Ari Young travels to Japan on sabbatical
Ari Young, high school social sciences teacher, traveled to Japan this summer thanks to the Wesleyan Summer Sabbatical Grant.
“I was fortunate enough to receive an award for a sabbatical this year, and there was only one place I could imagine visiting,” explains Young. “After receiving the award, I planned a two-week, three-city excursion to Japan. I was always fascinated by the country, its people, its history, and its culture.”
Young’s first stop was Tokyo where he saw beautiful shrines including the Meiji Shrine and the Hei Shrine. He also visited the Imperial Palace, home to Japan’s Emperor. Additionally, he visited the Diet, Japan’s Parliament, for a guided tour.
“The views from Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest tower, were phenomenal,” reflects Young.
Young also visited Osaka in Japan, a thriving metropolis in the center of the nation.
“The city has lots of history from the Dotonbori shopping district to the historic Osaka castle,” explains Young.
Young’s final stop was Hiroshima, the site of the world’s first nuclear attack. The epicenter, the Peace Dome, is a structure that partially survived the blast and has been preserved as a memorial.
The Wesleyan Summer Sabbatical Grant encourages faculty to pursue a lifetime of learning. Grant recipients may apply their funds to study, volunteer work, Christian missions, research, or other scholarly activities. Thank you, Ari, for sharing your experience!
