日本人美国留学

WhenIfirstsetfootonAmericansoilasaJapanesestudentcomingtostudyabroad,awhirlwindofemotionssweptoverme.Excitementcoursedthroughmyveinslikeanelectriccurrent,forIwasabouttoembarkonanewchapterfilledwiththepromiseofadventureanddiscovery.Yet,interwovenwiththatexcitementwasatingeofnervousness,anaturalresponsetobeinginanunfamiliarlandwithaculturesodistinctfrommyown.

IrememberthemomentIsteppedoutoftheairportin[Cityname],thesuncastingadifferent-huedglowthanthesoft,diffusedlightIwasaccustomedtoinJapan.Theaircarriedascentthatwasablendoftheunknown-thesmellofnewbuildings,differentplants,andthehustle-and-bustleofadiversecity.

ThecampusoftheuniversityIwasattendingwasasighttobehold.Itwasvast,withsprawlinglawnsandgrand,historic-lookingbuildingsstandingside-by-sidewithmodern,state-of-the-artstructures.Thediversityofthestudentbodywasimmediatelyapparent.Peoplefromallcornersoftheglobewalkedthepathways,theirlanguages,clothing,andhairstylesavividtestamenttothemeltingpotthatisAmerica.

Inmyfirstfewclasses,Iwasstruckbythedifferenceinteachingstyles.InJapan,theclassroomenvironmentisoftenmorestructured,withtheteacheratthecenteroftheknowledge-disseminationprocess.HereintheUS,therewasagreateremphasisonstudentparticipation.Professorsencouragedustovoiceouropinions,engageindebates,andchallengeexistingtheories.Itwasbothliberatingandintimidating.

Ialsohadtoadapttothesocialnorms.Makingfriendswasanewexperience.InJapan,friendshipsareoftenformedthroughlong-term,sharedactivitiesinmorehomogenousgroups.InAmerica,thesocialsceneseemedmorefluid.Peoplewerequicktostrikeupconversations,invitingmetoparties,studygroups,andsocialevents.Ittooksometimeformetogetusedtothisopenness,butgradually,Ibegantobuildmyowncircleoffriends,amixofAmericansandotherinternationalstudents.

OneofthemostsignificantculturaldifferencesIencounteredwasinthefood.Americancuisinewasafarcryfromthedelicate,aesthetically-pleasingJapanesedishesIwasusedto.Theportionsizeswereenormous!Burgers,fries,andpizzaswerestaples,andtheconceptof"to-go"foodwasmuchmoreprevalenthere.Imissedthefreshsashimi,thewarmbowlsofmisosoup,andthebeautifullyarrangedbentoboxes.However,IalsodiscoverednewflavorsanddishesthatIgrewtolove,liketherich,creamymacaroniandcheeseandthesweet,tangybarbecue.

LivinginAmericahasbeenajourneyofself-discoveryasmuchasithasbeenanacademicpursuit.Everyday,Iamfacedwithnewchallengesandopportunitiestolearn,notonlyaboutAmericanculturebutalsoaboutmyselfandmyownculturalidentity.Itisabalancingact,tryingtoholdontothevaluesandtraditionsIgrewupwithwhileembracingthenewanddifferentaspectsoflifeinthisforeignland.AndasIcontinueonthispath,Iameagertoseewhereitwillleadme,whatmoreIwilllearn,andhowIwillgrowbothasastudentandasanindividual.