Sophia Chang (Japan, 2023-24)

Sophia Chang is a Biological Anthropology Major at UC San Diego studying at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Sophia was awarded a Borton Scholarship for 2021-22. Covid prevented her from being able to go to Japan. She tried again, unsuccessfully, the following year. Next, she took a gap year during which she became a fantastic pastry chef. Last year she re-enrolled at UCSD and applied to Waseda University where she arrived in September! Growing up in Taiwan, she experienced various aspects of Japanese culture and fell in love with Japan when she visited a few years ago. As an anthropology major, Sophia strives to learn and understand human relations and traditions within a certain location. In this case, she is interested in how Japanese culture and history have shaped Japan’s image in the modern world. She is also excited to practice Japanese which she has been learning since the beginning of freshman year. She has ice skated since she was seven years old, was an active member of the Ice-Skating Club at UCSD, and hopes that she can continue to pursue her skating career even in Japan. She looks forward to traveling to different cities throughout the changing seasons and exploring the local specialties that Japan has to offer. She believes that living in Japan will provide her with new and unique experiences that cannot be understood through a book alone.  At Waseda, Sophia has made lots of friends at her dorm including exchange students from different parts of the world. She writes, “It is so interesting getting to hear their stories and learn more about their countries and cultures.” She has particularly enjoyed local festivals and shared the following vlog documenting one such event: Waseda Festival Vlog.

Danicka Leeds (Chile, 2023-24)

Danicka Leeds is a Human Developmental Sciences major at UC San Diego with a double minor in Spanish Linguistics and Psychology who will be studying abroad at the University of Chile. She plans to stay at a local family home upon arrival. Danicka writes of the opportunity to study abroad: “I want to gain insight into another culture and be entirely immersed in a different way of life to gain appreciation for another way of living and apply the values I’ve learned to my own life. I want to be able to redefine the narrative that travel is only possible if you’re rich and to show that a girl like me whose family comes from a line of homelessness can be able to make these dreams a reality. I want to be able to learn medical terminology in Spanish so that I can connect with Spanish-speaking patients without the use of a translator to show that I care for them and that I want to know them.” She plans to work as a phlebotomist in Chile to gain more medical terminology in Spanish and gain hospital experience. 

Megan Hsu (Japan, 2023-24)

Megan Hsu is an International Business major with a minor in Finance at UC San Diego studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Keio University. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Megan also frequently traveled to Taiwan and Japan, fostering her interest to study and work in a global setting where she can deepen her knowledge of foreign customs and lifestyles. Megan has worked as an international trade intern, and through this internship, solidified her passion for international business and helping businesses expand overseas. She strongly believes that the experiences she will gain through studying abroad will deepen her cultural awareness and understanding of global business. Since the age of three, Megan has been in contact with the Japanese language and culture. This upbringing has influenced her goal of working in Japan in the field of international business. One of Megan's hobbies is photography, and she hopes to document her journey as she travels around Japan, makes new friends, and experiences everything that Keio University has to offer. At Keio, Megan has joined the photography and aikido clubs. She writes of her early experience: “Overall, I am enjoying myself in Japan because each day is always so eventful and fun. The food is amazing, and the transportation is extremely convenient! However, there are some things that I am still struggling with. I've noticed that the classes here are much less structured than at UCSD. For example, the syllabus is extremely vague and assignment grades are never released.”

Kyle Lin (Japan, 2023-24)

Kyle Lin is a Computer Science major at UC Riverside who is studying at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. In 2017, Kyle participated in his city’s cultural exchange program with Toyokawa, a one-week homestay in a Japanese student’s home, which he says was one of the best weeks in his life. Even though he had never been to Japan before and didn’t speak Japanese, he felt a sense of belonging and acceptance from day one. Though he’d been exposed to other languages before, something about the Japanese phonemes and the shape of the hiragana and katakana resonated with him. At the end of the week, he left Japan with a spark of interest in its culture and language. Since then, he started learning Japanese and joined Japanese cultural clubs to learn about Japanese history, traditions, and pop culture. He is now eager to spend a full academic year in Japan to be able to truly immerse himself in and learn from the culture and customs, form deep relationships, and hopefully become fluent in the language. He was able to connect with and get advice from outgoing Borton scholar Akito Yatsugi.

