Jupiter, FL (March 9, 2011) -  Students from Florida Atlantic University’s Wilkes Honors College have taken advantage of the opportunity to study all over the world: Ghana, Costa Rica, Australia, Guatemala, Russia, Tanzania … these are only a few of the destinations that have drawn students from the Honors College.  This summer, Zeke Thomas, a junior at the college, will immerse himself in Japanese culture through a study-abroad experience in Tokyo.
           “I’ve been interested in studying abroad in Japan since high school,” says Thomas. Armed with a deep interest in the island nation’s history and but a single course in the Japanese language, Thomas will live and learn in Tokyo for ten weeks. He hopes to be able to reside with a Japanese family so that he can find out more about everyday life in the country. However, Thomas will be doing much more than simply experiencing the local culture. He will also be taking nine credits worth of intensive academic courses. Thomas is a pre-med major, but like so many students at the Wilkes Honors College, he is excited about taking some classes outside of his usual area of study. “I’m more of a math and science kind of guy,” he says, “But if I can I certainly want to take a course concerning Anime and its relationship to Japanese culture.” For Thomas, this study-abroad experience will allow him to satisfy some of his academic requirements in a new and exciting setting.
           As a motivated student at the Honors College, Thomas encourages his fellow students to take advantage of the opportunities to study in other countries that are readily available to them during their years at Florida Atlantic. He added that the application process was easy, and certainly worth the effort it entailed. “This kind of opportunity may only come once in your life,” says Thomas. Furthermore, he feels that this program will make him more well-rounded and ready for graduate school.
           When asked about what he is looking forward to the most about his study abroad experience, Thomas immediately mentioned the chance for cultural immersion. He feels that it is important to understand the cultures of other nations, especially those of non-western societies. He hopes that his time in the country will help him to better appreciate societies that are different from his own.
           Dr. Paul Kirchman and Dr. Nick Quintyne of the Honors College were instrumental in helping Thomas make his decision to study abroad. After completing research under the guidance of both professors, Dr. Kirchman and Dr. Quintyne decided that experiencing a different culture would be more beneficial for Thomas than completing additional research, and encouraged him to seek opportunities to study in a different country. Thomas plans to complete his Honors College degree and enter medical school. He says that the prospect of entering medical school also motivated him to make plans to study abroad during his undergraduate years. “I’m going to be in school for a long time,” says Thomas with a smile. “I want to take the time to do this while I have the chance.”

byline: WHC Student Intern Megan Geiger