“I Now Work at a Japanese Consulate!”: Angelina Rivera’s Journey with CRCC Asia

1. Introduction and Background
   Hi! I’m Angelina Rivera, a Michigan State University student from James Madison College. I studied International Relations, Social Relations & Policy, and Japanese. I now work as a Security Section Assistant at the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit.
    
2. Motivation for Joining CRCC Asia and Choosing Japan
   It has been my dream to study in Japan ever since I started college. I live in a pretty rural area and the idea of living and working in a city as large and endless as Tokyo… I knew I wanted that more than anything I’d ever wanted before! I chose CRCC Asia because a classmate had such a wonderful time working in the program that she had nothing but praise for it.
   
   I chose VegeProject because dietary access has always been an interest of mine. This is especially true after finding out I am gluten-free. Plus, I didn’t know much about what vegetarian-vegan culture/activism is like in Japan; it seemed niche and understudied.
    
3. Internship Experience
   Every day I combed through a research sheet created by VegeProject and fact checked as many as I could. It polished my database research skills. I also worked on writing an article using the facts I checked. It was incredibly rewarding to work through a tough citation, trying to find a corresponding article with the same facts or statistics, and finding it after hours of searching!
    
4. Challenges and Overcoming Them
   Commuting was tough. Standing on a train for an hour and a half, then walking from the station to work for another 15 minutes with a heavy backpack in the summer heat… all while jumping from train car to train car with other people just as hot and sweaty as me. At first, I found it unbearable, but I learned to stand back and observe how the people around me handled the heat—hand fans, handkerchiefs, menthol sprays and wipes, and those frozen collars from Konbinis. Trusting those who’ve lived thousands of summer days like that guided me in the right direction.
    
5. Long-Term Career Impact
   It made me realize that I want to work in an environment with a decently sized team of people there to work together and guide each other. I found that in my current job; a place where I am an assistant to someone who needs me to keep an open line of communication at all times, and who has a small team ready to help me learn. It also made me realize that I want to work for something… very official. That is, something in the government with clear intent and always in need of work to be done. Not knowing what to do makes me antsy. I like walking in every day knowing something is waiting for me!

6. Living in Tokyo
   It was the first time I lived away from home for that long. It was also my first time living alone. Here is a nice list of things that I miss from being in my own space:

   1. Waking up every day to make my bed.
   2. Cooking a quaint breakfast in my kitchenette.
   3. Sipping cold iced tea on a humid, sunny morning.
   4. Dancing to music while I got ready.
   5. Listening to music on the walk to the train station.
   6. Coming home to take an ice-cold shower and clean the dishes from the morning.
   7. Putting on a good movie while I ate dinner.
   8. Going out after work to pick up groceries for the week.
   9. Doing my laundry in the early morning so I could come home to clean sheets.

   It made me realize that I can be the responsible adult I want to be. When I’m in the right environment where I can take care of myself, I can do anything. I just need to learn how to take care of myself in any environment. That’s what carries me through my career now—spending time to care for myself when I feel so exhausted I can’t move makes it all worth it.

7. Memorable Experiences Outside Work
   The firefly festival, early in the trip, changed the course of my trip. I met so many people that night who made my experience amazing. Standing around with a huge crowd of people gushing over the light of one singular firefly made me smile, and I cherish the video I have of the experience—it’s just a little pale yellow-green dot, and it’s the best.
   
   There were so many events I went to that make up my fondest memories there:

   1. Praying at the Torigoe Matsuri festival.
   2. Winning tickets to Team Labs Borderless and surprising my friend with them.
   3. Sifting warm tea leaves.
   4. Practicing English with middle school students.

   Each of these moments made every week feel so packed.

8. Lasting Connections
   I made so many friends. Many of them are from the same university as me, but many are from all across the country (and the world). I can’t wait to visit New Zealand and Australia so I can hug the people who made my internship fun and exciting every day. Right now, I even go to Japanese cultural festivals with my friend and CRCC alum, Madeline!
    
9. Advice for Future Interns
   It moves fast; go walk around. Tokyo is one of the safest places on earth, so grab a few friends and explore every corner you can. Walk around at night. Go into buildings just for fun. You never know what you’ll find, but there’s something everywhere, so don’t be afraid to go out with no plan.

If you don’t click with anyone right away, don’t let that stop you from going somewhere anyway—safely, of course. Don’t fret; there are hundreds of students in CRCC, many of whom feel the same way that you do. Keep shaking hands with as many students as you can!

10. Final Reflections
    I wish I could go back and do it all over again. I loved it so much, and some days I wake up shocked that it even happened.

Angelina’s story showcases how immersing oneself in a new culture and environment can lead to profound professional and personal growth. Her time in Tokyo not only deepened her understanding of Japanese culture but also helped her develop a clearer vision for her future career in government and diplomacy.