Yvette at JIU: UCR/Disney Internship

Yvette from Disney College arrived in Japan last night and gave a presentation to the first-year students at the Presentation Hall at JIU today. It was about the UCR/Disney Certificate Program and we hope that more students were encourage to participate in 2012.

Yvette with the students who will be going to Disney World in July.

Yvette with the students who took part in the internship and returned to Japan in January.

UCR & Disney World Interviews

Our students applying for the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management were interviewed by UCR and Disney World Friday morning. This year all the interviews were online and I'm sure that made the students even more nervous, but they all did a good job. We'll be looking forward to hearing great results.

All the Disney returnees at JIU

The students returning from the internship program at UC Riverside and Disney World met with Dean Tokoku this afternoon.

Disney group is back

Despite the complications with the flight to LA, our students were able to arrive at Narita Airport tonight. Some of us went out for dinner. Naho said she felt like eating ramen, so we went to Yutaka--my third time this week....

Disney Internship

The students who participated in the Disney Internship were not able to fly to Narita two days ago, but they are arriving today. Here's a photo of them at LAX a little bit before departure.

Disney Graduation

Teramoto-sensei and Hiroyuki sent me some photos of the graduation events at Disney World. Congratulations, every one!!

Yvette at JIU

Yvette from Disney College visited us yesterday. It was a very short visit--just time for dinner and breakfast today really--but it was a pleasure seeing her here again. She will be returning probably in April to interview applicants to the UCR/Disney Internship program.

Disney Blog

For daily updates on the UCR/Disney College Program, please check the following blog:

http://jiustudentsatdisney.blogspot.com/

My last day in Florida

I arrived here Tuesday night and I'm leaving the hotel at 4 tomorrow morning. Today I learned a lot about the UCR/JIU/Disney Program by attending the orientation session. As Disney offers a program for Japanese college graduates as well, I decided to go take a look at what they actually do at the Japan Pavilion at EPCOT. They actually work for Mitsukoshi selling all kinds of Japanese (and Japanese style) things and also at the restaurants on the second floor. There was a young woman selling shells that contained one or two pearls depending on how lucky you are. Others wearing kimono were helping customers make choices. There were drum performers as well. This was a very short stay, but I have a much better idea of the place where our students will be living, where they'll take classes and about the whole program. It's certainly extremely hot here now, but they are lucky to be in such an international work environment acquiring experience that will change their future.

General Orientation at Chadham Square

Our students had a general orientation today and signed all kinds of agreements regarding confidentiality, standards of business conduct, employ policies etc. They were also given details about their weekly pay, social security and taxes. Their first day of work is going to be this Friday.

Disney World

We were able to check some of the facilities where students will be living and working. Kaoru's refrigerator is already full of water and good food!

Ontario - Denver - Orlando

We left Riverside at 5 AM today and arrived in Orlando at 7 PM. Because of the time difference between California and Florida, the two hour wait at Denver International Airport because there is no direct flight from Ontario to Orlando, it ended up being a very long day for us. We are all well though. Students start orientation at 8:30 tomorrow morning and I have my first meeting at 9. More tomorrow!

DIsney Group Presenting at UCR

Students taking part in the UCR/Disney Internship Program gave group presentations on various topics related to tourism today. Mikako and Shie talked about tourism in Dubai. Naho and Kaoru gave a presentation on the cruising tourism, and Hanako, Kanako and Saki talked about how tourism in both Japan and Spain can be further promoted. They worked in groups of five with members from other universities around the world. Good job!

Greetings from California

I arrived in Los Angeles at 11:20 today and was very happy to see five of my students at the airport (Teramoto-sensei, Yui, Naho, Nanami, Hanako and Mio: Thanks!). We bought cheeseburgers for lunch at In & Out Burger and then came to UCR to eat (way too hot to eat outside!!) and for the meeting with the Disney group. They are all doing very well and I'm very happy to be here with them. Please take a look at the text they wrote on the "Disney" page in this blog.

Disney Dinner

The seven students who will be leaving for their internship at Disney World in Florida and the teachers who helped them with their studies and also their paperwork for applications (UCR, Disney and visa!) came over for dinner last night. We wanted to get together once again to wish them good luck and say we hope they'll return to Japan in good health and wiser.