Reverse Culture Shock

By Tomoka

Reverse culture shock appears when people feel the difference between countries, but if they respect that difference, they will not feel like that.  In fact, I didn't feel any reverse culture shock when I returned to Japan. There are two reasons.  First, I wasn't able to much time in the United States by the result that coronavirus spread through in here. We intended to stay until the end of May, but we had to return to Japan at the end of March. Therefore, I couldn't really touch or experience American culture directly, and most of what I could do was a cultural difference that I knew originally. So I wasn't surprised or upset by the cultural differences. And, I hadn't been in here long enough to feel a reverse culture shock after returning to Japan. Second, I respect American and Japanese culture and can accept cultural differences. There are a lot of cultural differences between Japan and the United States, such as food culture, language, communication style and lifestyle. For example, in Japan, we don't have much physical contact when we greet, but in the United States, we take a lot of physical contact. I think Japan is polite and the United States is friendly and has a good culture with each other, so I will not be shocked by such a difference. For these reasons, I don't have a reverse culture shock because I think cultural differences are important.

When LIfe Gives Me Lemons

 By Tomoka 
   If difficult things happen, I always challenging without giving up. There are two reasons. First, I never want to regret. When I was junior high school student, the high school which I wanted to go to, but my teacher told me that it was impossible. However, I studied hard without giving up and took an entrance examination for the high school. Then I was able to pass it. If it was given up at that time, I couldn’t go to the high school, and I was regretted. So I thought it was important to challenge without giving up. Second, I can’t change the difficult situation if I give up challenge it. For example, if someone asks for something for me and I abandon it, nothing will change. But, if I challenge it, I can get myself known and a chance to grow up. I think that taking a challenge is giving me a lot of knowledge and experience, so it was important for me. In addition, I think that the person retreats at the moment when I gave up a challenge. For these reasons, I want to challenge it if a difficult things happen.

Why I Need English

By Tomoka
I need to study English for two reasons.  First, I want to talk a lot of people from different countries, so English is necessary because it is a global language. Also, I think it is easier to express my feelings in English than in Japanese because English has many expressions that express emotions.  In addition, I feel sad when I meet people who speak other languages and I can't speak their language with them.  I have a lot of opportunity to talk with many Americans at MFWI,  but I disappointed that I couldn't speak English well, so I wanted to learn more English and speak English better.  Second, I want to be an international airline's ground staff.  International airline are used by customers from many countries, so English skill is essential.  The reason why I want to be an airport ground staff is because when I was checking in for an international flight on my first overseas trip, the Japanese ground staff responded to foreign customers in fluent English.  It was very cool to see what she was doing, so I wanted to get her job.  Therefor, studying English very hard and improving my English skills is an important goal for me.  For these reasons, studying English is very important and necessary for me.

My RA

By Tomoka
I introduce my RA.  My RA is very nice person whose name is Kayla.  She is 22 years old.  She is very kind and cute.  She always helps when I'm in trouble, and talks openly.  I like Kayla's personality very much.  She has many times to do RA. Our group is 6th time to do RA.

She likes K-POP idols, especially she likes BTS and Seventeen.  These K-POP group are very famous around the world.  I like K-POP, too.  So I'm glad I can talk a lot about K-POP and dancing to K-POP music with her.  Also, she likes ONE OK ROCK.  Do you know this artist?  It is a famous Japanese band.  They have many good songs. I like song called "Wherever you are."  This song is the most famous song of ONE OK ROCK in Japan.  She has been to this artist's concert many times in America.  I was so surprised to hear that, and I was glad she likes Japanese artists.

She has been studying Japanese for 6 years.  I can't speak English very well, but I enjoy talking to Kayla every day.  I want to talk in English very well.  So I have to study English very hard.

 I can learn a lot of things every day and that is a very important time for me.  Kayla is very good at our group RA and I think very happy I met her!!♡

My First Week

By Tomoka

I’m so tired after a long flight., but it was a good experience for me.  When I arrived in Spokane, I thought Spokane was very nice town with a lot of trees.  It's very cool.  

My house at MFWI is called Dickinson and it is very clean and large.  I’m surprised!!  Our group’s RA is a very kind woman whose name is Kayla.  She is very friendly.  I’m so happy to meet her.  

American food is very big and delicious , and it taste very salty which I like.  Classes are the most interesting of all.  I want to speak, write and read English very well, so I have to study very hard.  However, I like English because it is so fun and interesting to me.  I’m looking forward to going shopping in American supermarket.  I want to buy snacks, perfume, and other things. 

Introduction

By Tomoka
 My name is Tomoka.  I’m 19 years old.  I was born in Miki , Hyogo.  There are 4 people in my family: my mother , my father , my brother and I. 

 My hobby dancing and listening music.  Especially I like K-POP music and dancing.  I like a lot of K-POP groups.  They are very cool!!  I was learning dance from elementary school to high school.  But I haven't learned it now.  I see a dance in Youtube and I larened it and dancing now.  

 On holidays, I often dance with my friends in the park.  It’s fun to dance various K-POP groups.  Also, I watch Youtube all day long when there is no schedule all day.  Especialy, I watched introducing cosmetics videos and Vlogs.  I recommend them because they are so fun.

 I want to work at the airport in the future.  Because I like planes, airports and airport employee uniforms.  Especially I like Asiana Airlines uniforms.  Because it is very cute and stylish.  I want to communicating many foreing people.  So I need English skills.  I want to study English hard for that.  I’m looking forword to studying English in America.