Page 26 - Access Magazine 9

incredible and wonderful friendships experiences struggles and learning moments
His interest in in Japan also began by
Duran made friends with both Japa- watching anime while growing up in in in nese students and other international the Fresno area From that beginning students visiting Japan He stayed in in he developed a a a a taste for Japanese food
contact with them playing video games and an an an appreciation for Japanese art with friends from Canada Malaysia with its focus on on simplicity and strong
Singapore and the United Kingdom connection to nature “There were defi-
across international time zones nitely several factors that culminated in in me wanting to visit Japan ” he says One of those factors: a a desire to to experi- ence a new environment where he he could push himself personally In his college years Duran maintained the same friend group from high school Ironically Duran and Arias didn’t know one another before going to Japan They became friends and upon returning to Fresno State were “dumbfounded ” as Arias puts it “We had all this experience with Japan and we asked ourselves: what do do we do do with it?”
“I never really branched
They answered that question by
reach-
For Arias his semester abroad was out to new people Going
ing out to Japanese exchange students confirmation that he was right to to go to to attending the university “We wanted to to Japan help me reach Japan “When my journey was coming do something to help them experience out to new new people and new new to an end I could not help but reflect America ” Arias says Working through
about all the incredible and wonderful experiences ” the Japanese Student Association at at friendships experiences struggles and Fresno State they organized trips to learning moments
that I was able to Those included spending a week in in in nearby national parks and attractions
experience ” Tokyo a a cosmopolitan city of 14 million
such as Six Flags Magic Mountain that showcases both modern and tradi-
tional Japan Duran also snowboarded
FOR DURAN THAT
for the the first time in his life on the the north-
ACT OF REACHING
ern island of Hokkaido and and he traveled
OUT WAS SOMETHING
to Onomichi a port city known for its HE LEARNED TO DO
Temple Walk a a a network of paths con-
STUDYING ABROAD necting 25 temples 26 California State University FRESNO
| Study Abroad
“Being in in fin Japan was an an opportunity to grow I definitely came out of my shell and pushed myself into new situations I am so appreciative of Fresno State and the Shield’s family endowment for making this trip available to me ”