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On November 30, seven former exchange students from the California State University (CSU) System who studied abroad at Waseda from 2014 to 2015　visited Waseda University. The visit, which was part of a reunion trip commemorating the 10-year anniversary of their study abroad at Waseda University, brought together old friends now living in various locations such as California, Tokyo, and Miyazaki.

They were greeted by Hiroko Tanaka, CSU-Waseda student exchange program coordinator; Takako Kazuoka, who was former CSU Program Associate during their time at Waseda in 2014-2015; and staff members of the International Affairs Division.

(L to R) Kelly Suzuki, Jabari Lewis-Smith, Ashlyn Takai, Marciano Revilla, Former CSU Program Associate Takako Kazaoka, Mathew Borisoff, Jennifer Michaels, Laura Tanimoto

After exchanging greetings in front of the Okuma Auditorium, the former students took a trip down memory lane as they toured the campus and reminisced about their days as exchange students at the university. At Building 11, which they frequented on an almost daily basis as exchange students at SILS, they recreated a picture taken 10 years ago by the grand staircase on the first floor. In addition to savoring the memories in places that have remained unchanged since their student days, they also visited parts of the campus that have transformed since 2014-2015, such as the Waseda International House of Literature completed in 2021, and the new building which is being constructed on the site of buildings 9 and scheduled for completion in 2027, making the visit even more memorable.

Their next anniversary may be in 2034, the 20^th anniversary of studying abroad, but they are always welcome at Waseda University!

At the memorable staircase of Building 11

Commemorative photo with commemorative t-shirts from Ms. Kazuoka

Links

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

The California State University

< Postscript>

　Students like them who studied at Waseda from the U.S. are referred to as “Friends”. Since 1963, Waseda University (referred to as “Waseda”) has continued educational and research exchanges with its partner institutions in the United States. There are currently more than 160 partner institutions in the U.S., and more than 4,800 students have studied at both Waseda and U.S. partner institutions through the exchange program. These exchanges are becoming increasingly active, and the U.S. is one of the most popular exchange destinations for Waseda students, with nearly 400 students studying in the U.S. each year.

　Waseda USA, Waseda’s U.S. office based in Berkeley, California, is currently promoting activities to provide information about Waseda University to these former exchange students. Through these activities, we hope to increase the number of Friends who are aware of Waseda as a second alma mater, and in turn, they will form new Waseda communities in various parts of the United States. For more information on Waseda USA activities, please click here.

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