Matthew Zane is a UCSD Computer Science/Japanese Studies major who plans to study in Japan at Waseda University. He is half-Japanese, but was not taught much about his ethnic cultures and language, and as a result has made is a goal to reconnect to his family’s culture. As a staff member of the UCSD Japanese Student Association (JSA), a student organization that plans and runs events for Japanese students and people who are interested in Japan culture, Matt regularly practices his Japanese and talk to Japanese foreign exchange students. Hearing about their experiences studying abroad has inspired him to study abroad for a full year. During his time abroad, Matt hopes to take his language skills to the next level and join some of the circles (Japanese clubs) to meet Japanese students and other foreign exchange students. During the summer of 2020 he is interning at a tech company in San Diego and hopes to continue at their Tokyo branch during his time abroad.
Matt deferred his study abroad plans to the 2021-22 academic year due to the pandemic.