The International Studies program also participates in the TECHNOS INTERNATIONAL WEEK through which we send two freshman or sophomore students to Japan for two weeks each spring. The Technos International College of Tokyo sponsors the visit of groups from Bates, Carleton, Hobart and William Smith, Hope, McKendree Colleges and Illinois Wesleyan in addition to groups from New Zealand and England. The itinerary includes a four-day program at Technos International College, tours of the City of Tokyo, villages, country sides and a mountain resort. For more information contact International Studies co-directors William Munro or Marina Balina.

June 2010 Technos International Week

Professor Ilaria Ossella-Durbal accompanied by students Emily Gumm ('12) and Kylie Peters ('12) participated in the 2010 Technos International Week.

"The best way to understand yourself is to watch people who are different from you. The best way to understand others is to step out of yourself and view the world as they do. The most exciting part of being in Japan was doing things I couldn't or wouldn't have done in the U.S. The most enduring part of the experience was the strong bonds that I, an English-speaking American who had never left the U.S. before, forged with people I met there simply by being myself."

2010 Technos International Week participant

"What an amazing experience! What makes Technos so special is interacting with the Japanese faculty and students at Technos."

Illaria Ossella-Durbal
Economics, IWU
Faculty Leader, 2010 Technos International Week

June 2010 Technos International Week Photos

IWU Students Emily Gumm and Kylie Peters at Welcome Ceremony

Dr. and Mrs. Tanaka at the Welcome Ceremony

This year's Technos Motto - "Stay with . . . yuu" The last word is the kanji symbol for friend. Phonetically it sounds something like the English word you.

Emily Gumm, Kylie Peters and Prof. Ossella-Durbal at the Zenkoji Temple near Nagano

The Matsumoto Castle

Kylie and Emily at the BBQ at Midori No Mura Village

Shinjuku

Kylie Peters in front of Mt. Fuji

Ginza - a bustling shopping district of Tokyo

Daibutsu - a 44 foot high, hollow, bronze statue of the Buddha - in Kamakura

Kylie Peters with Technos students at their traditional dance class

Kylie receiving certificate from Dr. Tanaka (on left) at the farewell ceremony

Technos students bidding farewell to Kylie and Emily at the airport

June 2009 Technos International Week

Every year since the early 1990's IWU has participated in the Technos International Week. I was able to accompany our IWU student representatives, Megan Weinstein and Katie Bayles, for the June 2009 trip.

Roger Schnaitter
Faculty Leader, 2009 Technos International Week

June 2009 Technos International Week Photos

Technos College! After 13 hours in the air and another two hours on a buss, we arrive.

Banners from the visiting colleges were hung from balconies of the Technos College courtyard.

Peace? Freedom? Happiness? The two-finger V was a ubiquitous sign of international solidarity.

Lunch in the cafeteria with Some of the Technos officials.

Harajuku is the youth shopping district of the city of Tokyo. The mobs of young people are overwhelming.

Some of the audacious get-ups that Harajuku is famous for.

Authentic Japanese traditions as seen at Kabuki-za.

Street scene in Shinjuku at dusk.

As well as the constant crowds and action, Tokyo offers some quiet retreats. This is a Buddhist temple.

A cat deep in meditation

View from the observation deck, Government Center, Shinjku. Sun setting behind a mountain.

June 2007 Technos International Week participants comments:

"Through the Technos program, I was able to discover the fascinating dichotomy of a culture that is both ancient and modern, plus at least a hundered ways to eat tofu. It was hard to remember that the remote mountain villages and the crowded streets of Tokyo were part of the same country. Yet, even the secularism and hyper-modernity of the city seemed steeped in tradition. I would have liked to stay in Japan all summer, and even now, I am itching to go back!     -Kari Irwin, 2007 Technos participant

"I think that everyone should apply for Technos program. People need to go out and experience the world; it opens people up to the world, to new ideas, and to a better understanding of each other. I came away from this program with a greater understanding of Japan, its culture and people, and also of myself. It was an experience I will never forget.       -Preston Prior, 2007 Technos participant

June 2007 Technos International Week Photos

Kari Irwin and Dr. Tanaka, president of the Tanaka Foundation

Kari Irwin ritually purifying her hands before entering a shrine

Technos particpants with Japanese hikers at Kami Kochi

Re-creation of a family shrine, Kari Irwin, Anna Yalouris and Molly Smith

June 2005 Technos International Week IWU Participants' Comments

"I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Technos International Week program with IWU students Michael Feeney (2008) and Sikiru Tijani (2008). This incredible program allowed us to explore many aspects of Japanese culture and life. We enjoyed the numerous opportunities for discussion with Japanese administrators, faculty members, and students at Technos International College, and were captivated by exciting excursions in and around Tokyo.

I particularly enjoyed the chance to give a lecture to a management class and to interact with faculty and students after the lecture. The first class excursions took us to the beautiful Technos International College mountain retreat, and to some remarkable Japanese castles and temples. We experienced all manner of delicious Japanese food during the two weeks in Japan. The meals and atmosphere at a traditional Japanese inn in Takayama were particularly noteworthy.

I appreciate Dr. Kenji Tanaka's generosity in supporting the Technos International Week program. Most of the expenses of the program are covered by the Tanaka Ikueki Educational Trust. Dr. Tanaka is the Honorary Chair of this trust, and its philanthropic efforts have done much to foster cross-cultural communication and has increased our understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture."

Mike Seeborg
Chair of Economics, IWU
Faculty Leader, 2005 Technos International Week

Sikuru Tijani (2008) and Mike Feeney (2008), Technos International Week student participants

When people ask me, "So Siki, how was Japan?" I can never find the right words that do the experience justice. Being in Japan was surreal. The Technos International College student had a phrase "ichi go ichi e" which can be best phrased in English as "once in a lifetime," which after the amazing, two-week long experience, I truly believe. Being able to wake up and look out of your window on one day and see the fast changing, evolving modern word of Tokyo, and another day look out to see the natural scenery of the mountainous terrain in Nagano was mind-blowing. The food was like nothing I have had before, and what was even more amazing then scenery and food, were the people. The Technos students as well as citizens of Japan were constantly helpful and friendly. What I took away from this trip, asides from neat souvenirs, are the strong friendships established with the Technos students I met along my travels.

Sikiru Tijani (2008)
International Business and Japanese Studies Major