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Youbin Moon Awarded First LUJ-Peace Boat Internship
Youbin Moon was in class when she heard the news.
After “10 drafts” of a 3,000-word essay about peace and “problems that other countries” currently face, and an interview with Peace Boat international director Sumiko Hatakeyama, Youbin, a second-year undergraduate majoring in Data Science, was “60% confident, 30% anxious, and 10% numb” about her chances of joining the 125th Peace Boat Voyage.
Then, the email. Yes, Youbin had been accepted. From December 15 to March 31, 2027, she will travel around the world with Peace Boat, a Japan-based international NGO founded in 1983, its mission to promote "peace, human rights, and sustainability.”
“I have never been abroad,” Youbin tells us. “Just Japan and Korea. Peace Boat is a big opportunity in my life, and seeing the actual reality of the world, being there, is important to me.” In fact, her longest trip away from family was a week-long trip to Hokkaido, "but that was with friends."
While on her transcontinental voyage, Youbin will complete a 12-credit research internship, collecting data locally based upon a topic she is currently putting together with Dr. David O’Connell, Assistant Professor of Math at LUJ, and Mr. Patrick Parr, Assistant Professor of English.
“Living on the boat will be challenging,” Youbin admits, “because there are so many people of all ages, mostly Japanese, but also Chinese, Korean, and many other backgrounds.” It’s a challenge she is ready for. “My family is really glad about Peace Boat…they really want me to go abroad and experience new things.”
The voyage will stop at many ports along the way, but Youbin is particularly interested in spending a week in Antarctica, hoping to view the aurora australis (Southern lights), and penguin culture. She is also looking forward to the experience of visiting the ancient civilization of Machu Picchu in Peru.
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