Student Exchange to Ohio Northern University, U.S.A.
It was my dream to go to the USA since I was a high school student because I wanted to tell my intension in English correctly and enjoy talking with foreign people. I thought soaking myself in the all English environment was the best way to improve my English. Therefore, I set my goal to be an exchange student and go to the USA to study.
However, I had to meet some requirements such as my average grades of semesters and TOEFL score. TOEFL was the most daunting challenge to overcome. TOEFL test includes reading, listening, speaking and writing, so I started to study English from basis at first. The grammar class and speaking class of my major help me make my English better. I had prepared for TOEFL for two years. When I got a score that cleared the requirement to apply to exchange program, I appreciated to my parents, friends and professors who supported me and determined to study hard in the USA.
I visited the USA for the first time, so I worried about everything. I felt lonely at the bus terminal of the airport, waiting for the bus. Some ONU (Ohio Northern University) greeters came to the airport to pick up the international students. While taking a bus, I was looking out of the window, and I imagined enjoyable events and difficult challenges that I would probably experience in the university.
ONU greeters helped the international freshman to adapt to the new life in the USA. They were consisted of the domestic (American) students and the international students. They shared the important information of around the university, how to study efficiently in the university. Also, the international students could consult about homesickness with them. I felt relieved and adjusted to the new life thanks to their help.
Ohio Northern University has some church student groups. Students actively joined the volunteer for the community around the university. I also went to help older women bring fire woods for the volunteer. I realized that the importance of keeping a good relationship with the community near to the university.
One of the ONU greeters was reverent a Christian and in charge of the one church student group. Also, she sometimes took international students to the church. Actually, I hesitated to go to the church at first because I was not a Christian, and I had never read the Bible before, so I was unqualified to enter the church. ONU greeter noticed I felt awkward when I was in the church, so she offered me to teach the Bible once a week. I had nothing with Christianity, so I thought it was a good opportunity to know the other religion. We met at the café every Friday. She interpreted the Bible slowly and with easy English, so I could understand it. I taught her Japanese in return. We enjoyed chatting over lunch after teaching each other. It was a precious time with talking and exchange knowledge with her. Also, I could cultivate myself through studying the Bible.
I enjoyed my college life in Ohio Northern University, but I also needed to concentrate on studying. The professors asked students to do more homework and presentations than I expected. Therefore, I had to spare most of my time to do homework and prepare presentations. Even though I woke up until 2 AM to do my homework, but I could not finish it. Especially, I wanted to improve my English reading skill, so I took one literature class, so I need to read almost 50 pages of English novel every day. I took pains to study in Ohio Northern University. The professors helped me a lot. They always welcomed me when I visited their office to ask questions and answered them very kindly and clearly.
The most impressive class was The Religions East and West. I learned the world religions in that class. The atmosphere of the class was very active and I was overwhelmed during the discussion. Also, the Religion Professor gave the group project to students, and I participated in drawing the representative feature of global religions. Our group decided to paint 5 religions. I was in charge of drawing the Buddhism part. At first, I had difficulty to communicate with team members, but I eventually felt satisfied with contributing to my group by painting.
I got many precious memories in Ohio Northern University. I could make many friends and improve my English there. It was true that I had a hard time to take all English class same as the American students. But this valuable experience and meeting lots of different people made me grow as a person. I stayed there for 5 months, but now I think those five months passed really quickly. I already miss Ohio Northern University and friends who I made there. I hope to go back someday in the future.