Hi! I’m Lindsay Levy, born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved creating things. I constantly pestered my dad with questions about how things worked—from the stove to airplanes. That curiosity sparked a deep interest in how mechanical systems function, which eventually led me to join the robotics team in high school.
Now, I’m a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Engineering Design at Rice University. Through my minor, I learned about the iSEED program—an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Tokyo for a month while earning credit. I couldn’t pass it up!
Outside of class (which has been incredible—the city itself is our classroom), I’m most excited to just wander. I’m somewhere between a Type A and Type B traveler. I love having a destination in mind, but once I get there, I prefer to drift—letting the streets guide me, discovering hidden gems along the way. That balance lets me see both the iconic and the intimate sides of a place.
Exploring beneath the surface of Tokyo has already been such a rewarding experience. On our second day of class, we were sent on a “Noticing Hunt” where we explored different neighborhoods and observed the environment closely. Instead of rushing through, we paused to notice small behaviors, movements, and objects—then inferred the stories behind them. It was surprisingly relaxing to just sit, observe, and reflect on why people do what they do.
The following day, we had to rapidly prototype a game and bring it out into the streets of Shibuya. I was a little nervous—our group held a huge sign, and some people definitely gave us strange looks—but once we started engaging with people who welcomed our conversation, I was amazed by how open people were to playing along. We interacted with about 75 people in just 40 minutes! It completely shifted my assumptions about how approachable the people in city could be.
This first week in Japan has already exceeded my expectations. Tokyo really has become our classroom, and I’m so excited to see what the rest of this adventure brings!