The Japanese yen is at an all-time low (yay)
By: Karam Alkaissy, SEAS ’27
In less than 48 hours, I’ll find myself soaring above a blue canvas that modern-day cartographers prefer to omit on their maps (I am talking about the Pacific Ocean). Destination: Japan. Departure is imminent, but my bag is far from ready. Join me on my final errands as I look back at a semester of Scientific Nationalism in Japan and forward to an undoubtedly amazing ten days in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Shirts, T-shirts, shorts and more adorn my previously unadorned duvet. How can I possibly squeeze all these clothes into one bag? I soon realize I can’t, and thirty minutes later, I’m on the SEPTA to center city on a mission to find a bag that checks all boxes. What’s a bus ride in Philly without catching up on the news? “Japense yen at a historic low”, reads a New York Times headline. Side quests start to compound on side quests as I receive a passive aggressive text from my mom urging me to buy an extra toothbrush, new pair of socks and a multi-adapter among many other things. The end justifies the means is what I try to convince myself of as I leave center city with an assortment of CVS’ finest. What have I learned today? *Always call your bank before drawing cash in foreign currencies.*
With a significant portion of class time dedicated to learning about Japan through the lived experience of our professor there, I feel oddly assured in my abilities to navigate this uncharted territory. As a matter of fact, my greatest concern lies in accidentally offending local customs regarding public behavior and struggling to adeptly navigate public transit and other group dynamics where you don’t want to be the odd one out.
Most nervous am I about accidentally disrespecting local Japanese customs concerning behavior in public settings, and being too clumsy to maintain efficiency in public transit and other group settings. During our final two weeks of class, each one of us was asked to present some pockets of wisdom for navigating Japan as a group of American students. In particular, one of my peer’s presentation on do’s and dont’s on the Tokyo subway made the most impact on me… Did you know that it is considered incredibly rude to talk on the phone on the Japanese subway? This trip will gauge my capacity to seamlessly integrate into a society I’ll temporarily join for ten days. Nevertheless, I am undoubtedly more eager than nervous for the trip that’s to come! First of all, I will finally get to experience some of the technological marvels that Japan has to offer –one of my primary reasons for enrolling in Scientific Nationalism in Japan. Additionally, I’ll have the privilege of traveling with great friends I’ve grown close to over the course of the past semester. See you in Japan!
Penn Global Seminars combine intensive semester-long study with a short-term travel component that deepens your understanding of concepts discussed in the classroom. Courses options are available for Penn undergraduate students across majors and years.