How KU Architecture Study Abroad Took Me Across Asia
Studying architecture at KU helped me understand design in a global context. My journey took me from classrooms in Lawrence to cities across Asia.
My name is James Price, and I am currently a student at the University of Kansas. I chose KU because I was very interested in the architecture program and decided to pursue the five-year master's program. Something I didn’t know was that taking the program also meant you’re also supposed to pick a study abroad trip. When I heard this, I instantly knew that I was going to go to Asia to study abroad.
Starting My Journey in the KU Architecture Program
I ended up going to Asia over winter break for about three weeks and enjoyed every single moment of it. We left around Christmas and traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan.
The flight to Singapore was long and took seventeen hours to land, but after landing I was immediately fascinated with how beautiful Singapore was.
Discovering Sustainable Design in Singapore
I arrived in Singapore and was anxious, but that all changed after I saw how green the country was and how clean the air smelled. Singapore is around the same size as Kansas City which made everything almost walkable. Singapore is known as a water country that relies on water, which is why most buildings have greenery to it.
The transportation that was mainly used was the subway stations and we used them to travel all across the country. The people were very nice, and I felt pretty welcome. We mostly visited the different malls that were all over. My favorite part of the country was how everything was green and how incredible the buildings looked. We learned the different design strategies that made the country sustainable to live in.
Malaysia’s Unique Blend of Culture and Climate-Based Design
The next country we visited a week after was Malaysia. This country had the same humidity as Singapore and was more traditional for its architecture. There were many design strategies that were being used at the buildings we visited due to the fact that the climate was hot.
This country is also known for having the Petronas Twin Tower and seeing it in person was just unbelievable. We also got to visit the Batu Caves and the famous rainbow stairs. We even got to see monkeys that were running around the caves. The country was very cultural and everything about its architecture was significant.
Japan’s Modern Cities and Peaceful Countryside
The last country we arrived to was Japan and that was by far my favorite country to visit. We went to Kyoto, Tokyo, Shibuya, Osaka, Nara and many more cities. Japan had so much to offer, and it felt as if I didn’t have enough time to experience all of Japan.
The architecture was advanced and the people there were extremely kind. I personally loved Osaka and how there were different things to do in the city, I even got a gym membership for a week there.
We got to explore different museums in Tokyo, and I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday overseas. One of the best days for me in Japan was traveling to Hakone and seeing Mount Fuji. Traveling there was such an experience and seeing the countryside of Japan was just peaceful, especially visiting the hot spring. Sadly, the trip came to an end, and I flew back to the Unites States the next day.
How KU Architecture Study Abroad Changed My Perspective
My overall experience with studying abroad has changed my view on how big the world is and makes me want to travel across the world. For those who want to see more of the world, I would highly recommend doing study abroad. The program was an investment, but it was worth it to experience something outside my comfort zone.
