I am Caitlin “Jade” Huston and I am in my last year at Ball State as an undergraduate student pursuing a General Studies degree with a double minor in Psychology and History. I currently work at Bracken Library as a Student Assistant in Government Publications within the Information Services Department and have been heavily involved with the Ball State University Fencing Club for the last four years as an officer,a coach/teacher, and a competitive member.
I have had a keen interest in Japanese culture and mythology since I was a small child due to being introduced to Japanese culture at an early age. My hometown plays host to many Japanese families who have come over to America for the purpose of working with those who manage and run the Japanese-owned factory just outside of town, and every year there was something done in celebration of their culture and heritage as well as to educate the children about Japan. The opportunity to travel to Japan and learn/experience more from within its boundaries was something I have wanted to do for a long time.
I have traveled overseas once before, during Spring Break to France my senior year of high school (March 2005), so I was excited to be traveling again for a longer period of time. I was also excited at the prospect of being able to combine a subject I adored with my computer skills. I have worked in Second Life before, an experimental ENG 104 class in the Fall 2006 semester, and was happy to make use of that experience for this class. The trip during the summer (July 2010) was very beneficial in providing me the opportunity to fill in the gaps of my knowledge about Japan on many different fronts and subjects as well as see and experience Japan on a very personal level, and in return I feel better equipped for creating something in Second Life to help others see and learn more about Japan from a religious and cultural standpoint.