09 Mar 6 weeks in Japan
Dylan Clarke, a 6th year student in Dundalk Grammar School, spent 6 weeks of summer 2014 in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Earlier in the year Dylan entered a competition organised by EIL, a non-profit intercultural learning organisation, for an all expenses paid for trip to locations all across the globe. Applicants were required to either write an essay, make a poster or a video explaining why they think they would be suitable candidates for one of the Travel Awards.
Dylan chose to make a video (in Japanese!) and was then called for an interview after which he was offered a 6-week stay in Japan over the summer. Dylan stayed with a host family in Suwa and went to school there where he did his best to promote Ireland and its culture.
Dylan took part in Japanese cultural activities such as Kyudo (Japanese archery) and met with the town mayor. “I’ve learnt so much about the language and the people”, Dylan says “that I would definitely recommend the Travel Awards experience!”