The upcoming Japan trip provides students with a unique opportunity to broaden their perspectives while staying true to the values of Cardinal Gibbons. By engaging with a new community participants will expand their cultural worldview.

Paige Derouin, educator and attendee of the Japan Trip, describes it as “an immersive and unprecedented experience.”

This nine-day trip is planned to leave on Nov. 21 and conclude on Nov. 29. Destinations students will be visiting include the Japanese Tea Ceremony in Kyoto, Mount Fuji outside Tokyo, the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Osaka Castle.

Exposure to these foreign things “promotes asking questions about why you live the way you live and why other cultures are the way they are,” said Derouin.

This program challenges students to explore their own personal values, sparking students to venture beyond their familiar surroundings.

“People go on the trip wanting to explore more about other cultures and end up gaining more respect for them,” Derouin said.

Along with Gibbons’ academic philosophy, there is also the religious aspect of Japan’s Shinto and Buddhist cultures. For Christians and Catholics, spending time in Japan and being surrounded by other faiths can help students better understand how other religions live and worship.

“Getting outside your comfort zone and going to see the world is an important part of your education,” says Derouin.

For students to get more involved and learn more about Gibbons in Japan, contact an educator or student who has attended the trip.

Overall, this journey will broaden students’ cultural awareness and inspire spiritual growth and global understanding. Through meaningful engagement on this trip, they will develop a deeper connection to other cultures.