Junehee Son (South Korea, 2023-24)

Junehee Son is a double major in Education Sciences and Political Science at UC Irvine studying at Seoul National University in South Korea. She has been dreaming of studying abroad since high school. Growing up as a missionary kid, she had the opportunity to live in many countries overseas which shaped her identity and has given her purpose in life. She aspires to start her career in education and ultimately work with UNICEF to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children in some of the world’s toughest places. Junehee looks forward to being exposed to the unique cultures, practices, and values that eventually initiated the Korean Wave through a top-quality school system that will introduce her to non-American, “uniquely Korean” views. She writes from Seoul, “I had the privilege of experiencing Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which spans three days and stands as one of Korea's major holidays. The delectable traditional foods I savored during the Chuseok celebration left me truly astounded. It would be a formidable task to pick a favorite among all the delicious dishes, but if I were pressed to choose, it would be Songpyeon: a traditional Korean rice cake, resembling a half-moon, with an array of fillings such as red bean paste, toasted sesame seeds, and chestnuts.” 

Katia Griffin (The Netherlands, 2023-24)

Katia Griffin is a third-year Chemical Engineering student at UC San Diego studying at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She grew up in Penn Valley, a rural town northwest of Lake Tahoe. Her parents volunteered for the Peace Corps in Russia before she was born, and, after her mother passed away, Katia wanted to continue her legacy of international work. During high school, she participated in a foreign exchange to South Australia for five months. She also journeyed to Croatia for a marine conservation excursion in 2021, where she was able to collect trash from the seafloor and make international friends. She is hoping to get involved in climate research while abroad in the Netherlands to further her goal of becoming a climate scientist. In Utrecht, Katia is living with ten roommates from all over the world: three other Americans, as well as Spanish, Turkish, Canadian, Irish, German, English, and French. She writes, “It has been so interesting to hear about each other’s culture, bond over being in a foreign place, and cook together.” Katia writes beautifully about her experiences abroad on her blog.

Piya Rao (Italy, 2023-24)

Piya Rao is a Sociology major at the UC Santa Barbara studying abroad at the University of Bologna in Italy. She has always loved languages and after studying Spanish and Latin in high school, she wanted to challenge herself with Italian. Longer term, she plans on a career where she engages daily with new populations from various walks of life, either in education or nonprofit work. Piya writes, “By throwing myself into a foreign environment where I quickly have to adapt to a new way of life and culture, I will be continuously preparing myself for my future work.” In Bologna, Piya shares a flat with students from France, Germany, Hungary, and Finland with whom she enjoys exchanging stories about each of their cultures. In addition, she writes, “I started babysitting three times a week for a 10-year-old Bolognese girl and it has been a great experience! It gives me a window into how Italian families live and provides an escape from the bustle of classes and the city.”  

Drew Shinozaki (Japan, 2023-24)

Drew Shinozaki is a third-year English major at UC Berkeley studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Drew is thrilled to immerse herself in Japan while pursuing a deeper knowledge of  the field of literary translation. She hopes to closely study how cross-cultural academia affects the perception of specific literary texts. With her understanding of Western society and values, she is excited to witness first-hand how easily interpretations of literature can differ due to culture, mindset, and untranslatable nuances only truly understood in their original languages. Drew is passionate about creative writing and psychological fiction and plans to improve her understanding of Japanese while also gaining a more complex awareness of how to realistically write East-Asian narrators in her short stories. At Waseda, Drew has connected with fellow Borton Scholar Sophia Chang as well as family members she had never met before. Drew writes, “I met my family from Japan! It was a really touching experience to finally get the chance to meet my father’s side of the family. They are very kind, and I love them a lot. In Japan, young people have a coming-of-age celebration where they visit a shrine in kimono. However, since my 20th birthday has already passed, they plan to hold a coming-of-age celebration for me on my 21st birthday instead. I am very grateful and honored to have that experience next year.”

Callan Brakeman (Norway, 2023-24)

Callan Brakeman is a Linguistics major at the UC Santa Barbara. She is originally from Pasadena, CA, and is attending the University of Oslo in Norway. Callan began learning Norwegian on a whim when she was 14 years old and has dreamed of living in Norway ever since. This love for the Norwegian language inspired her to study Linguistics at UCSB, where she eventually added a Slavic emphasis and a minor in Russian. Callan writes, “I’m very interested in Norwegian culture and the linguistics of Scandinavian languages, so I’m beyond excited to take part in this study abroad program. I hope to further my studies in Linguistics, and hopefully achieve fluency in Norwegian after living in Norway for an entire year.” Callan lives in a student village and has made great friends with several other international students, with whom she has traveled to Bergen and Budapest. “My favorite experience here so far has been seeing the seasons change,” Callan writes. “Growing up in Los Angeles, that’s not something I am very used to. The fall colors are beautiful and today it properly snowed for the first time!” 

