Several students shared with us a bit about their international experiences this past fall and winter. Scroll through the postcards to learn more about where students have interned and what they have learned while abroad.
Ahmad Almuhtaseb ’25
Japanese IEP & Computer Engineering
Living on a campus that is close to both the countryside and a lively city has given me the best of both worlds during my time here! I’ve had just as many opportunities to immerse myself in southern Japan’s beautiful nature from atop mountains and coastlines as I have to dive headfirst into Fukuoka’s bustling city life! (including being out the whole night to catch the first morning train back to campus, or befriending a Japanese student who walked me back when I missed my stop…)
I have already made so many friends (international and Japanese) through getting involved in campus activities, going to live music events in Tenjin, and being matched with a host family through Kyushu University! I just did a secret Santa party with the international students yesterday, and it was the first time I ever sincerely felt part of a “college experience” as a resident rather than a commuter.
Regarding plans for next semester, I have been given approval to extend my stay at Kyushu University by pursuing research in their fantastic engineering laboratory! I am very happy about this outcome since it will allow me to pursue engineering fieldwork in Japan while having more time to continue building meaningful experiences with people both in and out of Kyushu University!
The past few weeks have been crunch time for the Kyushu University students since some of our classes go by quarters and we just had exam week. I’m delighted to let you that know I’m safe, and that the life and community I’ve built here has been everything I wanted to get out of IEP and more!
Bottom left: Ahmad (left) posing as a yukata model with his friend Ken-San at a kimono workshop event hosted by Kyushu University; Atop a mountain in Oita during a short hike at the beginning of autumn. Photos courtesy of Ahmad Almuhtaseb
Emily Principe ’25
Italian IEP & Chemical Engineering
Looking back at the past few months, I have had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Naples and its islands, climb Mt. Vesuvius, and visit the ancient city of Pompeii. My favorite moments so far, though, have been meeting other international students. As the streets of Naples begin to light up for the holidays, my friends and I have also gotten into the spirit by hosting cozy gatherings to share some cultural Christmas dishes. Borscht, a Polish beet soup, has definitely become a favorite!
I’m currently wrapping up my semester at the University of Naples “Parthenope”, where I was able to take a class in Sustainable Energy Technologies. I am looking forward to staying in Naples and starting my internship in January. My projects will also be related to energy sustainability and renewable energy sources, a newfound interest of mine during my studies here! I will be working on collaborative research and development projects between the Laboratory of Thermo-fluid dynamics, Energy, and HVAC systems (LaTEC), and Graded S.p.A.
Cameron Tum ’26
Japanese IEP & Computer Engineering
Tokyo is a big place – much bigger than I expected. It’s hard to explore all of it, but I’ve certainly been trying. The convenience of public transportation here compared to back home has really been one of my favorite parts of living here. It makes exploring the sprawling metropolitans of Tokyo just that much easier. One of my favorite moments from this semester happened when a group of us [Chace Carey, Tommy Sisouvong and I] explored the artificial island of Odaiba. While walking along the main path of the island, we had discovered a large crowd gathered in a plaza next to a mall. Upon closer inspection, we had discovered that they were waiting for a free concert put on by an idol group, which started shortly after we arrived. We ended up spending about an hour and a half just standing with the crowd and watching it. None of us had any idea that there would be a concert that day, and we just happened to be lucky enough to catch it. It was great!
As for the second half of my time here, I look forward to exploring more of the country outside of just Tokyo and its neighboring areas.
