Studying Abroad, and the Future through That

Interviewers: Akihito Nagashima, Hasan Ramadhan Fadel

The reasons he chose Ibaraki University

Nagashima: What was your reason for coming to Ibaraki University for the exchange program? I know there were other schools you could have chosen.
John: A friend of mine from UAB studied abroad at Ibaraki University from 2013 to 2014. He told me that he became very fluent in Japanese and had a great time. After him, my high school classmate also went to Ibaraki University and told me that it was the best place to study. I also got to know the Ibaraki University exchange student who came to Alabama, so it was like, "I just have to go there”.

Things he had a culture shock about while studying at Ibaraki University

Nagashima: Were there any differences between the U.S. and Japan that surprised you?
John: I have a great story. A bike my friend rented from the International House was stolen from the bike parking lot at Ibaraki University.
Nagashima: What?! John: And the person who stole (?) the bike parked it at Ibadai the next day. I don't know what happened (laugh). My friend, one of the tutors at the International House and I were waiting there, and then the thief came back and rode it away. I called out to him and asked him to stop. We said to him, "That's the International House's bike, give it back please!” He said, "Oh, sorry. By the way, the chain is a little loose, so let me fix it for you first.” He really fixed the chain (laugh). In the U.S, it would be a fight, but in Japan, we settled for repairing the chain and returning the bike. He was a nice (?) thief.
Nagashima: That's, umm... I don't know if it was nice. I don't think so...
John: Was it stealing or borrowing?
Nagashima: Maybe there was some kind of misunderstanding.
John: You can't write this in the article, so let's think of another one, shall we (laugh)?
Nagashima: It's good and funny, but just in case, please (laugh).
John: Let's remember something positive about Japan.
Nagashima: Yes (laugh).
John: How about, the usefulness of convenience stores or the cleanliness of buses and trains.
Nagashima: Was there anything you used to buy at convenience stores?
John: Fried chicken.
Nagashima: The regular kind?
John: I liked the spicy ones.
Nagashima: I like spicy too.
John: When I was at Ibaraki University, there was only Book Ace in front of the university. But now there’s a MiniStop there.
Nagashima: Yes, there is. It's convenient to have it right in front of university.
John: I heard a legendary story that McDonald's was nearby.
Nagashima: I remember I was surprised to see McDonald's on an old map.
John: There’s only one in Daikumachi now. It is a little far away.
Nagashima: Yes, it is.
John: It was a bit difficult when I wanted to eat bread. Mito is a ramen town.
Nagashima: There are indeed many ramen shops.
John: I don’t like how crowded Tokyo is, but at least there’s no shortage of bread there.

What his studying abroad experience brought to him

Hasan: What do you feel before coming into Japan and after going back to Alabama?
John: I had been studying Japanese in my college and thought I should be fine. But when I arrived, I couldn't understand anybody, I couldn't speak, and I was so worried. And then I saw everyone having fun and I started to feel kind of lonely, like “oh I can't make friends unless I learn more.” I wanted to talk to these people, but I couldn't express myself. That's really what drove me to study. I was just wanting to be friends with these people. So, I studied pretty hard in that dorm room. And tried speaking a lot, even not just with Japanese people, but with the Koreans, Thai, and other international students who already could speak fluently when they got there. I'd say it took me about five or six months until I felt like I could really have conversations. And then after I left, I felt accomplished. I felt like, “wow, I got so much better.” I made so many friends. It was awesome.
Hasan: So, your motivation was to actually speak Japanese really well. That’s great. I couldn’t speak Japanese really well after 5-6 months.
John: But I think if you studied and lived in the in the dorm in Ibadai, you'll get better fast.
Hasan: Yeah, I think so.