Milan Au (South Korea, 2022-23)

Milan Au is a Business Administration major at UC Riverside studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea for the 2022-23 academic year. Milan grew up in Rosemead, California. While in high school, his Chinese and English teachers instilled in him a love for language learning. He hopes to improve his Korean language skills and learn more about Korea’s Esports culture during this year abroad in Korea. Previously, he volunteered at an insurance/tax office for 10 months, where he helped immigrants obtain green cards. He is keen on helping Esports athletes with their visas and green cards in the future, and he hopes to help ensure that immigrants get the resources they need. Although he plans to explore Korea during his year abroad, his long-term goal is to explore the whole world! He loves to learn about different cultures and enjoys challenging himself in new environments. After studying in South Korea, Milan plans to study abroad in China to achieve fluency in Mandarin.

Valeria Gonzales Perez (Italy, 2022-23)

Valeria Gonzales Perez is a Machine Learning and Cognitive Science major at UCSD studying abroad at the University of Padua (Padova in Italian) in Italy for the 2022-23 academic year. She writes, “When I first read that I had been awarded this scholarship, my dreams of studying abroad in an institution that cultivates a rich understanding of cognitive science and Italy’s culture seemed closer than ever before. It reassured me that my dreams are possible.” Before traveling to Padova, Valeria was able to visit Venice and enjoyed learning about the city’s unique history (e.g. only Venice natives are allowed to be “gondoleros”). At Padova, she has met students from Costa Rica, Pakistan, India, China, Norway, Croatia, Ukraine, Spain, Guatemala, Argentina, France, and many from Germany. She reports, “Overall, I’ve had an experience full of excitement, wonder, and learning in this beautiful city.”

Akito Yatsugi (South Korea, 2022-23)

Akito Yatsugi is a UCSD International Business major studying at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan for the 2022-23 academic school year. Akito is a native of San Diego, California where his parents are heavily involved in the local Japanese community. Through interactions with students from Japan and their parents, Akito gained a passion for learning about Japanese culture and language. During his year abroad, Akito plans on fully immersing himself in the Japanese culture by joining student circles as well as actively participating in both school and social events. He reports that, “Classes are interesting and in particular, I find my interpretation class exciting, as it is challenging yet fun.” He was surprised to find that many students at the university speak English well, as many of them have spent time living abroad. In his free time, Akito enjoys surfing, watching baseball, and exploring foods from different countries. He plans to travel to many cities in Japan to eat food items that he has not tried before.

Brianna Angulo (France, 2022-23)

Brianna Angulo is a student at UCSD majoring in Political Science-International Relations and minoring in human rights migration and is studying at Sciences Po in Paris, France for the 2022-23 academic school year. She will graduate from UCSD in June 2023 and plans on attending graduate school to learn more about international relations and immigration policy. Brianna writes, “As a young Latina born and raised in Downey, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles, it is crucial for me to fully immerse myself in my culture and learn more about my family’s journey immigrating from Mexico to the United States. Listening to my grandparents’ immigration stories motivates me to aid fellow immigrants and seek justice for them.” She wants to do further research to understand the immigrant experience and address the current humanitarian crisis. She believes her year abroad in Paris will help her study the importance of political participation, gain a deeper understanding of global issues, and experience cultural immersion. Brianna reports that her classes are very exciting and what has struck her most “is the passion and ambition of the students. It is very motivating and pushes me to do my best.”

Ashley Lopez (South Korea, 2022-23)

Ashley Lopez is an International Relations major at UC Davis, studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea for the 2022-23 academic school year. She is a first-generation student from Los Angeles. She has been studying Korean since her senior year of high school and has loved every challenge of learning a new language and culture. Studying Korean has made Ashley more involved in learning about cultures and aspects of society that are different from her own. She is excited to finally attend her dream University at Yonsei, a dream that was stalled by the pandemic. After graduation, Ashley hopes to pursue a Korean Language degree and continue higher education in International Relations. She enjoys cafe hopping and going around the city to take photos in her free time. While in Korea, Ashley writes that she “aims to fully immerse herself in the culture and its people to get the most out of her time in Korea.”

