Meet Our Senior High School Manager

Konnichiwa! 

My name is Karen Hendrickson and I am the Senior Manager of High School Programs at CIEE Kyoto. You may be wondering, “How did a Cheesehead (person from Wisconsin) end up living and working in this fantastic country?” In fact, the start of my life in Japan mirrors that of our students – I did study abroad in high school and college here! 

When I was in 7^th grade (back in the covered wagon days), my French teacher told my class about this thing called “being an exchange student.” I thought it sounded amazing, vowed to do it…and then promptly forgot about it after I moved to a tiny town with nary a hint of anything international. However, after moving to a different town with a huge high school, I became friends with an exchange student from Sweden who encouraged me to apply to study abroad. As fate would have it (it’s a long story, so let’s just call it “fate”), I found myself in Kagoshima for a gap year. It was, indeed, as amazing as I’d imagined in 7^th grade and I fell for Japan – hard. I was already planning my return when I got on the plane after a year at a Japanese high school. 

That return happened in college when I got a scholarship to study here for 2 years. And then there were more and more and returns after I became a teacher of Japanese language and culture in Wisconsin. The career I had chosen so that I would have the chance to make studying in Japan a reality for others brought me to Japan dozens of times and with hundreds of students, some of them being my own students and others being students on CIEE High School Summer Abroad programs. 

I can’t exactly identify what it is, but there is something about Japan that makes me feel that this is exactly where I was meant to be. It’s a good thing, too, as I estimate I’ve collectively spent more than 10 years here since first coming in 1984. I have been in Kyoto since 2019, but have also lived in Tokyo, Sapporo, Obihiro, and Ishigaki. Additionally, I have traveled this country extensively, from Monbetsu at the top of Hokkaido to Okinawa to countless places in between. There are still tons of places I’d like to visit and plan to – someday – get to them by spending a couple months hitchhiking with my kids. 

I have had far too many fabulous experiences to list even 1/100^th of them but allow me, readers, to share a few suggestions of things you might want to do should you have the chance. 

Kaiseki cuisine on the river at a kawadoko restaurant in Kibune (north of Kyoto City proper): 

In the summer months, guests sit on platforms over the fast-flowing Kibune River and enjoy traditional Japanese food. It can be pricey, but the vibe is to die for…and listening to the river rushing below you does wonders in terms of dealing with the heat of the season. After lunch, consider hiking from Kibune to Kurama, taking time to have a dip in Kurama Onsen when done. 

Shimanami Kaido (Ehime Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture): 
Travel between Imabari on Shikoku Island and Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture by bicycle! You’ll traverse several small islands in the Japan Sea by crossing grand bridges, all the while taking in stunning views. While it’s possible to do the 80 km. course in a day, I recommend taking it slowly and booking a bed in a cyclist hostel halfway through. This will give you plenty of time to hop off your bike to snap “just one more” photo. Most people to Onomichi to Imabari but I suggest doing the other way so you can take advantage of an onsen in Onomichi to reward your legs for their hard work. 

Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture) 

You can hop the Thunderbird train from Kyoto Station and get to this onsen mecca in 2.5 hours, but why not take the San-in Line and enjoy the view for an extra hour? (You’ll also save a chunk of change.) Once at Kinosaki, you can purchase a one-day pass that will give you access to all 7 onsen in the area. If it’s warm enough, consider renting a yukata (summer kimono). You can join the other visitors strolling the area clad in this traditional garb. 

Saki no Yu Onsen in Shirahama (Wakayama Prefecture): 
This outdoor onsen isn’t big or fancy but it is right next to the ocean. In fact, it’s so close that spray from waves dances right into the hot water while you’re sitting there soaking. You can have an onsen bath and saltwater shower at the same time! 

The above are just a handful of ideas. Whether or not you use them is up to you, of course. Maybe you’ll map out your course of adventures instead. Either way, I just want you to have the experience of a lifetime here in Japan! 

 
My family during our visit to Kibune in May, 2023. They live in the US but all love Japan, too! 

 
With my host mom in Kagoshima. Even though it’s been more than 40 years that I stayed with my family, I am still close to them! If you stay with a host family, they may just become your 2^nd family for life! 

The view from my bicycle while traversing the Shimanami Kaido.