Connect with Former Fellows

Hello! My name is Jaxon Havens and I am a sophomore in Trumbull College. My intended major is History and I hope to go for the certificate in Japanese. I was a Light Fellow in the 2022 Summer through the CET-Japan program at Osaka Gakuin University. It was a truly life-changing experience and I am incredibly grateful for how I have progressed in both my study of Japanese and in my understanding of myself as a multiethnic person in an increasingly globalized world. I would love to talk all about Light, applying to programs, adjusting to life in Japan, and studying Japanese at Yale, so do not hesitate to reach out. 頑張りましょう！

Hi! I'm Natsume, and I'm a sophomore in Davenport! I studied at SANC (Sun Academy Nihongo Center) in Tokyo during Summer 2023. From the amazing teachers and new friends I made, to the endless variety of places and experiences I got to explore in Tokyo, I couldn't have asked for a better summer! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Hello everyone! I'm Darwin, a junior studying Computing & Linguistics from Grace Hopper college. I had the privilege of receiving the Light Fellowship and getting to study abroad in Hakodate and Nagoya. I was able to polish my Japanese every day through conversation with my host family in Hakodate and my Japanese classmates at Nanzan. I took Japanese, Calligraphy, and Translation classes in Nagoya, and in Hakodate got to experience traditional tea ceremonies, judo, and making soba by hand! Through my Japanese classes, I became more deeply immersed not only in the language but in the culture too, as I found myself able to express myself more freely and bond with other international students and Japanese students alike. During my spring break in Nagoya, I traveled solo through Kyushu through places like Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima. The classes I took, the experiences I had, and the friends I made in Japan formed the best year of my life. I'd love to help you have an amazing experience in Japan through this fellowship, so if there's anything you'd like to reach out and talk about, please don't hesitate in shooting me an email!

Hey everyone! I'm Nick, a sophomore in Berkeley studying Global Affairs and History. My time in Osaka was nothing less than transformative—building bonds with other Japanese university students is a unique experience you won't get in any other program, and thus, my Japanese certainly improved a ton. The fellowship also allowed me to travel around and hit some of my lifetime bucket list items—climbing Mount Fuji on a whim, watching a Sumo Tournament live, staying with Buddhist monks, visiting an onsen town, and getting very acquainted with the Japanese vintage thrifting scene! I would love to talk about my experiences anytime so please reach out!

Hello everyone! I'm Darwin, a junior studying Computing & Linguistics from Grace Hopper college. I had the privilege of receiving the Light Fellowship and getting to study abroad in Hakodate and Nagoya. I was able to polish my Japanese every day through conversation with my host family in Hakodate and my Japanese classmates at Nanzan. I took Japanese, Calligraphy, and Translation classes in Nagoya, and in Hakodate got to experience traditional tea ceremonies, judo, and making soba by hand! Through my Japanese classes, I became more deeply immersed not only in the language but in the culture too, as I found myself able to express myself more freely and bond with other international students and Japanese students alike. During my spring break in Nagoya, I traveled solo through Kyushu through places like Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima. The classes I took, the experiences I had, and the friends I made in Japan formed the best year of my life. I'd love to help you have an amazing experience in Japan through this fellowship, so if there's anything you'd like to reach out and talk about, please don't hesitate in shooting me an email!

Hi. My name is JP, and I am currently a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College. I am a history major interested in Asia, and I gained an interest in Japanese from visiting Japan with my family when I was younger. I started studying Japanese L1 in my first year, and spent last summer studying Japanese at Doshisha University in Kyoto through KCJS. Studying abroad and living in a homestay allowed for an immersive experience that helped my Japanese grow immensely. While the work was hard, it helped me to push myself to make the most out of my experience. I am grateful for the friends from other universities that I made through my program, some so close that we are planning on meeting occasionally this semester, and for the ability to grow and adapt.