How to organize your own trip!

Have you thought of organizing an intercultural study trip with IFIL? Organizing your own trip comes with great responsibility and entails quite a bit of work. In return you will get an unforgettable experience by leading a group of interested young people to your chosen destination. IFIL will support you and help you to organize your trip. The interveiw below shall demonstrate that although at first organizing a trip might seem an insurmountable task, it is absolutely doable. And will be a lot of fun at the same time!

Please find below an interview with the organizer Katherine Meyer on the trip to Japan

What is your motivation to organize a trip to Japan with IFIL?
I learned about IFIL from Andrea, my co-organizer when she organized the trip to Japan in 2010. I immediately liked the idea of sharing my experiences on Japan with young people interested in other cultures. The Japanese people like to get in contact with foreigners and share their culture, however, due to cultural and linguistic barriers, it is sometimes difficult to get in touch with them. We will help to overcome these barriers and enable participants to really get to know the people and the country.

Is it still safe to go to Japan now?
Yes, it is. First of all, there is no official travel advice from the foreign ministry of Switzerland not to go to Japan, except to the northeastern part. As we will travel southward from Tokyo to Kyushu, our trip is not affected. Secondly, apart from the damaged areas, life in Japan is back to normal. All embassies
have moved back to Tokyo and our contacts are looking forward
to meeting us.

What are your personal highlights on the trip to Japan?
I am really looking forward to discussing Japanese politics with a member of parliament, experiencing Japanese arts with the Toyo calligraphy association, as well as meeting Swiss professionals working in Tokyo. And for the relaxing part, the hike in Yakushima with a soak in an onsen (hot spring) afterwards is my highlight.