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.