Duy Nguyen (South Korea, 2022-23)

Duy Nguyen is an International Studies-Political Science major at UCSD studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea for the 2022-23 academic year. Born and raised in Orange County, California, Duy was exposed to a diversity of cultures throughout his youth, especially the Korean community in Garden Grove. These early experiences motivated him to pursue International Studies and Political Science at UCSD, while specializing in Japanese and Korean Studies as his minors. Duy believes his experience abroad will allow him to unlock a new understanding of international politics from South Korea's perspective, as well as gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of Korean culture. Duy is the first in his family to attend a four-year college and hopes to pursue a doctorate in international politics in order to teach other college students. Duy was a research assistant under Ph.D. candidate Patrick Hulme at the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy, whose work consists of analyzing Congressional sentiments on the use of military force and the presidential authority to do so across a wide range of U.S. foreign conflicts. Duy helped to analyze these Congressional sentiments and has researched conflicts ranging from the Korean War to the current conflict in Ukraine. In his free time, Duy enjoys working out, watching sports, and eating spicy food. Whether engrossed in his studies, wandering around the campus at Yonsei University or catching a baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, Duy is excited to study abroad in South Korea.

Ragini Krishnaswami (South Korea, 2022-23)

Ragini Krishnaswami is a Korean major at UCLA studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korean for the 2022-23 academic year. Her interest in Korean language and culture was piqued in her senior year of high school. Ragini has been exposed to multiple languages from a very young age; three of which are Indian languages. She explored her interest by learning other foreign languages, but she was most captivated by Korean. She made Korean her major at UCLA and found she was even more interested in learning about the culture and lifestyle in Korea, right at the source. By learning multiple languages, Ragini hopes to “connect the world and create new bonds through communication.” She has connected with several other Borton Scholars in Yonsei since arriving. She writes, “One of my classes is a cinema class, and my friends and I are planning to travel to Busan for the Busan International Film Festival. I can't wait to explore more of this country and experience the culture firsthand!” Ragini believes that her year abroad in Korea will not only give her the opportunity to learn the language she loves but also a chance to grow into a citizen of the world.

Tzipporah Moehringer (Spain, 2022-23)

Tzipporah Moehringer is a Biopsychology and Spanish double major from UC Santa Barbara who is studying abroad at Complutense University of Madrid for the 2022-23 academic year. Tzipporah grew up in San Diego, California and is eager to exchange the familiar setting of a beach town for the bustling, historic city and its completely different culture and way of life. Tzipporah’s first experience with Spanish in middle school made her passionate about learning the language. She looks forward to returning home from a year abroad not only fluent, but confident in her knowledge of the language and culture. Tzipporah is determined to pursue a career in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and work with Doctors Without Borders, performing cleft palate surgeries on patients in underrepresented Latin American countries. Tzipporah writes, “after my formal education is complete, I plan to establish a private practice in San Diego (where there is a large Hispanic population), so it will be important for me to be able to speak fluently with my Spanish-speaking patients in their native language.” Before traveling to Madrid, Tzipporah was able to connect with recent Borton Scholar Jonathan Sarabia, who gave her tips that helped her immensely with traveling and settling in. During her stay in Madrid, Tzipporah is excited to immerse herself in Spanish culture, build friendships with people she would not have otherwise met, and transform herself into a stronger, more independent young adult.

Sophia Garrido (England, 2021-22)

Sophia Garrido is a Communications major at UCSD studying abroad at Royal Holloway in the United Kingdom for the 2021-22 academic year. Sophia was born and raised in Orange County, California and is very passionate about studying different cultures and communities. She loves learning about how media, politics, history, and society all work together to create a culture’s values. At UCSD, she is a member of the sorority Pi Beta Phi, and the UCSD Women’s soccer team. Sophia wants to “challenge herself to become comfortable with the uncomfortable.” In addition to her course work, she is playing competitive soccer. Sophia reports that, “Already, my time abroad has helped me narrow down the path I want to take for my future. It has shown me my passion for international relations so much so to the point where I decided to apply for a summer internship with the U.S. State Department. There is an embassy in Italy that works on promoting religious freedom, as well as an office in Washington DC which does the same. I’ve applied to both, so fingers crossed!”

Shellsea de Leon (France, 2021-22)

Shellsea de Leon is a Political Science major at UCSD studying abroad at Sciences Po in Paris, France. She has been studying French since her first year of high school and has loved every second of it. Shellsea is the first in her family to go to college and she wishes to make her academic career the best it can be to make her family proud. After graduation, Shellsea hopes to pursue a law degree and work as a lawyer or in a government agency like the Environmental Protection Agency. She writes, “In my class on climate change it has been very insightful to have conversations on the Paris Accord, but also on COP26 and how countries determine who is the most responsible for carbon emissions and pollution.” In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, or singing with her dad. While in France, she aims to fully immerse herself in the culture and its people and practice her French in order to become fluent. Shellsea writes that her comprehension of the French language has increased significantly. “I remember when I first came to France and I was absolutely confused as to what everything meant, even though I had years of learning the language. I think, however, thanks to my engagement and pursuit of taking French classes, it gave me an amazing opportunity to get more involved in the culture.”