Hello! My name is James King. I am a 22-year-old college student from southwest Colorado. My current majors are in environmental science and business administration. Through my school's exchange program, I am studying in the Kyushu Prefecture of Japan for two semesters. I am Dine (Navajo) Native American. Before my journey, I had never flown in an airplane and had only seen the ocean once. I grew up in northern New Mexico in a place with hardly any trees and where the nearest supermarket was an hour away. I've always loved the deserts and mountains around me. I spent my childhood and teen years biking, snowboarding, and hiking, and I thank them for the lessons and adventurous spirit needed to embark on a journey such as this one.
I've always been surrounded by culture and been interested in languages and diverse perspectives. When I went to college, I became quick and close with nearly all of the international students from countries all over the world. I learned so much from them, and they kindled my itch for growth, perspective, meaning, adventure, and connection. This prefecture of Japan is the opposite in nearly every way to the town in which I grew up, and is near Fukuoka, a city famous for its environmental practices and urban design. So, I picked here to further my education, study different approaches to environmental thinking, learn diverse business practices, and exchange my national and native culture. I am a person who cannot stay still and loves going on spontaneous adventures and meeting new people. I wish to write about my travels to better reflect on my time here and possibly inspire others as I live a year in another country.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
