Myles

(I'm the guy on the left.)

Hey there, my name's Myles. I'm a Canadian student currently attending the University of Calgary.  I have been working towards my zoology major for four years and have been working towards my Japanese minor for two years. I've loved science and animals since I was a little kid so working towards a career in zoology was an obvious choice for me. Recently, I've become really interested in studying bugs, which I guess is weird considering I used to hate them. I'd love to be able to work as a conservation biologist or animal behaviour researcher in the future.

I didn't start studying Japanese till the third year of my degree. I wanted to do something useful with electives and I had always been interested in learning a second language. When my cousin introduced me to the world of anime that basically cinched it. From the first anime I ever watched, Code Geass, my interest in Japanese culture exploded. I started taking Japanese classes the school year and I haven't looked back. My teachers and classmates have all been amazing and have helped make learning Japanese one of the greatest experiences in my life.

Some sushi I made at home.

Aside from the language, one of my other biggest interests in Japanese culture is Japanese cooking. I love to cook, I was actually considering becoming a chef before I decided to become a zoologist. Japanese cooking really appeals to me in that it emphasizes using local ingredients and eating healthy. I've made a few simple Japanese dishes at home, like tamagoyaki, sushi, onigiri, and tonkatsu. I'm really excited to learn how to make more on this trip and to gain some first hand experience who have been making and eating the food all their lives.

Finally, I'm really interested in Japanese pop culture. I really enjoy reading manga and watching anime. My favourite anime would probably be Code Geass and Mirai Nikki, and my favourite manga would be Gokukoku no Brynhildr. Though, my favourite thing to arise from Japanese pop culture, and probably my favourite thing of all time, would have to be Pokemon. I've played the games since they were first released in North America and today I even play the game competitively. I've made so many friends by being brought together with people through this game, and I can't wait to continue doing so in Japan.

There's so many experiences I'm looking forward to in Japan and I hope you'll enjoy sharing them with us every step of the way!