🌸Hirodai Ambassador [News from Study Abroad] Yuki Shikama, XNUMXth year Faculty of Education

🌸Hirodai Ambassador Activity Report

Faculty of Education XNUMXth year Yuki Shikama
[Destination] San Diego State University (USA)
[Study abroad period] August 2019 to January 8.
[Type of study abroad] Long-term study abroad at a partner university

 

hello everyone.I'm Yuki Shikama, currently studying at San Diego State University in San Diego, California, USA.This time, I will briefly introduce her study abroad in San Diego.

 

About San Diego

San Diego has a very pleasant climate throughout the year, with temperatures around 1 degrees Celsius, low humidity, and many sunny days.It's a charming city with plenty of beaches, hiking spots and tourist attractions.In addition, many of the people who live in San Diego are kind and friendly, and it is no exaggeration to say that there is almost no discrimination (it is not that there is no discrimination at all) because there are people of various races living in San Diego.I've talked to people from other parts of the United States, and they said that San Diego has a lot of friendly people, so I'm sure this is true.As for security, some people may be concerned about guns in the United States, but there are no gun incidents in San Diego, so I think you can live without worrying about that.

 

About the university

The campus is the best environment to live in both physically and atmospherically.In terms of physical aspects, there are supermarkets, restaurants (restaurants, Starbucks, bars, etc.), amusement facilities (gyms, gymnasiums, bowling, table tennis, billiards, pools, etc.), train stations, and libraries, so it is possible to live without leaving the university.Also, the atmosphere in the university is very lively.On weekdays, many students come and go on campus, and on weekends, many students hold parties in their dormitories and apartments on campus, and you can hear lively voices even when walking at night.

 

how to spend the holidays

My friends and I often go to beaches in San Diego, hike, or go to parties.Personally, I like to sunbathe on the beach or by the pool without thinking about anything, but San Diego State University has so many parties that they call it a party school, so I often go to parties and clubs with my friends.At the party, you can meet various people and make more friends.

Recommended for those who want to do it.Also, you can go from San Diego to Los Angeles in about 2 hours by bus or car, so you can watch sports in Los Angeles or go to an amusement park.

 

to feel possessed

First of all, I think my English skills will definitely improve.When I first arrived, I could only understand about 20-30% of what professors and students were saying.I had planned to study English before going to study abroad, but when I was in Japan, I couldn't get used to the expressions and words I had never heard (so-called slang), and the pronunciation and rhythm of Americans.
However, in the first semester, as I slowly memorized those expressions and words and talked to Americans over and over again, in the second semester, I was able to hear them much better than in the previous semester, and I feel that my speaking skills improved as well.In addition, I was able to have experiences that I would not have been able to have while in Japan, and I believe that these experiences will undoubtedly become assets for my future life.
I don't mean to blame Japan, but the fact is that America is grander than Japan and has a different culture.Living in such a society broadens my view of the world considerably, and I feel that being able to experience that at my age will be a big advantage in my life in the future.