manga and Anime interested
me ever since I was a little girl, but that wasn’t enough to make me want to fly to Japan. It wasn’t until I was in high
school, when I studied Japanese independently for school language credit, that I really started learning about Japanese
culture and customs.
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When I came across the EIL (Experiment in International Living) website, their Japanimation program caught my eye.
The program seemed to focus mainly on Anime and Manga, but the variety of activities listed made it look like a great
way to experience as much of Japan as I could.
I signed right up!
18 imagine
nov/dec 2012
After a 12-hour plane ride...
I and my group members, with whom I would develop wonderful friendships, made it
safely to the Land of the Rising Sun.
I know that culture shock is typical
when visiting a new country, but my
research, tales from my Japanese
teacher, and a quick briefing by the EIL
program had prepared
me well for what
lay ahead.
... though there were a few setbacks
that I didn’t expect.
We started out in Tokyo,
where we stayed for a few
days to do whatever we
pleased. I didn’t know where
to start, but my group
members had some
solid ideas. Some of
them were into fashion
and wanted to go to parts
of the city where they could
buy clothes. Others were
passionate about
Anime and Manga,
and knew where to
find it.
I just followed them wherever they went. All I cared about was that I was in Japan, and that I had
photographic evidence to prove it.
www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine
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After our Tokyo adventures, visiting the countryside of Sapporo provided a huge change of pace. For the next week, we
would stay with a host family and participate in cultural activities. I had no idea what to expect, because all I’d ever
heard about was the city.
The countryside ...
was...
The first few days, all I wanted
to do was stand outside and
inhale deeply.
gorgeous!
Meeting my host family was the most overwhelming experience of my entire
stay. My host parents knew that my Japanese was about as shaky as a threelegged desk, but my four young host siblings certainly didn’t. I lost count of the
number of times I had to say, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand!”
Despite the initial difficulties ...
we had no trouble bonding, and I was reluctant to leave.
We had Anime and Manga class every day, during
which I produced some of my best work using
professional materials.
20 imagine
We returned to the city the next
week, and adventures ensued!
We went to a new place every day after school, usually to shop. By
the end of the trip, we had favorite places that we visited multiple
times. For me, it was the “cat petting café” because I love felines.
nov/dec 2012
Still, we were all happy to return home. After another long plane ride, we set foot on American soil once again. It took
me a while to relearn English, but I had come back with pictures to show and a whole journal full of stories to tell!
In a period of four weeks, I...
visited a high school,
pet over 20 cats in 30 minutes,
saw a plane covered in Pokémon,
www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine
drew my own Manga,
tried on a kimono,
had siblings for the first time,
enjoyed every bite of heavenly
food I ate,
ate squid ink and seaweed ice cream,
sang J-pop for a room full of people,
and learned more than I ever thought
I would. My first trip to Japan was a
complete success!!
Magden Gipe is a
junior at Pioneer
Valley Performing
Arts Charter
Public School in
Northampton,
MA. In addition
to Japanese
culture, Magden enjoys
participating in theater,
sculpture, and singing,
and is a member of an
African dance company.
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