Hello, my name is Manato Matsuoka, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh double majoring in supply chain management and business information systems while double minoring in economics and history. I am I am excited to be a part of the Plus3 Ireland program and learn more about the culture and business environment there!

On campus, I am a committee member of the Japanese Student Association and a member of the Mixed Martial Arts club. I was born in Washington D.C., but moved to Shanghai when I was four and Singapore when I was six, eventually returning to the states, where I lived in Radnor, just outside of Philadelphia, ever since. I also play tennis, work out, and in general, just love exploring new and different opportunities!

When I transferred into the business program, I was excited to learn more about business as a whole, and finding about the Plus3 program, I knew it was a perfect opportunity. Although I have widely traveled throughout Asia, I have never been to Europe, unless you count layovers. Not only am I able to explore an entire continent and country I have never been to before, I could learn more generally about business, as I am still more or less unsure about my future field of study. I couldn’t ask for more.

While in the program, I hope to immerse myself in the Irish culture, learning more about European culture and lifestyle, as well as dig deeper into the developing business environment in Ireland, with its booming technological and entrepreneurial fields. If anything, I hope to change my previous ideas about both culture and business in Ireland and Europe as a whole. I want to welcome any differences or questions from the bottom of my heart.

Can’t wait until, in just a few more weeks, when I will be flying over the Atlantic ocean towards my new adventure.