Travel Award: Japan | EIL Intercultural Learning

Japan

One fully funded opportunity to explore Japanese culture

Visit the land of the Rising Sun... This exciting six week programme, jointly funded by the Japan - Ireland Friendship Link is based in the beautiful region of Suwa which is located in the Japanese Alps about two hours to the south of Tokyo.

Return flights from Ireland to Japan
Full board and accommodation with Japanese families
Visit to Tokyo
Visits to local schools to introduce Ireland
Introduction to Japanese sports
Japanese language classes, insurance cover

The closing date for applications is 5pm March 26^th 2010. Interviews will be held in April 2010. The names of selected participants will be announced in May 2010

Jenni visiting Takashima Castle: A photo of Jenni and what appears to be Takashima Castle. Jenni Roche, a student at St. Aloysius College, Co. Cork, was winner of the EIL Travel Award 2008 to Japan. She spent 6 weeks living with a local family and attending school in the Nagano region of Japan.

Details
How to apply
Photos & Videos
Blogs
Terms & Conditions

Details

Age profile: 16 - 18 on 1st of June 2010.

Travel Dates: End of June 2010 for 6 weeks.

How to apply

To enter for an award you need to tell us…

“What you could bring to this experience and how you could benefit from participating in it”

You can do this by using any one of the following formats:

An essay of not more than 700 words;
A project format of not more than 8 A4 size pages combining pictures, clippings, art, drawings and writing in any combination you wish.

Each entry needs to be specific to the country you wish to apply for i.e. you cannot use the same entry for more than one country. You also need to complete a specific Travel Award Application Form. You will need to complete this task and forward it in hard copy with an application form to reach EIL by 5pm on March 26th 2010. Application forms are available from EIL. A selection committee will shortlist a number of entrants and these will be invited for interview in Dublin on a Saturday in mid April 2010. The winners will be announced in May 2010. The decisions of the adjudication panels will be final.

Photos & Videos

Photos:

Blogs

Blogs:

Having Fun in Matsumoto

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 8 Sep 2009 - 10:55pm

Looking back over my photographs of Japan, I realise that I have yet to talk about my experiences in the city of Matsumoto with my host sister and her fiance.

Calligraphy Class

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 1 Sep 2009 - 10:31am

While I was in school in Japan I took a number of classes; World History, Japanese History, Biology, Ancient Japanese, Maths, and English. I freely admit that, for the majority of the time, I was completely lost. I remember being thrilled every time I managed to translate any of the vocabulary being used in Biology or Japanese History, and I'm afraid that Ancient Japanese went over my head completely. Maths I could manage, as I had already covered their course for the Leaving Certificate, and English didn't cause me too many problems.

Tokyo

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 1 Sep 2009 - 10:02am

Thinking back on my time in Japan, visiting the capital city, Tokyo, was one of the most fascinating experiences of the whole trip - and that is saying something.

Where does the time go?

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 5 Aug 2009 - 3:11am

Hard to believe that five weeks have gone by since I first set foot into this house and met my host mother and father for the first time. It`s funny how different everything seemed back then, how unknown and unfamiliar everything was. Suwa really has become like a second home for me; a second school, second family, second room, second set of friends. While I know that I`ve only just scraped the surface of the Japanese culture, I really feel like I`ve managed to gain some insight into what it means to be `Japanese`, differences and similarities.

Meeting the Mayor

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 9 Jul 2009 - 10:36am

I think I`m gradually becoming aware of all the little differences that cumulate to make life in Japan so different from life back home in Ireland. Everyday I notice small, seemingly unimportant habbits and customs that, in reality, make all the difference. It`s really interesting to note how, while in Ireland we respond to a sneeze with a `bless you`, in Japan there is no responce - it is simply ignored. There is no greeting for people you see on the street whom you don`t know, and plastic bags are given out in shops free of charge.

What a Week!

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 5 Jul 2009 - 11:24am

I`m trying to think of a word that would adequatley sum up what the past week has been like, and I`m afraid I`m drawing a blank! Perhaps it is that my Enlgish vocabulary is now hiding behind my (very limited) store of Japanese words, but I think the most likley explanation is that the word simply does not exist!

Exploring Suwa

posted by: Rebecca Bourke

on: 27 Jun 2009 - 7:44am

Konichiwa mina-san! O genki desu ka.

My experience in Japan!

posted by: caroline winters

on: 4 Mar 2009 - 9:07pm

I travelled to Japan in June 2008 to take part in EIL's Study Abroad programme and it was one of the most unforgetable experiences of my life. I went with two friends to do a homestay and Japanese classes in Suwa.

Free Travel Opportunities

posted by: Kevin Hickey

on: 4 Mar 2009 - 6:19pm

Imagine the excitement of telling somebody who has never been on an aeroplane that their first flight will be to Japan, Ecuador or Mexico. Thanks to the EIL Travel Awards I have been able to do this a few times.

Testimonials:

Currently there are no reports to display for this section, please check back soon as we're updating them as we receive accounts from our participants constantly.

Terms & Conditions

Applications should only be made with the full permission of the young person involved
Shortlisting may take place and interviews will take place pror to final selection
Each successful applicant must complete all necessary supplementary application forms as required by EIL (including parental/guardian permissions if under 18)
Selected applicants forfeit their place on the programme should he/she not be able to fully participate on the programme on all the dates as specified
Young people will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity and responsibility in order to participante
All persons making nominations and all the young applicants agree to accept the decision of the EIL adjudication panel as final.