ASN3410: Intro to East Asia was the first class I was looking forward to in my first semester after transferring to FIU. Although it has been two years since taking this course in Fall 2018, it has had a lasting impact on me throughout my time at FIU. Sensei Masako Kubota quickly became one of my favorite professors and I had the pleasure of being her student again in Japanese II. The course was broken down into three parts: China, Japan, and South Korea with a focus on historical and cultural aspects of each country. I had a passion for Asian Studies before taking this course, as I declared it as my first major, but this is where the fire ignited. I enjoyed breaking out into discussion groups and talking with my fellow classmates about historical lessons and our views about certain moments in history. I enjoyed the numerous book discussions and guest speakers that we had in class. One of which included an FIU graduate who traveled to numerous temples in Japan; another graduate speaker shared her experience as a JET teacher in Kyoto, Japan. Kubota Sensei shared her own experiences growing up in Japan and applied our lessons to modern-day Japan which only elevated my learning experience. 

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For our final project, each group of students were required to report on their assigned country's food culture and how it welcoming or unwelcoming it is to Westernized fast food and food culture. I was assigned South Korea, my top choice, along with four other classmates. I was responsible for researching Traditional South Korean food culture and etiquette as well as Westernized food-chains versus South Korean food-chains. Through my research, I discovered that Koreans base much of their quality time and bonding over food, just like my own culture. Researching this project and popular Korean food-chains was beneficial to my future study abroad experience the following semester; there was hardly any culture shock and I was familiar with difference aspects of Korea's culture. 

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Throughout all of my Asian Studies courses, ASN3410 will remain one of my favorite courses. I thank Kubota Sensei for all that she taught our class and for inspiring me to travel and not only learn about Asian cultures, but to experience them first-hand. I also thank my fellow classmates for their discussions and insights. Not to mention, I met my best friend in this class!