Lavender Robinson (Spain, 2024-25)

Lavender Robinson (she/they) is a Spanish major from the UC Irvine who is studying at the Universitat de Barcelona for the 2024-2025 academic year. Lavender is a military kid who grew up mainly in the state of Maryland, lived in London for a short time in their younger years, and made many trips to Europe during her childhood. Learning languages and kinetically exploring the cultures constantly changing around her, Lavender always has had a knack for expanding their worldview and perspectives through outward cultural involvement, understanding, and study. Studying abroad in Spain is a dream for Lavender that she is excited to fulfill. She knows that her experience will allow her to grow in several ways alongside her academic endeavors. Their passions and drive are fueled by the quote: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

Miguel Ambriz Valdovinos (Spain, 2024-25)

Miguel Ambriz Valdovinos is a Social Welfare major at the UC Berkeley studying at Complutense University of Madrid for the 2024-25 academic year. Miguel was born and raised by a single father in San Jose, California. As the first in his family to attend university, Miguel's educational pursuits are driven by a commitment to personal and professional growth. His time in Madrid will help to advance his proficiency in Spanish, a crucial skill for his future career in social work and nonprofit fundraising. Motivated by his mother's dream of traveling to "las Europas," Miguel views his study abroad experience as a heartfelt tribute to her memory. He is committed to making the most of this opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year to integrate into the local culture, build lasting connections, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the Spanish education system and social dynamics. Miguel's journey is not only about academic and professional development but also about personal growth. He looks forward to the independence and resilience that will come from living abroad. He believes this experience will undoubtedly shape his future, providing clarity on his aspirations and laying the foundation for a fulfilling and purposeful career serving Hispanic communities. He is eager to explore the peninsula and deepen his connection to his Hispanic heritage, Catholic faith, and identity as a first-generation college student. Miguel writes, “I enjoy being able to speak my mother tongue here. I like not having to say my name differently or to spell it out letter by letter, which always feels like a small but constant adjustment back home.”

Victor Jimenez Alba (Japan, 2024-25)

Victor Jimenez Alba is a Computer Science and Engineering major at UC Merced who is studying abroad at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. Victor was born and raised in Escondido, California where he learned an appreciation for Japanese culture from his mother. At Keio University, he hopes the courses he takes will advance his knowledge of computer science. He plans to evaluate graduate programs both at Keio and in other parts of Japan. At Keio, Victor is enrolled in a Japanese art of humor class with fellow Borton Scholars Saha Kumar and Lesa Ritchie. He writes, “Life here in Japan has been extemely enjoyable and refreshing. I feel a lot more excited to attend class because I feel the classes are a lot more personal.”

Saha Kumar (Japan, 2024-25)

Saha Kumar is a Japanese Studies major and Political Science minor at UC San Diego studying at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. From a very young age, Saha had a passion for foreign language studies and especially the Japanese language and culture. Saha deeply treasures the learning of foreign languages, placing high value on communicating and connecting with people. She aspires to contribute to the field of international relations, especially as it relates to U.S.-Japan diplomacy, and looks forward to studying Japanese foreign policy while at Keio University. She aims to achieve JLPT N1 level fluency by her return to the United States in August 2025. Additionally, Saha has a niche, vivid passion for the art of Japanese swordsmithing. She is currently writing a thesis on the poetic significance of swords in classical Japanese literature, which she aspires to publish in a research journal prior to graduation. Saha is very excited to experience the Sapporo snow festival, visit sword-history-rich sites like Hakone, and explore the beautiful Japanese countryside. Saha writes, “One of my favorite experiences so far was attending a Japanese organized Indian Diwali (festival of lights) festival in Yokohama. Japanese people performed classical Indian dance such as Bhangra, played the thabla, spoke Hindi and Japanese interchangeably, and explained the story of Diwali. I was hugely moved to see people have so much joy and passion in celebrating my culture and languages, the same way I was passionate about theirs.”

Genevieve Riley (Spain, 2024-25)

Genevieve Riley is a Linguistics major at UC San Diego studying abroad at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she first became fascinated with language when she began studying Spanish in high school and listening to music in a variety of languages. When the pandemic hit and her high school transitioned to remote learning, she took the opportunity to learn the writing systems of some of the languages that interested her the most. In her bedroom, while completing her sophomore and junior years remotely, she self-studied the orthographies of Arabic, Russian, and Thai. Having become the most proficient in Spanish over the years, she chose to study in Barcelona. Genevieve writes, "What I'm most excited about is living in a dormitory with other international students. We'll get to learn about each other's cultures while sharing the experience of being in this bustling and multilingual city for the first time." With plans to be a speech-language pathologist, Genevieve is looking forward to broadening her awareness of both the commonalities and differences between people from various countries, and approaching those differences with cultural humility. Genevieve is studying Spanish, Catalan, and Irish literature in Barcelona during her first term.

