What made me want to go on this long-term study abroad program was because of the experience I had on a short-term study abroad trip to Oregon in the United States when I was in high school. While I was looking forward to discovering new things, I was also anxious and worried because it was my first time going abroad and I was going alone. However, once I actually arrived in Oregon, I was no longer anxious, but rather impressed by the many people I met and the diverse cultures I came into contact with. I would like to spend more time at the university to experience various cultures, improve my English, and communicate with a variety of people.
　During this study abroad period, I hope to not only acquire language skills and master the subjects I will major in at university, but also acquire the ability to think creatively and adapt to the environment, as well as having an international perspective. I am very happy to have been selected to study abroad in the U.S. for an extended period of time after having been frustrated by not being able to go to the U.S. due to the pandemic. I will never be able to forget this feeling, be grateful every day for this opportunity, and do my best in everything I do so that I have no regrets.

During the second semester at my time here at Saint Martin’s University, I decided to take a Spanish class this winter to expand on my experience of Mexican culture from my homestay during winter vacation. I’m looking forward to this semester to take classes that I’ve gained interest in while studying in America for 5 months. Since there are an array of people from multiple cultures, I was able to learn about traditions from around the world such as the ones in Pacific Islands. Something I realized here was the differences between Japan and America. I was asked about the culture in Japan and did not think much of it as everything comes natural to me. However, this made me see how the two countries compare and their norms stood out to me. An example is physical touch. In America, it is normal to show affection through physical touch while in Japan, it is not as common as it can be taken in the wrong way. Overall, my time here has changed me for the greater good as it has given me new perspectives and also deepened my awareness of what goes on in the world. This experience so far has been an experience to remember and would love to visit other countries in the future.

It has been passed two and half months since I came back from Washington states in the U.S. What I think has changed in my mind after going to the U.S. is to get the way of thinking about something more internationally. In addition, I can also pay attention and think about some problematic international aspect such as racial, economical, and gender aspects. For example, getting along with a lot of American and learning their backgrounds, I become familiar with the problems with that they have been facing so far. As a result, I feel like I need to think of how I, as a Japanese, can deal with the problems or help them. Moreover, I can wonder how I can make an effort to make them feel comfortable and how I can serve them for giving wonderful experience and memories in Japan to them when seeing tourists from other countries. Besides considering such things, my attitude against academic aspects also has been changed. I can more focus on my classes, and I am more interested in learning things deeply. I can take my online English-speaking class more seriously, and I think I gain what I learn in the class more efficiently. I recently make a goal, which is to get 900 points or more on TOEIC, to prove what I have gained in the U.S. as an academic aspect beside the way of thinking and my attitudes, so I am studying so hard right now. A few months ago, I just got offered to work as an employ at hotel, so I am planning to work at foreign hotel as the first step of my career using working holiday visa, because I would like to study business English and using it, I would like to give a good service to not only Japanese but also many tourists from other countries. I hope I can work there for a year, and the I can work at the hotel in Japan.