Tattooing is the most misunderstood art form in Japan today. Looked down upon for centuries and rarely discussed in social circles, people with tattoos are outcasts in this country, banned from most public spaces such as beaches, bathhouses, and even gyms. Tattoos have an extensive history in Japan, and to truly understand the stigma behind them it is essential to be aware of their significance. The first records of tattoos...
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There are 28 students in our school. About 1/5 of them are vegetarian, pescatarian or vegan, which means that they can’t eat certain animal products. And allow me to state this to you, Japan is not a good place to do that. Sushi? Nope. Ramen? Nope. And then there is a problem with the fact that our Japanese skills are non-existent. So we go to restaurants, trying to communicate our...
Read MoreWalking through the Peace Park, my soul would tremble due to the cold that was brought on by the horrors of war, especially August 6th, 1945, the day when the A-bomb, also known as “Little Boy,” was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Among the thousands who were killed, a vast number were kids -- innocent kids with dreams in their eyes and aspirations in their minds. This painting is...
Read More“Tokyo gives the most authentic glimpse of the future” student Zaki (Pakistan) reflects as we returned from our week of exploring the art of marketing in Japan’s capital. Throughout the past weeks in Japan, nine of us have been specifically studying global marketing as well as Japanese unique and diverse marketing tactics. Not only have we been studying these concepts, but we are applying them as marketing and branding consultants...
Read MoreThe Nuclear Debate module has been pretty fun for me, but I’m not the biggest fan of history. Therefore, after hearing that on this weXplore we will finally be focusing on some science stuff, I could not wait to finally learn the things that I’ve been looking forward to. I thought I’d be having so much fun getting to know how things work and how the world might be in...
Read MoreI would describe this weXplore as part family road trip and part school museum visit, as we spent our time traveling by bus, ferry, and foot to and from museums, energy parks and power plants. We went to 3 different cities and many small towns, often stopping at either 7-11, Family Mart, or Lawson’s for lunch in order to spend more time engaging with experts, tour guides, and information booklets....
Read MoreTHINK Global School students have been working in partnership with Academy for Earth Sustainability (an NGO that offers project-based learning experiences in Mumbai) in order to gain a deeper understanding of environmental and sustainability issues in Mumbai, especially around the Dharavi slum area. The Grade 12s designed four different projects geared around environmental learning to benefit a local chapter of Save the Children India: Website and e-store development for AES...
Read MoreDuring her recent term in Mumbai, India, THINK Global School student Julia G. discovered newfound understandings while learning about revered Hindu gods such as Shiva and Brahma. In her essay “How Shiva and Brahma Taught Me to Be a Skeptical Believer,” she inspires us to transform our own perspectives by deviating from traditional ideologies and creating space for new ideas to flourish. My parents moved to Valle de Bravo, a...
Read MoreFor the budding photographers among our ranks, our From Zero to Infinity project-based learning module provided the perfect opportunity to hone their skills in a country that’s always ready for its closeup. Students were tasked with answering the question “How can we use photography to visualize math?” by producing a photo exhibition that visually depicts a selection of the mathematical innovations of India, from zero to infinity; from handicrafts to...
Read MoreThe way people go about exploring fundamental questions forges their daily habits. When people delve into questions like “Who am I?” and “Who are we?” they generate traditions that conceive and foster cultural identity. Each question can only be analyzed through the lens of the other in order to achieve balance in the individual and the community. The second quest revolves instead around the pursuance of growth through developing our...
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