Eliza Parungao (Japan, 2024-25)

Eliza Parungao is a second-year International Studies Major at UC Irvine studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. She was born in Irvine and raised in San Jose, California. Eliza is committed to bridging cross-cultural gaps, particularly with international and/or English language learner students in the United States. For the past year, Eliza has worked as an English conversation partner under one of UCI’s exchange programs. Her time in this role gave her the unique opportunity to interact with Japanese students of the same age; she used this position to grow her students’ confidence in English and make new friends. As the first person in her family to go abroad, Eliza is thrilled to attend Waseda University for the entirety of her third year of university. She is most excited to rekindle friendships with the Japanese students she met during her time at UCI, and to go cafe-hopping.

Erin Moore (Japan, 2024-25)

Erin Moore is a fourth year International Business major with a minor in Japanese Studies at UC San Diego studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Her grandparents greatly influenced her decision to study abroad, and she is eager to connect with her Japanese heritage. Erin is looking forward to reconnecting with friends she met during a two-week exchange program in 2019, including her homestay family, who has continuously been supportive and even taken trips to visit her in California. Erin’s hobbies include film photography as well as collecting records of her favorite artists. Erin has been actively involved in the Nikkei Student Union (NSU), a Japanese American social-cultural club at UC San Diego, where she has taken on various leadership positions and connected with her Japanese roots. Erin writes that she is “excited to interact with diverse people and make friends from all around the world in my classes as well as through various clubs. I hope to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and take advantage of my time abroad by trying new things and seeking new experiences.” In Tokyo, Erin has become friends with fellow Borton Scholar Eliza Parungao and they are exploring the city together.

Lesa Ritchie (Japan, 2024-25)

Lesa Ritchie is a double major in Japanese Studies and History, with a minor in Education Studies at UC San Diego studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Keio University. Born and raised in San Diego, she was able to take Japanese classes at her high school, inspiring her to become a Japanese language high school teacher. She enjoys taking on leadership positions such as Japanese National Honors Society, captain of the UCSD club tennis team, and being active in the Education Studies Association at UCSD. Lesa says, “Being eager to gain cultural experiences and opportunities to advance my Japanese is what will help me become an authentic secondary Japanese world language teacher.” Lesa loves competing in tennis and pickleball, and is hoping to continue abroad, along with picking up other hobbies in Japan as well. 

Sophia Chang (Japan, 2023-24)

Sophia Chang is a Biological Anthropology Major at UC San Diego studying at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Sophia was awarded a Borton Scholarship for 2021-22. Covid prevented her from being able to go to Japan. She tried again, unsuccessfully, the following year. Next, she took a gap year during which she became a fantastic pastry chef. Last year she re-enrolled at UCSD and applied to Waseda University where she arrived in September! Growing up in Taiwan, she experienced various aspects of Japanese culture and fell in love with Japan when she visited a few years ago. As an anthropology major, Sophia strives to learn and understand human relations and traditions within a certain location. In this case, she is interested in how Japanese culture and history have shaped Japan’s image in the modern world. She is also excited to practice Japanese which she has been learning since the beginning of freshman year. She has ice skated since she was seven years old, was an active member of the Ice-Skating Club at UCSD, and hopes that she can continue to pursue her skating career even in Japan. She looks forward to traveling to different cities throughout the changing seasons and exploring the local specialties that Japan has to offer. She believes that living in Japan will provide her with new and unique experiences that cannot be understood through a book alone.  At Waseda, Sophia has made lots of friends at her dorm including exchange students from different parts of the world. She writes, “It is so interesting getting to hear their stories and learn more about their countries and cultures.” She has particularly enjoyed local festivals and shared the following vlog documenting one such event: Waseda Festival Vlog.

Danicka Leeds (Chile, 2023-24)

Danicka Leeds is a Human Developmental Sciences major at UC San Diego with a double minor in Spanish Linguistics and Psychology who will be studying abroad at the University of Chile. She plans to stay at a local family home upon arrival. Danicka writes of the opportunity to study abroad: “I want to gain insight into another culture and be entirely immersed in a different way of life to gain appreciation for another way of living and apply the values I’ve learned to my own life. I want to be able to redefine the narrative that travel is only possible if you’re rich and to show that a girl like me whose family comes from a line of homelessness can be able to make these dreams a reality. I want to be able to learn medical terminology in Spanish so that I can connect with Spanish-speaking patients without the use of a translator to show that I care for them and that I want to know them.” She plans to work as a phlebotomist in Chile to gain more medical terminology in Spanish and gain hospital experience. 

