Allen Chen
Hailing from Southern California, I traveled the (not so) great distance of seven miles to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles. At Oxy, my coursework in American Studies and Sociology allows me to explore American history, literature, and culture. While abroad, I aim to broaden my understanding of the American experience, improve my Japanese, and grow as an individual.
Blogs by Allen Chen
Farewell IES Abroad Tokyo
Today we had our last IES Abroad Tokyo party with the IES Abroad students, staff, KUIS faculty, KUIS students, E-pals, the lovely homestay families, and...
Field Placement: Self-Access Learning Center
When I was looking into study abroad programs, I knew I wanted to be in Japan, and I knew I wanted to have some (cultural) structure beyond classes and beyond...
Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto, GO!
For the last big IES Abroad Tokyo field trip, we went all the way to Hiroshima by shinkansen.
IES Abroad Tokyo Fall 2017 Fashion Week (because we're extra like that)
On study abroad you’re going to see beautiful scenery.
Karaoke Picture Reel + Tips
So there’s this little Karaoke spot about 10 minutes away from school called Aprecio.
The Gaijin (Foreigner) Experience
In Japan, foreigners (read: study abroad students) are colloquially referred to as gaijin or gaikokujin.
Thrifting in Japan
Back when I was in high school, I began thrifting at my local Salvation Army.
Nikko Trip: Nature as Healing
Between essays, class field trips, and tests, I was in desperate, desperate need of a break.
An Old School Artsy Afternoon in Tokyo
Last Thursday, with an afternoon free of classes, we ventured into Tokyo to visit the Yanaka district in Taito.
Packed Weekend Part 2: Community Service
The day after, IES Abroad Tokyo planned a Community Service event in partnership with St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo.
Packed Weekend Part I: Harajuku + Tokyo Coffee Festival Autumn 2017 + Namaste India 2017
Last weekend, there were two huge festivals held in the Shibuya ward in Tokyo.
My First Time in Tokyo
As you scour the numerous study abroad opportunities through the web, immersion is one of the most common buzzwords used to describe the study abroad experience...
Applying for a Japanese Visa in Hong Kong as an American Citizen
My name is Allen and I will be documenting my adventures in Japan here for the Fall semester (August to December 2017).