By: Joe Porter, Douglas College, winner of the Fall 2023 BC Study Abroad: Stories from Abroad Scholarship
Study Abroad Destination: Japan
To say my arrival in Japan last September was a culture shock would be an understatement, but with that it has also been a breath of fresh air. Instead of the usual beer and fireworks, my New Years in Japan consisted of joining the crowds of nearly 100 million nationwide in Hatsumode, the New Years tradition of visiting a shrine to pray for good fortune in the coming year. I have been ushered through a multitude of towering temples, finely crafted gardens, and phenomenal food. Particularly uplifting for me was seeing members of the community out picking odd leaves off the street to keep it as clean as a whistle. T...