Megan Hsu (Japan, 2023-24)

Megan Hsu is an International Business major with a minor in Finance at UC San Diego studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Keio University. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Megan also frequently traveled to Taiwan and Japan, fostering her interest to study and work in a global setting where she can deepen her knowledge of foreign customs and lifestyles. Megan has worked as an international trade intern, and through this internship, solidified her passion for international business and helping businesses expand overseas. She strongly believes that the experiences she will gain through studying abroad will deepen her cultural awareness and understanding of global business. Since the age of three, Megan has been in contact with the Japanese language and culture. This upbringing has influenced her goal of working in Japan in the field of international business. One of Megan's hobbies is photography, and she hopes to document her journey as she travels around Japan, makes new friends, and experiences everything that Keio University has to offer. At Keio, Megan has joined the photography and aikido clubs. She writes of her early experience: “Overall, I am enjoying myself in Japan because each day is always so eventful and fun. The food is amazing, and the transportation is extremely convenient! However, there are some things that I am still struggling with. I've noticed that the classes here are much less structured than at UCSD. For example, the syllabus is extremely vague and assignment grades are never released.”

Kyle Lin (Japan, 2023-24)

Kyle Lin is a Computer Science major at UC Riverside who is studying at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. In 2017, Kyle participated in his city’s cultural exchange program with Toyokawa, a one-week homestay in a Japanese student’s home, which he says was one of the best weeks in his life. Even though he had never been to Japan before and didn’t speak Japanese, he felt a sense of belonging and acceptance from day one. Though he’d been exposed to other languages before, something about the Japanese phonemes and the shape of the hiragana and katakana resonated with him. At the end of the week, he left Japan with a spark of interest in its culture and language. Since then, he started learning Japanese and joined Japanese cultural clubs to learn about Japanese history, traditions, and pop culture. He is now eager to spend a full academic year in Japan to be able to truly immerse himself in and learn from the culture and customs, form deep relationships, and hopefully become fluent in the language. He was able to connect with and get advice from outgoing Borton scholar Akito Yatsugi.

Junehee Son (South Korea, 2023-24)

Junehee Son is a double major in Education Sciences and Political Science at UC Irvine studying at Seoul National University in South Korea. She has been dreaming of studying abroad since high school. Growing up as a missionary kid, she had the opportunity to live in many countries overseas which shaped her identity and has given her purpose in life. She aspires to start her career in education and ultimately work with UNICEF to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children in some of the world’s toughest places. Junehee looks forward to being exposed to the unique cultures, practices, and values that eventually initiated the Korean Wave through a top-quality school system that will introduce her to non-American, “uniquely Korean” views. She writes from Seoul, “I had the privilege of experiencing Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which spans three days and stands as one of Korea's major holidays. The delectable traditional foods I savored during the Chuseok celebration left me truly astounded. It would be a formidable task to pick a favorite among all the delicious dishes, but if I were pressed to choose, it would be Songpyeon: a traditional Korean rice cake, resembling a half-moon, with an array of fillings such as red bean paste, toasted sesame seeds, and chestnuts.” 

Katia Griffin (The Netherlands, 2023-24)

Katia Griffin is a third-year Chemical Engineering student at UC San Diego studying at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She grew up in Penn Valley, a rural town northwest of Lake Tahoe. Her parents volunteered for the Peace Corps in Russia before she was born, and, after her mother passed away, Katia wanted to continue her legacy of international work. During high school, she participated in a foreign exchange to South Australia for five months. She also journeyed to Croatia for a marine conservation excursion in 2021, where she was able to collect trash from the seafloor and make international friends. She is hoping to get involved in climate research while abroad in the Netherlands to further her goal of becoming a climate scientist. In Utrecht, Katia is living with ten roommates from all over the world: three other Americans, as well as Spanish, Turkish, Canadian, Irish, German, English, and French. She writes, “It has been so interesting to hear about each other’s culture, bond over being in a foreign place, and cook together.” Katia writes beautifully about her experiences abroad on her blog.

