Overview:
Palauan student Auryn Uriik Benhart recently shared her experiences from a summer study program in Japan, highlighting the lessons, friendships and personal growth she gained through the APIC Pacific Islands and West Indies Student Invitational. Her monthlong experience at Sophia University exposed her to Japanese culture and society while encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and embrace new opportunities.
On August 12, 2026, Ms. Auryn Uriik Benhart gave a presentation at the Embassy of Japan about her experience as a participant in the APIC Pacific Islands and West Indies Student Invitational’s Summer Session in East Asian Studies in Japan. APIC, or the Association for the Promotion of International Cooperation, hosts a variety of programs aimed at promoting and strengthening Japan’s ties with other countries.
Ms. Benhart stayed in Japan for nearly a month, from June 29, 2026, to July 24, 2026. During her stay, she participated in the Summer Session in East Asian Studies at Sophia University. She attended classes designed to deepen her understanding of East Asian culture and society while reflecting on Japan’s role in the region and the world. She shared many highlights from the program, including the friendships she made along the way. Her classes ranged from Japanese traditional culture such as Sado, the Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese Cinema and Visual Culture. Each class taught her valuable lessons, but one of her sensei introduced her to the Japanese proverb ichigo ichie, it roughly translates to “cherish every moment,” as each moment is unique and can never be replicated. Ms. Benhart told us that the proverb deeply moved her and made her appreciate her experience in Japan, as well as all the other experiences in her life, even more.
Ms. Benhart also spoke about her personal growth while in Japan. She learnt to become more self-reliant and outspoken, explaining that the experience encouraged her to be more open to new experiences. As someone who tends to shy away from unfamiliar situations, she said the opportunity helped her step outside of her comfort zone.
Outside of class, APIC organized various activities for students from the participating island nations. They visited popular tourist attractions in Tokyo, including Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Scramble, and her favorite, the Tsukiji Market, because of all the delicious food. One activity that stood out to her was Edo-Kiriko, a traditional Japanese glass-cutting course where participants were able to cut and design their own glass cups.
Ms. Benhart concluded her presentation by emphasizing the importance of trying new experiences and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. She explained that taking risks and embracing new opportunities allows people to learn and grow. She expressed her appreciation to the APIC program and its coordinators, as well as PCC and the Embassy of Japan, for considering her for the opportunity.
For students interested in programs like APIC or studying abroad in Japan, Ms. Benhart encouraged them not to let the thought of hardships discourage them. With today’s technology, communicating with others through tools such as Google Translate and navigating unfamiliar places using online maps has become much easier. Her experience serves as a reminder that studying abroad may seem intimidating at first but it can lead meaningful experiences and personal growth.
The Embassy is committed to providing opportunities for young Palauans to experience Japanese culture and, in turn, to strengthen the mutual bond between Japan and Palau. (Press release)