17 Apr My exchange experience so far

Written By: Sakura Yamanaka

Hello. I came to San Francisco State University as an exchange student from Japan for one year. It has already been one month since I came to San Francisco. I would like to share with you about my experience.

The first is about the classes. Over the past month, I have had many opportunities to experience different teaching styles and learning methods from those in Japan, and I have discovered a new fascination for learning. The first thing that surprised me was the different approach to teaching. At Japanese universities, teachers generally lead lectures, while students take notes and ask questions. However, at universities here, discussion-style lectures and group work are the norm, and the emphasis is on students freely exchanging opinions with each other. I was surprised at the close proximity between teachers and students, and the frank conversations that take place. The way classes are conducted is also different. At Japanese universities, classes follow a strict curriculum, but here there is more flexibility, and class content is sometimes adjusted according to the interests and concerns of the students. In addition, there is more project-based learning and a practical approach, allowing students to acquire practical skills as well as theoretical ones. Furthermore, the evaluation methods are different. While in Japanese universities, exams and reports are the main methods of evaluation, here a variety of evaluation methods are used, including presentations, group projects, and portfolios. Students have many opportunities to show their abilities and growth, which allows them to feel a sense of personal growth. Through these different classes, I discovered a new fascination for learning. Being exposed to different approaches and evaluation methods gives me a broader perspective. I would like to continue taking even more classes to further enrich my study abroad experience.

The second is about the language barrier. It has been a month since I started my study abroad program, and although I am gradually getting used to communicating in English, I still have a lot of issues to work on. For example, during the first few weeks, I faced a language barrier in my university classes. In particular, I had a hard time understanding the technical terms and theories in academic lectures because they were difficult to understand. For example, in economics lectures, the concepts of supply and demand and how to read graphs were different from those in Japanese, and I was puzzled at first. Also, in discussion classes, it was difficult to express my opinions appropriately, and I always felt that I did not have enough words. Furthermore, I also encountered language barriers in my daily life. Even in simple communication, such as talking with locals or shopping, phrases and expressions were sometimes different, leading to misunderstandings. For example, when ordering at a café, I sometimes made the mistake of ordering the wrong thing because some words on the menu were unfamiliar to me. However, we are actively working to address these challenges. Through daily English study, conversation practice, and listening training, I can gradually feel the results. I also feel that I am growing by actively communicating with others without fear of making mistakes. The language barrier is a difficult challenge to overcome, but I realize that I can gradually overcome it by making concrete efforts. I will continue to make daily efforts to overcome the language barrier and lead a fulfilling study-abroad experience.

The third is about food. Over the past month, I have had many opportunities to experience a different food culture from that of Japan, and I have discovered new culinary attractions. The first thing that surprised me was the difference in breakfast. In Japan, rice and miso soup is a common breakfast, but here, light breakfasts such as cereal, toast, and yogurt are common. In particular, American breakfast is hearty, with eggs, bacon, hash browns, etc. as the main ingredients. Lunch and dinner also give a sense of a different food culture. While bento boxes and set menus are the norm in Japan, salads, sandwiches, and pasta are popular lunch items here. For dinner, many restaurants offer a variety of international cuisines, with Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and many other choices. Furthermore, the manners and styles of eating differ. While in Japan it is common to eat with chopsticks, here it is more common to eat with a knife and fork or spoon. The speed of eating and the style of conversation are also different, and the emphasis here is on enjoying the meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Through these differences in eating, I discovered a new fascination with food. Experiencing the cuisines and food cultures of different countries has also broadened my own food preferences and interests. I would like to try even more cuisines in the future to further enrich my study abroad experience. The fourth is about homesickness. In the past month, I have had many challenges adjusting to life in a foreign country, but I have also had to deal with the feeling of homesickness. During the first few weeks, while I was excited about my new surroundings, homesickness sometimes hit me because I was away from my family and friends. I felt especially lonely at night, and sometimes I couldn’t stop crying as I remembered the places and people I had missed. During the period of adjustment to my new life, I became psychologically and physically exhausted, and my homesickness became more serious. However, in dealing with homesickness, I was able to find several ways to cope with it. First, I realized that it is important to keep in touch with family and friends. Sharing everyday events and feelings through video calls and messaging helped me to feel less distant. Actively interacting with new friends and acquaintances also helped. Meeting people with common hobbies and interests helped ease my homesickness. I also found new interests and enjoyment through exposure to local culture and customs. Furthermore, as I became accustomed to the environment and lifestyle of my study-abroad destination, my homesickness diminished. By getting used to new friends, places, and activities, I was able to feel more at home in a foreign country. Homesickness is a part of study abroad life and an emotion we all experience. However, overcoming it will help you grow and gain a richer experience. I hope to continue to enjoy my study abroad experience while dealing with homesickness.