Piya Rao (Italy, 2023-24)

Piya Rao is a Sociology major at the UC Santa Barbara studying abroad at the University of Bologna in Italy. She has always loved languages and after studying Spanish and Latin in high school, she wanted to challenge herself with Italian. Longer term, she plans on a career where she engages daily with new populations from various walks of life, either in education or nonprofit work. Piya writes, “By throwing myself into a foreign environment where I quickly have to adapt to a new way of life and culture, I will be continuously preparing myself for my future work.” In Bologna, Piya shares a flat with students from France, Germany, Hungary, and Finland with whom she enjoys exchanging stories about each of their cultures. In addition, she writes, “I started babysitting three times a week for a 10-year-old Bolognese girl and it has been a great experience! It gives me a window into how Italian families live and provides an escape from the bustle of classes and the city.”  

Drew Shinozaki (Japan, 2023-24)

Drew Shinozaki is a third-year English major at UC Berkeley studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Drew is thrilled to immerse herself in Japan while pursuing a deeper knowledge of  the field of literary translation. She hopes to closely study how cross-cultural academia affects the perception of specific literary texts. With her understanding of Western society and values, she is excited to witness first-hand how easily interpretations of literature can differ due to culture, mindset, and untranslatable nuances only truly understood in their original languages. Drew is passionate about creative writing and psychological fiction and plans to improve her understanding of Japanese while also gaining a more complex awareness of how to realistically write East-Asian narrators in her short stories. At Waseda, Drew has connected with fellow Borton Scholar Sophia Chang as well as family members she had never met before. Drew writes, “I met my family from Japan! It was a really touching experience to finally get the chance to meet my father’s side of the family. They are very kind, and I love them a lot. In Japan, young people have a coming-of-age celebration where they visit a shrine in kimono. However, since my 20th birthday has already passed, they plan to hold a coming-of-age celebration for me on my 21st birthday instead. I am very grateful and honored to have that experience next year.”

Callan Brakeman (Norway, 2023-24)

Callan Brakeman is a Linguistics major at the UC Santa Barbara. She is originally from Pasadena, CA, and is attending the University of Oslo in Norway. Callan began learning Norwegian on a whim when she was 14 years old and has dreamed of living in Norway ever since. This love for the Norwegian language inspired her to study Linguistics at UCSB, where she eventually added a Slavic emphasis and a minor in Russian. Callan writes, “I’m very interested in Norwegian culture and the linguistics of Scandinavian languages, so I’m beyond excited to take part in this study abroad program. I hope to further my studies in Linguistics, and hopefully achieve fluency in Norwegian after living in Norway for an entire year.” Callan lives in a student village and has made great friends with several other international students, with whom she has traveled to Bergen and Budapest. “My favorite experience here so far has been seeing the seasons change,” Callan writes. “Growing up in Los Angeles, that’s not something I am very used to. The fall colors are beautiful and today it properly snowed for the first time!” 

Milan Au (South Korea, 2022-23)

Milan Au is a Business Administration major at UC Riverside studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea for the 2022-23 academic year. Milan grew up in Rosemead, California. While in high school, his Chinese and English teachers instilled in him a love for language learning. He hopes to improve his Korean language skills and learn more about Korea’s Esports culture during this year abroad in Korea. Previously, he volunteered at an insurance/tax office for 10 months, where he helped immigrants obtain green cards. He is keen on helping Esports athletes with their visas and green cards in the future, and he hopes to help ensure that immigrants get the resources they need. Although he plans to explore Korea during his year abroad, his long-term goal is to explore the whole world! He loves to learn about different cultures and enjoys challenging himself in new environments. After studying in South Korea, Milan plans to study abroad in China to achieve fluency in Mandarin.

Valeria Gonzales Perez (Italy, 2022-23)

Valeria Gonzales Perez is a Machine Learning and Cognitive Science major at UCSD studying abroad at the University of Padua (Padova in Italian) in Italy for the 2022-23 academic year. She writes, “When I first read that I had been awarded this scholarship, my dreams of studying abroad in an institution that cultivates a rich understanding of cognitive science and Italy’s culture seemed closer than ever before. It reassured me that my dreams are possible.” Before traveling to Padova, Valeria was able to visit Venice and enjoyed learning about the city’s unique history (e.g. only Venice natives are allowed to be “gondoleros”). At Padova, she has met students from Costa Rica, Pakistan, India, China, Norway, Croatia, Ukraine, Spain, Guatemala, Argentina, France, and many from Germany. She reports, “Overall, I’ve had an experience full of excitement, wonder, and learning in this beautiful city.”