~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
・Barnaby
S. Donlon '93
・JPN 101 - 402, East Asian Studies Major
・JYA at International Christian University, Tokyo ('91 ~
'92)
・Thesis in JPN, "俳句から人情まで:夏目漱石の文体変化
" (The stylistic development of Natsume Soseki, from Haiku to Ninjo)
・Other Bates experiences: Varsity Swimming ('89-'90, '90-'91),
Bates Student news reporter ('89 -'93), Campus tourguide ('92-'93)
・I was fortunate to land a job on the JET Program during
my senior year at Bates, and I worked as a CIR
(Coordinator of International Relations) for three full years ('93-'96) for
the Yamaguchi Prefectural Government. For so many reasons this was the
dream job for me. There was so much variety and challenge to the work
that it was always fun and interesting and I felt like I was able to learn a
lot about Japan and develop in many ways as a person.
・Needless to say, the JET Program was a lot of
challenge and fun. And, I think one important thing to remember when
doing anything is KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. There were so many times
when I walked into a room in Japan and you could cut the tension in the
air with a knife. But, whenever it was appropriate to say something
funny, I would do it. People would laugh and the atmosphere would
change completely.
・Since the JET Program I have been enrolled in
a graduate school here in Boston. In May ('99) I was awarded my master's
degree from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy (a joint program
of Harvard and Tufts). Presently (July, 1999) I am looking to start
my own business, which isn't Japan-related, but started out to be: I was
in Kobe last summer when I discovered a new business opportunity.
Currently I am seeking investors to inject some seed capital so I can develop
a new technology and hire a sales force.
・My study of Japanese has really paid off and I
think I will always have opportunities to use it personally and professionally.
Japan has really become something of a second home to me, and I do miss
it when I am not there. My advice to anyone looking for a little
motivation is to pick up the phone and give me a call. I would love
to share my enthusiasm
for the program at Bates and help students think
about the role of Japanese in their futures!
・Lastly, let me say that I wouldn't have gotten
anywhere without the help of professors Strong, Ofuji, and Hirai.
They were like a wellspring of Japan-related knowledge that I tapped into
during my years at Bates. They gave excellent guidance, were totally
committed to my intellectual development, and continue to be good friends
of mine. "Kokoro yori fukaku kansha shite orimasu."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
・Anna Louise Englund Hanley
'93
11 Stoneledge Drive, Portland,
ME 04102
・JPN
101 ~ 402, East Asian Studies Major
・JSA at Kansai Gaidai fall '91, Summer course at
Gujo-Hachiman in Gifu, summer '91
・Thesis in JPN, "二十一世紀の学校教育
(School Education in the 21st century)" [Creative Story]
・Summer Internship at Victoria Sports Company in
Tokyo in Summer '92
・New England Speech Contest in 1993
・I got a job at LL Bean in the fall of '93, got
engaged in '95, and got married in July '96. We bought a condo in
Portland, ME, in '97 and we are living there happily to date!
・How I got my first job at LLBean:
During my interview, I told LLBean's International
Department (customer service) that I thought I would be an asset to their
department because I could speak to the customers in their own language.
I got the job on the spot. I was very happy in that job while I was there.
I really did feel like I was helping someone every day. BUT I really
don't think it was just my Japanese that got me the job. I was honest
with those who interviewed me, and I looked them in the eye (very important
when going for a job!) and I emphasized that I am a hard worker and also
very determined to do a good job. I told them what values are important
to me- like family, friends, the outdoors, and working to one's potential.
It seemed that LLBean encompassed those same values so it would be a good
fit.
・After a while, I was ready for another job. My
next LL Bean job was to help LL Bean Japan stores get the LL Bean items
that they wanted most. I was a liason--between the Japanese buyers
and the LL Bean buyers. It was interesting, but not exciting enough
for me. I stayed in that job for 2 years until October '97. Since
then I have been doing my dream job --combining my energy with the outdoors
and my love of kids at LL Bean. I am the developer of Kids Outdoor
Programs in the "Outdoor Discovery Program" department. The activities
range from fly casting - to kayaking - to archery, etc. It is a fantastic,challenge,
and lots of fun. I don't use my Japanese everyday, but we sometimes
take groups of Japanese customers on trips like week long canoe trips,
etc. So on those occasions, I get to use my Japanese while doing
my favorite things!
・The hardest thing at Bates was my thesis.
That was a really tough semester to say the least. [She wrote a long
story about a young couple who didn't like their schools. She came
to see me very often while she was writing her thesis. Other students
said, "Sensei, if you look for Anna Louise, you can find her in a computer
room any time." She really worked hard on every thing. I believe
that her experiences helped her personal growth and improvement of her
Japanese skills. --Ofuji]
・To a first or second year student, I would say
that being honest is the most important value you could hold. Being
honest will help you in every stage of your life if you let it work for
you. Your sincerity shines through when developing relationships, and,
as a result, your other traits will be obvious as well. Giving up
at something is often not even an option when you look inside and honestly
ask yourself if that is really what you want to do. Good luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
・ Jennifer
Mooradian Levin '93
・JPN
101 - 401, East Asian Studies
・Bates Fall Semester in Tokyo in 1989; JYA at Waseda University,
91'~92'
・Thesis in JPN, "鋳型と鏡:日本のメディアに登場する女性像(Frame
and Mirror: Image of Women in Japanese Media)"--awarded for the best thesis
written in a foreign language. [I remember that Jennifer guided me around
Bates, speaking Japanese fluently when I visited Bates for campus interview.
She was one of the most talented japanese students I have ever met. While
she was writing her thesis, we discussed the content and the usage of upper
level Japanese language. She referred some books written in Japanese as
source material. --Ofuji]
・I attended law school at Columbia University after Bates.
I began work as an attorney in Oct. 97 at a relatively large firm in NYC called
Chadbourne & Parke LLC. I got the job through the recruiting office
at Columbia. The fact that I had some exposure to Japan was extremely
helpful in landing a job in NYC. Law firms consider experience abroad
a valuable asset in a candidate for employment.
I was lucky to work for one summer at a law firm in
Tokyo called Matsuo & Kosugi. While it was difficult at first to get
assignments because I was not yet a lawyer and because I was not a native Japanese
speaker. People soon gave me assignments that involved Japanese research
and English writing.
・The Bates Japanese program was excellent. The professors
are willing to tailor classes to meet students needs, eg. Independent studies
was one course offering. Even now, I socialize with a Japanese crowd at
work. You need good connections to get into the best sake bars in the
city.
[Jennifer was not only talented but also made a lot of effort.
I once saw her studying in a classroom by herself after four in the afternoon.
Some pages of her English-Japanese dictionary were torn out which indicates
how often she has used it She said she read the Japanese grammar
book or textbook repeatedly. -- The result was that she made few basic
grammatical mistakes. --Ofuji]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
・ Gave
Lee '93
He is now teaching English at Toyo University in Tokyo after he got a
MA degree at Temple University.