Branson’s global ed trip to Japan called “Japan: Building a Sustainable Future,” took students across the Pacific to explore sustainability in Japan. 

Students traveled during February break along with faculty advisers Peter Zdrojewski and Todd Bickel. The group visited many sites across Japan, such as the Japan Food Ecology Center and Shibuya Crossing.

“From getting a tour around an incinerator plant to seeing how Japan recycles its food waste into pig feed, it was really cool to see the innovation and technological advancements that Japan has accomplished in such a short period of time,” Vera Woo ’28, who attended the trip, said. 

Students also paid close attention to Japan’s architecture while visiting Shibuya Crossing, focusing on the blend of new and old.

“My favorite landmark we visited was the Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine. Not only was it amazing to see the gates of the shrine and how culturally rooted Japan is, but also how the modern world can coexist with it. Just down the street from the temple, there were modern shops and goods all around, contrasting the traditionalism we saw at the temple,” Woo said.

When exploring Japan, students were inspired by the cultural differences they witnessed.

“It was really a transformative experience,” Anya Sridharan ’28 said, “I was very inspired after seeing how the people worked together for change, which is something I think we can all aspire to.”

In addition to cultural exploration, a key aspect of Branson’s global education program is the connections made within travel groups.

“The train rides were very bonding because we would be on them every day for hours, and we did not have our phones which was a huge part of it, so we just had to sit there and talk. We were also able to play board games,” Sridharan said.

Throughout the trip, the entire group sang together and played Taboo, creating friendships they are maintaining back at school.

“A lot of us didn’t know each other before, same with the faculty advisers, but I think that is what made it fun because we got to meet new people and be outside of our comfort zone. Peter and Todd felt like part of the group instead of faculty advisers, which made it really cool,” Sridharan said.

Although travelling across seas with Branson’s global education trips can seem difficult, the students who attended the Japan trip loved the experience.

“I would highly encourage students to apply for any global-ed trip! Even if you’re feeling on the fence about it, I can guarantee that it will 100 percent exceed your expectations and more,” Woo said.