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Help Mel get to Japan!

Melquiades Leal Start Date: Aug 8, 2025 - End Date: Dec 7, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad

My Travel Story

by: Melquiades Leal Start Date: Aug 8, 2025 - End Date: Dec 7, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Hello everyone!

My name is Melquiades, but I usually go by Mel or Melito. 
Today I am asking for your support so I can go to Japan and attend a study abroad program. 
I’m currently a Portland State University student majoring in Public Health while taking Pre-Physician Assistant requirement classes. 

The class I’ll be taking is Community Nutrition in Japan. We will visit Tokyo, Kobe and Kyoto and we will be touring several locations like a university, a farm, an elementary school, a nursing home and a food bank to learn more about the food systems and the intersectionality with health and culture in Japan.

I applied for this program back in April, I interviewed in May and was recently informed that I was selected and I will be going to Japan for 2 weeks in December!

I am currently going to school part time while working full time. I’m not eligible for financial aid, so I’m relying on student loans and a scholarship to pay for my education, but they will not cover the full cost for this program.

Visiting Japan has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. 
I’m the first person in my family to attend college and these opportunities always seemed to be out of reach. When I saw the program application was open and would help me meet some of my requirements to graduate I just knew I needed to apply. 

I was so excited for this opportunity that I started learning Japanese online the same day I submitted my application for this program. 

I would really appreciate your support!
Thank you!
~Melito


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