Student trades UW for Japan

Casey Snyder of Everett receives the first undergraduate scholarship from Japan's government.

By Melissa SlagerHerald Writer

Casey Snyder will leave the University of Washington one quarter shy of graduating with a major in Japanese linguistics.

He's trading it in for a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the language he loves.
Snyder, 20, of Everett is the first recipient of the Japanese government's undergraduate student scholarship. He will be able to live and study in Japan for as long as five years, all expenses paid.

"It's a great blessing, so I'm really excited," said Snyder, an Everett High School graduate. "You can't pass this up."

Americans make up 8 percent of all foreign students in Japan, and just 1 percent of those attending on Japanese government scholarships. Japan has offered scholarships to students outside its borders since 1954. There are now five awards for which students in the western United States are eligible.

The undergraduate scholarship is new, and the most lucrative. It will pay for Snyder's tuition and fees at Osaka University of Foreign Studies, as well as a monthly allowance of $1,155.
The average cost for the first year at a public university in Japan is $7,875.

Staff at the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle recently gave Snyder and others some tips on living and learning in a nation that is one of the world's major economic powers.

"You are really American ambassadors to Japan. You should be very proud," Consul-General Kazuo Tanaka said.

Former scholarship winners urged recipients to make friends, travel and immerse themselves in the culture.

"The people you meet can help you all through your career," said Keith Takechi, a member of an alumni group.

Snyder will enter a fast-paced metropolis where cell phones double as credit cards, imperial deer are fearless enough to steal ice cream from your hand, and royal gossip is as prevalent as Shinto and Buddhist temples.

He visited the country for two weeks with friends before and is looking forward to seeing more of its islands, including escapes to the countryside, and learning traditional Japanese calligraphy.
A Christmas gift at age 5 sparked Snyder's love of Asian languages and cultures. Images of pagodas and pictograms in a geography game he received quickly claimed his curiosity.
Everett High School offered only French, German and Spanish, so he turned to Everett Community College through the Running Start program.

For his senior project, Snyder learned 1,600 kanji symbols in 10 weeks. Kanji, based on borrowed or modified Chinese characters, is the most difficult Japanese system of writing.
Snyder graduated in 2004 with both his high school diploma and an associate's degree from EvCC. He plans to pursue a second major in Osaka with the eventual goal of becoming a translator or interpreter. He leaves April 4.

He said he sympathizes with Japanese exchange students who have not benefited from the same kind of support their government is offering him. He said he hopes his learning there will act as a bridge.

A former EvCC instructor and mentor said he deserves the scholarship.

"He was a very enthusiastic student from the beginning," Masako Nair said. "He followed his bliss all the way and just blossomed."

Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@ heraldnet.com.

http://heraldnet.com/stories/06/03/12/100loc_b1japan001.cfm