Self Introduction: Brian Vuong

My name is Brian Vuong. I’m in my second year of linguistics, but I’m trying to find a different career path after going through a slump this past year. I hope that this trip will give me a different perspective on life and broaden my horizons, as cliché as that sounds. This will be my first trip overseas so I am just a ball of nervous energy mixed with excitement right now. 

On this trip I hope to immerse myself in a new culture as much as possible. I want to learn more about Japanese traditions, and admire the scenery around me. It wasn’t until my first year of university that I started learning Japanese, so I hopefully I will be able to improve my speaking skills or at least pick up on some new words along the way. I’m so excited to be on this trip with such a diverse group of people, and to meet many new people too.

In my spare time, I practice taekwondo. I have been learning for about two years now. I used to hate exercise but I realize the benefits are more than just physical wellness. It taught me a lot of discipline and it builds confidence. I’m still a shy person but there has been a lot of improvement since I started. Other hobbies of mine include vegging out on the couch watching sitcoms like Bob’s Burgers, and going on spontaneous adventures to Denny’s with my friends. 

Pictured here is me being very excited about my favorite character from the movie Moana.