On Aug. 31, Penn State Abington welcomed five students and two faculty members from Seinan Gakuin University students — Kenshi Horishita, Sota Misaka, Aozora Miyamoto, Yui Nakashima and Chinatsu Yoshimura. The two group leaders/faculty members who led the students were Mr. Saphryn Shikaze and Ms. Hiromi Kajituka.
The students were here to participate in a two-week intensive 40-hour academic program at Penn State Abington. They are communications and English majors.
Dr. Dolores Rafter Arevalo, coordinator of the Global Affairs department, explains the importance of hosting universities outside of the United States here at Penn State Abington.
“The purpose of hosting global programs with universities outside the United States is to bring the world to Penn State Abington. It is also a way to build and sustain meaningful academic programs with universities abroad. For example, not only have the SGU students traveled to Penn State Abington for the past four years, but Penn State Abington has also taken student groups to their campus in 2013, and another faculty-led program to their university is being planned for spring 2016.”
From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each weekday, the students attended a variety of communications classes, including CAS 5025 (Communications and Culture), taught by Professor Alethea Kidd, and CAS 084S (Intercultural Communications), taught by Dr. Roxanna Senyshyn.
The Japanese students said the biggest difference between here and Japan is the level of interaction between the students and professors. “In Japan the teacher lectures and the students just listen; here at Penn State Abington, the professors want students to participate while they teach.”
Aozora Miyamoto said, “In Japan there can be as many as 400 students in the classroom, but here in America the classroom size is much smaller.”
During their free time, the students spent time with their global buddies. Arevalo explains some of the reasons why Penn State Abington students sign up to serve as buddies for visiting students.
“The Global Buddies are Penn State Abington students who have various reasons for participating. Some have studied abroad and are interested in meeting students coming here because they understand the experience and know how difficult it can be to navigate in another language and culture. Others are interested in study abroad or in Japan in general and would like to learn more about its culture by meeting and engaging in conversations and co-curricular activities with the goal of perhaps establishing a new friendship.”
The Japanese students are paired with three to four buddies; during Common Break, the global buddies have lunch with the Japanese students. This also allows them to practice their English.
Sota Misaka said, “The global buddies were very friendly and helpful.”
After a long week at school, the students visited local attractions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a Phillies baseball game.
On Saturday, Sept. 9, they went to visit New York City, one of the most sought-out tourist attractions in the United States. The daylong trip included sightseeing in Times Square and lots of shopping.
During their stay in America, the students ate some of America’s favorite foods for the first time, including cheesesteaks, pretzels and chicken wings, just to name a few.
Yui Nakashima said, “In America, there is so much food on one plate; in Japan the meals are much smaller. I couldn’t even finish my meal.”
During the trip, the students created a presentation describing what they learned during their stay here in America. The Dean’s Closing Luncheon was held in the Lares Banquet Room and led by Arevalo, Dr. Norah Shultz and Alethea Kidd. In the audience the Global Buddies were there with gifts and cards to give to each student.
Chinatsu Yoshimora said that this two-week experience “has led me to become really close friends with my global buddies. I would like to live here in America after I graduate.”
Mrs. Hiromi Kajituka said, “I loved everything here in America.”
Mr. Daichi Kimura said, “Penn State Abington is extremely diverse, with so many international students; this is a place where students can shed their stereotypes.”
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