Abstract

After just a short two months I spent in Japan studying abroad, I returned home due to the—at the time—newly worsening pandemic. While returning home so early left me disappointed, I was determined to preserve the fond memories I had while I was there. I was given the tools to do just that in a Web GIS class here at Carthage. Part of the class focused on the creation of story maps using the ArcGIS Online program. As a blend of a narrative blog and interactive map, it was perfect for the documentation of my time in Japan. Using the story map format, I created Short but Sweet: My Study Abroad in Japan. Although I did create it for a class project, its ultimate purpose was for preserving the memories for my own benefit so I will never be able to forget about my amazing time in Japan. Contained in the story map are descriptions and photos from my two months in Japan as well as multiple maps showcasing the spatial connections between various destinations on my journey. This project allows me to look back on it when I want to relive the experiences I had during my time abroad and share the experiences with others.