My Time In Okinawa

LiAnn Yamamoto

Japanese Studies major
University of the Ryukyus, Japan

Hi my name is LiAnn Yamamoto and I am currently studying abroad in Okinawa, Japan at the University of the Ryukyus. Being a Japanese studies major, I feel like this experience is very special to me. I have had so many great experiences and have made so many friends from all over the world.

One of my favorite experiences was going to see the ocean and eating Okinawan food with my friends. We first stopped by a local Okinawan shop to eat a traditional Okinawan dish called, Okinawa soba. It had a nice view of the ocean which was nice to look at while eating. After that we took a little stroll around the area and found a spot that had many cats. They were all so fat and healthy looking. I noticed that all of them had their ear cut on once side of their ear. A local told me that it was to tell if they were spayed or not. One thing I like about Okinawa is that they take care of the cats and spay them so the population doesn't get out of control. After soba, we drove by a nearby park that is popular for its ocean views. It was so beautiful that it reminded me a lot about Hawai’i. This was an unforgettable experience because it was a very fun day!