I felt many surprises in this summer. I went to Minnesota to study. I spent three weeks there in summer vacation. It was too short to study, but it was too long to travel. I learned many things.
First, I noticed several differences between America and Japan. Of course, I know a little about it. However, it was more different than I thought. For example, in America, family members often eat "on the run" individually, not together. They start to eat at their own pace. I was so surprised, because my mother used to tell me "You must wait for everyone to come." In America there was no longer such a custom, but they don't dislike each other.
In addition, parents and children’s communication is very good in America. They really love each other. There are a lot of family conversations. They go out on holiday and they take tea break many times together even if the children grow up. On the other hand, Japanese children leave or distance themselves from their parents. I surely know some children are friendly with their parents, but generally Japanese some adults overprotect their children when the children are still kids. However, when children come of age, they are excessively distant from their parents. If children depend on their parents, the children are thought by society to not be good.
Second, I got a lot of experiences this summer. I have both sweet memories and hard memories. Talking of sweet one, of course I remember the home-stay program. I went to the home of the Powers in the town of Becker for three days. It was very short and I wanted to stay there more. The Powers are very kind and they are interested in Japanese culture. It was interesting to speak my mother country in a foreign country, and I thought this was a good experience. However, I was so nervous, because it was my first trip overseas. I didn't know how to buy something and how to spend my free time. Furthermore, the hardest memory is bath time. The dorm doesn't have a bathtub, so we had to take a shower in a narrow space. This time, I really missed hot springs!
Well, thanks to this experience, I could become stronger mentally, and I know if I go somewhere, I will live there somehow. It depends on nothing more than where to go. I went to the countryside in Minnesota and I stayed in the dorm, so people there were very gentle. I might only take advantage of their kindness. I could know about my skills and noticed that I could develop it.
This is my short-term study abroad. I'm so glad that I could get this chance. I could find the reason to study English. I only want to learn it to speak with my new friends in Minnesota. It is a big harvest for me. I'm sure I could never understand many exciting things if I stay Japan all the time. I'm genuinely thanking my parents for sending me to America. I will remember this summer vacation forever.
