S
poken from the voice of a different culture, the words “I love America” sparked loud cheers at the Academic Assembly last Tuesday.
Thanks to a sister school agreement established a few years back, 15 exchange students from Narita Kokusai High School of Japan are studying here for 18 days.
“Everything is different. I can’t just choose one,” Sho Okumura said. Okumura is one of the 15 students.
This is the first time Okumura has been to America. English class was his only prior connection to Western culture. Now, having been totally submersed in our culture, his awareness has increased.
“Even if you can’t speak English, you can communicate with Americans,” Okumura said, through the help of translator Minori Kanda. She is the accompanying English teacher from Japan.
“Language has been the hardest thing for them,” Kanda said. “It’s easy to get use to culture and food. They try to convey their ideas, they want to, but can’t.”
For Okumura, this principle caused some anxiety during the Assembly on Tuesday. “I got very nervous because I am shy as you can see,” he said.
But when asked about American cuisine, Okumura piped in without shyness or the need of Kanda. “The volume of the food is very a lot. I am going to miss barbeque chips.”
ALLISON KINDIG
