Sustainable energy in Japan
My name is Ray Salman, University of Washington-Bothell, Mechanical Engineer, class of 2020. I have participated in the Sustainable Energy study abroad course in Japan, and it was a very unique experience. Besides the tremendous academic learning, many other aspects will be kept as tools and ideas to be used whenever needed. And also, some good memories too. Our goal of building and/or improving our communities to the desired life quality won’t come without education and knowledge, especially if it is rich and diverse like ours.
One excellent resource can be found far away, where people do things in ways that we might not be thinking of. Visiting Japan as a study abroad student was a different traveling experience. Being a representative of my University, Community, and Country made me evaluate things by looking at it from a different perspective; I was comparing everything, The way students and instructors were treating each other, their transportation and energy systems, the way they consider things as a potential risk compared to us (such as nuclear-technology and climate-change…etc.) During a tea ceremony, we were asked not to think of anything, but to enjoy the special moments which will never happen again. That was the exact thing I was trying to do from the first to last second while.
My three-weeks stay there was enough to make me feel and recognize the advantages we have here that Japanese people would love to have a fraction of it, and also the things that we need to focus on to improve. If not all, then the majority of these observed ideas and learning won’t be gained without experiencing it in person with the support you get from the talented instructors and staff before, during, and after the trip.
Ray Salman, Early Fall 2019
