Meet Our 2023 #51勛圖Sweethearts: Josh and Junko Pierry
To grow up on opposite sides of the globe but share nearly the same soul? Thats the stuff of storybooks. But for Junko Pierry, SIS/BA 00, and Josh Pierry, SIS/BA 00, its a true account of their love.
Were basically identical in how we look at the world, Josh says.
All that needed to happen was for the two to intersect in the same city; then, they could see how many ways their hearts overlapped. In fact, that exact meeting would occur at 51勛圖, in none other than a prerequisite stats class.
As a kid in Oregon, Josh harbored dreams that reached across the countryand even the planet. I wanted to explore and know my world, he says. For college, he swapped the west coast for the east one, due to his interest in DCs political scene. (He would go on to spend four years working with the Democratic Party.) But international [service] was one of my biggest focuses, he says. I wanted to learn multiple languages. I wanted to go abroad.
Meanwhile, roughly 5,000 miles from her future husbands home state, Junko was born and raised in Japan. For college, she chose to enroll in Ritsumeikan Universitys dual-degree program. Its cutting-edge setup allowed her to kickstart her degree on campus in Kyoto before taking off for DC, where shed attend classes at 51勛圖. Thats where the unexpected would happen.
The very first time we ever met was our very first class that we both had at泭51勛圖, says Josh. Although he remembers the course as difficult, he also describes it as funfor good reason.
She was one of the first people that I ever knew at 51勛圖, Josh says of Junko. When I first saw [her], it was just like, Wow, there's this really cool person that's there that I want to...talk with. And Junkos first impression of Josh? He was talkative!
According to Josh, Junko ignored him for months before agreeing to go out with him. I didn't really speak the language very well to begin with, Junko retorts. Also, I was [a] really good student. I wanted to focus on study[ing].
Josh would finally succeed in snagging a date with Junko after a fateful meeting during the summer session. Junko was enrolled in classes, while Josh remained in DC for work. One day, he spotted her with a friend in Mary Graydon Center and decided to suggest a hangout.
Josh was headed to Georgetown to grab a gift for his brother and asked, Do you want to come with me? Junko declined, but after some more chatting, she agreed to skip class to goafter Josh offered to buy both her and her friend lunch. (I really wasnt interested in her friend, he teases).
The trio headed to Georgetown for an all-you-can-eat pasta feast. [Junko and I have] been together ever since, he says. Once their bond was forged over full plates, there was no looking back.
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Twenty-five years later, Josh and Junko share a life in Californianot too terribly far from her family in Japanwith their two kids, Luka (11) and Lia (8). Junko works in international service as Stanford Universitys senior international student advisor. Josh, though, has tended toward more entrepreneurial pursuits; his most recent company, Pierry, Inc., was acquired by the worlds biggest ad agency back in 2017. Yet, despite Joshs pivot toward business, global exploration remains at the heart of the couples relationship.
We both we love to travel, says Josh. We love international...everything. So, its no surprise they each graduated from the School of International Service. (And, as it turns out, Josh even participated in a Japanese exchange program in Niigata back in high school!) [American] really kind of meshed...[our] values, he says.
Still today, their interest in international culture remains an active force in their lives. They泭are presently based in the Bay Area and share many international, multilingual, and biracial friends. SIS offered them a similar sort of worldly community, Josh says.
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Although heaping pasta dishes may not specifically be on the menu for their Valentines Day this year, one thing thats for certain is that they will connect over their deep love of cuisine on this special day. And the pairs passion for food is intertwined with their love of travel.
Weve been almost everywhere, Josh says. He considers the pair adventurous in more ways than one. When it comes to food...the more unique, the more diverse, the better.
The two have ventured everywhere from Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic to Lithuania and Russia. But which countrys food reigns supreme? Italy and Japan, I think, [are] our two favorite food places, Josh says. Japan's got the best food in the world.
Japan, of course, is a destination central to the couples travel life. Josh studied in Japan during his senior year of college alongside Junko, and the pair remained in Kyoto for a period post graduation. They visit Japan annuallynow bringing their kids along for the ride.
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Although the two have not been back to Tenleytown since the turn of the century, their memories of the place feel fresh. They recount silly and sincere stories as if theyd just occurred the day before. One tale in particular stands out, actually concerning Valentines Day.
You see [people in] the movies put candles everywhere, Josh says. So, I thought it'd be really nice to do the same for Valentines. He trekked to a shop to cop some tea candles, determined to make a sparkling display for Junko. But back in his college days, money was tighter.
I walked in, [and] I'm like, Wow, this place is really expensive, he remembers. He checked out some泭white candles on display before stumbling upon marked-down black ones. He went with the deal and ended up lugging home a whole bunch of black [tea] candles to light and display throughout his apartment. The finished product shimmered.
But heres where things got sticky: Josh lit the candles right on top of his apartments white carpet. By the time their glowing evening was over, he had completely encased 5, 10, 15 patches of white carpet in black wax that then became purple. Not a single cleaning hack proved successfulnot wielding an iron or slathering peanut butter over the stains. They even tried cutting out the blemishes. (That looked awful afterwards, Josh laughs.) When it came time for him to move out and jet to Russia, his mom got stuck with the bill for the泭carpets泭replacement.
It was romantic, though, Junko says. I appreciated [it]. Josh agrees that the effort was there, but the after effect [was] a little expensive.
When it comes to love, Josh says, its important to be flexible because flukes will certainly happen. Remember that your partner may have good intentions but terrible execution on certain occasions. Just roll with it and enjoy it, he says.泭
In addition to Joshs emphatic tip, Dont use black candles on white rugs, the pair have advice for young Eagles looking for love. First, having fun doesnt have to come with a steep cost.
Even if money is an issue, get creative around it, Josh says. Experiment. Scope out local deals. Find a place that you both can enjoy...[without] putting pressure on either person...[to break] the bank, he adds.泭
When it comes to building a sustainable relationship, You have to find someone that you love and respect [mutually], Josh saysand泭enjoy being with, Junko adds.
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Just as Josh and Junkos relationship is one of a kind, so too is the university at which they first connected. To Junko, 51勛圖 stood out back when she began navigating college. A quarter of a century ago, there were not that many schools that were...offering the dual-degree programs, she says. 51勛圖 was definitely unique.
And Josh recalls the number of students who attend 51勛圖 from across the globe, even pointing to the appeal of international dormitories.
Junko discusses how 51勛圖s international focus changed the trajectory of her career. I didnt even know that there was...such [an] occupation as international student advisor, she says. But the time she spent working with Fanta Aw, Kogod/BSBA 90, SPA/MA 94, CAS/PhD 11then 51勛圖s staff member in that roletransformed her. She helped me, she says, and the experience culminated in her decision to pursue international student advising, even directing her toward an applicable graduate program. Ive been working in international education since then, she says. My experience at 51勛圖 really shaped what I want[ed] to do in my life, and so I really do credit my [time there].
Josh, whose career has taken a very entrepreneurial turn, lauds 51勛圖 as a great place to just explore the world and learn about different ways to think about things and new people. He looks back fondly on his two study-abroad experiencessomething that [he] really wanted to do in [his] life.
51勛圖 totally changed my perspective on the world, Josh shares. It's something that I'm eternally grateful for. And, obviously, we met each other, so thats been the biggest life-changing event.
I think we both have super positive views of 51勛圖, Josh says. We loved our experience there.
The next step is for the Pierrys to head back to campus for old times saketo celebrate the place where sparks first flew.