Cursten Howard
Japanese Studies Concentration
While I was growing up in Roswell (GA) my dad’s hobby was bonsai trees. Because of that, I got to meet a lot of Japanese people as a child. This must have rubbed off on me, stimulating my choice to study Japanese language and culture in college.
I graduated from UNG in Spring 2022 with a degree in East Asian Studies, concentrating in Japan. While studying for this degree I was able to take classes in many different disciplines. This allowed me to approach Japan in myriad ways. Being able to engage with Japanese students both at UNG and at Nanzan University in Japan, where I did my study abroad, was particularly stimulating. Looking back, the most impactful experience while in the program was the anthropological research I got to do through a FUSE Grant. I completed a video project for which I translated an interview that was part of a series conducted with survivors of Japan's triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) of March 2011. I was able to present my research at two conferences, including UNG's Annual Research Conference. This was an amazing opportunity for me as I got to do full-time mentored research with a stipend.
Currently I am working in Okinawa (Japan) as an assistant language teacher on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2024. I love living in Japan, surrounded by the culture I spent such a long time studying. With my degree in EAS I am planning to pursue post graduate studies in Japanese anthropology or to find work in international business with a Japanese company once I come back to America. I would recommend UNG’s EAS program to anyone who has ANY interest in Japan or one of the other East Asian countries. This program offers a well-rounded view of the country you want to specialize in. I was able to study so many different aspects of Japan and got to see how they are connected, giving me a fuller picture of Japan. I could travel to the country to learn more about and experience its culture, making deeper connections along the way.
I graduated from UNG in Spring 2022 with a degree in East Asian Studies, concentrating in Japan. While studying for this degree I was able to take classes in many different disciplines. This allowed me to approach Japan in myriad ways. Being able to engage with Japanese students both at UNG and at Nanzan University in Japan, where I did my study abroad, was particularly stimulating. Looking back, the most impactful experience while in the program was the anthropological research I got to do through a FUSE Grant. I completed a video project for which I translated an interview that was part of a series conducted with survivors of Japan's triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) of March 2011. I was able to present my research at two conferences, including UNG's Annual Research Conference. This was an amazing opportunity for me as I got to do full-time mentored research with a stipend.
Currently I am working in Okinawa (Japan) as an assistant language teacher on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2024. I love living in Japan, surrounded by the culture I spent such a long time studying. With my degree in EAS I am planning to pursue post graduate studies in Japanese anthropology or to find work in international business with a Japanese company once I come back to America. I would recommend UNG’s EAS program to anyone who has ANY interest in Japan or one of the other East Asian countries. This program offers a well-rounded view of the country you want to specialize in. I was able to study so many different aspects of Japan and got to see how they are connected, giving me a fuller picture of Japan. I could travel to the country to learn more about and experience its culture, making deeper connections along the way.
