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Courtesy photo

Rachel Medina, B.A.J. ’08, worked as an intern for Buzz Communications in India. While there, she traveled to see the Taj Mahal.

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Two recent journalism graduates shared their overseas adventures with students in J460 International Public Relations to help the class members prepare for their trip to Japan over spring break.

Last week, Bryan Lufkin, B.A.J. ‘08, joined the class by speaker phone from in Shizuoka, Japan, and Rachel Medina, B.A.J. ’08, visited campus to talk about her trip to Japan and her experiences as an intern for Buzz Communications, a public relations agency in Delhi, India.

Students in Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright’s class will be applying what they heard from the alumni when they travel to Japan March 14-21. They will visit the U.S. Embassy, the Asahi Shimbun, Bloomberg, Nissan Corporate Communications and Gavin Anderson.

Before traveling to Japan last spring with the J460 class, Rachel Medina had never been outside the U.S. After returning from Japan, Medina became fascinated with India.

"I went to India thinking it was going to be similar to Japan,” Medina said. “India turned out to be completely different. While the Japanese are quiet and reserved, Indians tend to be very blunt. They aren’t afraid to speak up."

Lufkin, originally from Fort Wayne, decided to pursue living in Japan after hearing Lisa Ling, host of National Geographic Explorer, speak in October 2007 during her appearance as a guest of the School of Journalism Speaker Series. Ling encouraged students to gain overseas experiences to differentiate themselves from others.

He took her advice and now teaches English to Japanese middle school students through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Lufkin said his journalism degree helped him land the job as an overseas English teacher.

“The JET people were looking people with solid communications skills and an open mind about other cultures,” Lufkin said.

Among other things, Lufkin has been struck by the strong work ethic in Japan.

Courtesy photo

Brian Lufkin, B.A.J. ’08, teaches English to middle school students in Japan. Lufkin, far right in blue, said his journalism skills helped him land the job.

"In America, we’re much more about being individuals,” Lufkin said. “In Japan it’s all about the group and the group harmony. In Japan, if a person has to stay late to finish work, the whole group stays on and tries to help until you are finished."

Medina was so impressed with overseas travel that she started thinking about working abroad. After talking to associate professor Radhika Parameswaran about growing up in India and to a law professor who helped her find job opportunities, Medina decided to try working in India.

Her job has introduced her to a different culture and, among other things, she discovered a whole network of young travelers working all around the globe.

"There is this whole subculture of individual travelers who hook up and meet for coffee," Medina said. "One year ago, all of my friends were in the U.S. Now I have friends everywhere."

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