Shikoku's 88 Temple Pilgrimage (四国八十八箇所巡り)
Adviser: Ted Mack Spring Quarter 2012 My Blog: http://thewongway.travellerspoint.com/ |
My Story:
Instead of taking my major requirements during spring quarter of sophomore year, I had decided to travel to an unknown territory. I completed the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a 750-mile journey to 88 major temples scattered across the island of Shikoku, Japan. I walked, trained, biked, hitchhiked, and used every other mode of transportation, was forced to converse in Japanese, and had nothing but a guide book and a walking stick to accompany me through the trip. Tired, frustrated, home-sick, and with no internet access or connection to the outside world, this journey was physically and mentally straining. But the experience was worth all the trouble.
I became interested in the rural and traditional aspects of Japan. Away from the boisterous and changing metropolis such as Tokyo, there are quiet towns with populations as small as a couple hundred. I was interested in learning about the underserved population in these areas. I was first introduced to the rural parts of Japan through my older sister. When she lived in Matsuyama as an exchange student for 10 months, she shared stories about her life in the rural city. There were more bicycles on the road than there were cars. Students woke up every morning and rode their bikes through the rice fields to school. Life on the rural intrigued me. How did life in Matsuyama differed from my life in Seattle? Every town had its unique culture and traditions that could not be taught nor learned through books, videos, or class discussions. Thus, the only way was to immerse myself, physically and mentally, into their world. And I decided to take the alternative route to learn about this rich and diverse culture – through independent study abroad.
Cliché as it may be, this experience had been a once in a lifetime opportunity. To become a wanderer, traveler, learner, explorer, and pilgrim, all at once rarely happens in a typical study abroad program. This trip has helped me grow as an individual, enlightened me to new cultural aspects, and prepared me to become a great physician in the future.
I became interested in the rural and traditional aspects of Japan. Away from the boisterous and changing metropolis such as Tokyo, there are quiet towns with populations as small as a couple hundred. I was interested in learning about the underserved population in these areas. I was first introduced to the rural parts of Japan through my older sister. When she lived in Matsuyama as an exchange student for 10 months, she shared stories about her life in the rural city. There were more bicycles on the road than there were cars. Students woke up every morning and rode their bikes through the rice fields to school. Life on the rural intrigued me. How did life in Matsuyama differed from my life in Seattle? Every town had its unique culture and traditions that could not be taught nor learned through books, videos, or class discussions. Thus, the only way was to immerse myself, physically and mentally, into their world. And I decided to take the alternative route to learn about this rich and diverse culture – through independent study abroad.
Cliché as it may be, this experience had been a once in a lifetime opportunity. To become a wanderer, traveler, learner, explorer, and pilgrim, all at once rarely happens in a typical study abroad program. This trip has helped me grow as an individual, enlightened me to new cultural aspects, and prepared me to become a great physician in the future.
Pilgrimage Route: