Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study or work abroad? While UCF offers countless opportunities for students to take their learning international, many undergraduates never take advantage of these programs. Andrea (Dany) Melo, studying entertainment management, and Madelyn Kerst, pursuing advertising & public relations with a hospitality management minor, decided to seize an unexpected opportunity to spend the summer in Fukuoka, Japan, working with FukuokaGo, the city’s destination marketing organization.
Melo explained her motivation: “Fukuoka is in the southern part of Japan, and I thought that was really interesting. The town is looking to increase their tourism, and they don’t get a lot of Western tourists, so I really wanted to give my American perspective.”
For Madelyn, the choice was spontaneous: “The opportunity presented itself to me, and I honestly made a super spontaneous decision to take it. I hadn’t planned on spending the summer away from home until this internship came up. I have admired Japan from afar for a while, so I really wanted to take advantage of this internship.”
The pair found the internship through different channels. Melo learned of it via a Rosen College email about international internships, drawn in by the chance to gain social media marketing experience in tourism. Kerst discovered the opportunity in the HUB (Internships) Canvas course, excited to combine her marketing passion with her long-held interest in Japan.
Deciding to Go Abroad
This internship was more than just another work experience. It was a unique chance to gain insight into international tourism marketing while living in Japan.
“Honestly, this was the first time I had considered doing an internship abroad,” Kerst said. “It was exciting to get experience not just in social media marketing, but in the tourism industry. It seemed like a great way to get my foot in the door.”
“Marketing and tourism is a very niche area, and I gained so much experience in that sense because of the work we did,” Melo added. “I had never done global website analytics before, or marketing reports for bureaus and newspapers, like the Oceans report. It felt kind of like a thesis, and that was a big learning experience for me.”
Through their coursework at UCF Rosen College, both students felt prepared to take on the challenges of promoting Fukuoka to international travelers. Melo reflected on her classes in social media management and tourism: “We looked at tourism websites for major cities and compared them to more rural cities. In Japan, I compared Fukuoka to U.S. cities, which helped us market to Americans effectively.”
Kerst explained how her advertising and PR coursework directly applied: “I’ve learned so much about social media strategies, creative writing, promotional campaigns, and collaborative work. This internship let me put all of that into action.”
A Typical Day in Fukuoka
The students’ workdays combined office tasks with exploration of Fukuoka’s top attractions.
Melo described a memorable day: “We worked Monday through Friday, nine to five. We visited many museums and critiqued how English-friendly they were. I vividly remember the Poop Museum, or Unko Museum. We wanted to make a social media video there, and I was just thinking, ‘I’m getting paid to do this.’ It was both fun and professional.”
Kerst added, “A typical day started with posting content from the previous day for our American audience. We had a quick morning meeting, then worked on articles, marketing reports, or social media content. After lunch, we’d head out to gather content at tourist spots like Fukuoka Tower, the Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Exhibition, and Uminonakamichi Marine World. Some days we returned to the office to edit content, other days we went back to the hotel.”
Creating “Friends in Fukuoka”
One of the highlights of the internship was starting the social media campaign Friends in Fukuoka, designed to give Western travelers a fresh perspective on the city.
“We started it as one of our internship projects,” Melo said. “Since we were the first interns, it felt like we were figuring everything out together. Future interns can continue it, so it becomes a long-term resource.”
Kerst emphasized the creative freedom they were given: “We expected to post for official Fukuoka accounts, but our supervisors allowed us to manage our own Instagram and TikTok pages. Our goal was to showcase Fukuoka’s unique attractions and put the city on the map for American and Western tourists.”
They created both static carousels and short-form videos targeting young Americans interested in Japan travel.
Cultural Insights and Professional Growth
Living and working in Japan provided lessons beyond marketing.
Melo observed, “Working at FukuokaGo felt like being part of a family. Japanese hospitality was through the roof, which made leaving so hard. People think working in Japan is rigid and hierarchical, but at the bureau, it was different.”
Kerst noted, “Work culture is more intense, with less digital reliance and minimal work-from-home options. LinkedIn is more prominent, while TikTok is less common. Physical advertising is widespread. We had to adapt our marketing strategy to appeal to a Western audience.”
They also noticed differences in tourism and guest experience. Melo said, “Global websites and email marketing are big, but Instagram and TikTok weren’t utilized much. We introduced the idea of influencer partnerships, which was new for them.”
Kerst added, “Japanese guests are extremely respectful, and employees go out of their way to accommodate visitors. Brand storytelling is crucial, with mascots at nearly every attraction, from restaurants to farms, making it visually engaging for tourists.”
Career Reflections and Advice
The internship reshaped their career perspectives.
“I had always wanted to work in entertainment, but this broadened my view. Marketing is marketing, whether for music, tourism, or retail,” Melo said. “I now look for internships bridging entertainment and tourism. I also discovered I enjoy analytical work like marketing reports.”
“Immerse yourself in the language and culture. It makes all the difference,” Kerst added. “Just go for it! It might seem unfamiliar, but if you have the time and resources, it is life-changing. It is worth investing in this kind of life and professional experience.”
From visiting Fukuoka to creating “Friends in Fukoka”, their experience highlights the transformative power of international internships. For UCF Rosen College students considering study abroad or international internships, their advice is clear: take the chance. Experiencing another culture, building professional skills, and sharing your journey with others can change your career and perspective on the world. Explore UCF Rosen College study abroad opportunities to see how students can pursue similar transformative experiences.