October in US

Introduction

　I have been studying abroad in the United States since August 2024, and after two months, I have begun to feel like home. Gradually, I have made more friends, and since the university I attend has a relatively small campus, I often meet people I know among the people I pass by, and I am enjoying my life every day. I have already finished the midterm exams for some subjects, and I am thinking of gradually focusing on studying in preparation for the final exams in December.

Courses and Learning

Foundations in Writing

Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:20-10:15
Description: As the class progresses, assignments are given almost every week, and I go to the library every day after class to work on the assignments with my classmates. At first, the assignments involved writing stories based on my own experiences, but they have become academic papers and writing pieces that observe and analyze everyday life, and I feel that the difficulty is gradually increasing. Every week, I present the writing I have written and receive feedback from my classmates, which is stimulating every day. Also, because I not only receive feedback but also have to give feedback, I feel that I have acquired the skill of being aware of a third-party perspective.

Introduction to Sociology

Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:30-11:25
Description: What I learned from this lecture this month is the importance of the impact that social organizations and networks have on individual and group identity. Through the concept of role exit, I understood from the perspective of social groups how difficult it is to form a new identity when social status changes, and how difficult it is to break away from traditional ways and roles. Also, in addition to being interested in the lecture that broke down and analyzed social communities and family communities in detail, I also enjoyed learning about their impact on the economy and the presidential election. Also, during the social media session, I asked a question about American opinion polls, "Aren't there limitations to the accuracy of tallying up results using traditional telephone and television surveys alone?" and the professor evaluated it as a good point, which made me very happy.

Race, Science, and Human Variation

Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:40-12:35
Description: This month, we had midterm exams, so we studied a lot about Nazi medical experiments. Dr. Sigmund Rascher's hypothermia experiments and the detailed discussion of Joseph Mengele's atrocities were very impressive. I learned that these experiments, as representative examples of cruel unethical acts, reminded me of the importance of ethics in medical research. The concept of the diver effect, especially the way hypothermia experiments were conducted, made me think about how much the prisoners suffered as experimental subjects. It also emphasized the importance of handling the bodies and respecting the wishes of the descendant community. In the class where we scientifically study the history of race, we need to understand world history, American history, and British history, so it is difficult to prepare and review, but I feel that studying is worth it every time I deepen my understanding little by little.

International Students Seminar

Description: At this month's International Students Seminar, I discussed American culture and traditions with international students and gave a presentation in a lecture format. We also introduced each country's culture, traditions, and ways of greeting. When I introduced the Japanese way of greeting, I got the most excited just by saying "hello" and "thank you." Recently, with the Japanese economy stagnating, I honestly didn't feel that Japan was very attractive, but I felt a little proud and happy that people around the world are quite interested in Japan. In addition, my group discussed what shy Asians should do to adapt to American culture. Although I felt a little disappointed, I hope that this study abroad opportunity will help me to overcome my shyness a little.

International Economics (Online)

Description: This month, we learned about commercial policies, tariffs, and protectionism over the past few decades. We learned that while tariffs have been significantly reduced and international trade has increased, high tariffs still exist, especially in the agricultural sector. We also delved into the costs and effects of protectionism, and learned that trade barriers are not the best policy tool. We learned that economists support the benefits of free trade, and have shown that protectionist policies, in particular, result in higher costs for consumers. We learned that trade barriers can sometimes be justified for reasons such as national security or cultural preservation, but this comes with efficiency issues. We also learned that the WTO framework allows countries to take their own protective measures, which has resulted in an increased risk of trade wars.

Leisure

　This month, I participated in a festival called Pumpkin Patch with local students. Playing with mazes, playground equipment, and animals (pigs, horses, etc.) brought back my childhood for the first time in a long time. I also went to play with the family of a current student, so although it wasn't a homestay, I was able to become friends with the local family, and it was a very good experience. I also played with children around elementary school age, which was just fun, and in addition to that, I received compliments from the parents saying "Thank you for playing with us," which was also very fun. I was also surprised by how mature the American students, both boys and girls, looked despite being junior high school students, which was a good experience.

↑ パンプキンパッチのお祭り

　On weekends, I usually finish my homework, as I did last month, and enjoy playing games and sports with my friends at the dormitory. I also belong to the soccer club and participate in practice matches and tournaments. Being a member of the soccer club means that there is more slang than with international students, and it's fun to be able to converse with them, such as "Hey, Bro! What's up?" However, there are times when conversations are abbreviated and I cannot understand slang, so I would like to spend more time together and get used to it as quickly as possible.

↑ サッカークラブの練習

About extracurricular activities

　I spent a day touring Miyake Corporation, an American subsidiary of a Japanese company. I had the opportunity to visit the local employees' workplaces and talk to the manager of the American branch, which was a very valuable experience. I heard a variety of stories, from ways to enrich your study abroad experience to how management works. What was particularly impressive was the story about the reform of the local corporate culture. He said that when he first took up his position, it was very difficult and he had a hard time gaining the trust of the American employees. But over time, he said that Japanese culture has gradually permeated the company, and that recent business performance has been good. Specifically, I heard that the president himself has shown an attitude of working hard, increased the number of times he has had meals with employees, and valued interactions with employees' families.

↑ 会社の休憩所の本棚

　Basically, I go to the gym with my soccer club teammates to work out, watch soccer games in the dormitory, and often eat meals in the cafeteria, but I've gradually made more friends in class, and as I walk around campus, I've gotten into the habit of standing and chatting for 30 minutes without realizing it. One thing I regret is that because I've been interacting with people so much, my assignments have piled up, so I'll do my best to balance them with my studies.
　I will cherish each and every day and continue my study abroad life in a healthy and energetic manner, with safety as my number one priority.
　I would appreciate your kind support.