International students share UD experiences

International students discuss their experiences at UD. Foreground, from left, are Yoko Kasuya, Takako Yamagami and Sujin Kim, and background, from left, are Carolina Sandoval, Carolina Franco, Hiroyuki Suzui and Mitsutoshi Kajiyama.

3:51 p.m., June 16, 2005--A group of international students, including past and present students of Japan’s Soka educational network, continued a tradition of exchanging cultural and academic ideas with the University of Delaware by visiting with UD President David P. Roselle on June 10 in Hullihen Hall.

Soka University is part of an international network made up of 82 universities in 38 countries and regions including Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania and North America. The flagship institution of the Soka educational system, Soka University, is located in Hachioji, a suburb of Tokyo.

After being welcomed by Roselle, the students shared their thoughts on their educational experiences at UD and in their respective countries.

Mitsutoshi Kajiyama, who graduated from UD in May with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a minor in economics, said it took some time to adjust to what he described as a significant cultural difference between Japan and the United States.

“When I first came here, I didn’t approve of the way some students behaved towards people from other cultures,” Kajiyama said. “When I went home that first winter, I saw some people in my country behaving the same way, and I have since learned that all people are human beings, and there are some good and not-so-good individuals in all countries and cultures.”

Hiroyuki Suzui, a Soka high school graduate, is currently enrolled in UD’s English Language Institute (ELI). He expects to be a UD student this fall and is interested in majoring in international relations.

“I’ve been at the ELI for a year and have had many opportunities to talk with UD students,” Suzui said. “This has helped me to open up a bit and to make friends.”

Carolina Franco, an ELI student, plans to use her travel and education experiences abroad to help others in her native Colombia.

“I was a little nervous when I got here, but the people at UD really helped me,” Franco said. “The most important thing about meeting people from other cultures is that you share ideas. I want to pass this experience on to others.”

Carolina Sandoval, a native of Honduras, is a senior anthropology student at UD.

“When I first got here, it was a bit of a culture shock,” Sandoval said. “I love new things and have a passion for learning and for travel. That’s why I chose anthropology, because it covers many different areas of learning.”

Takako Yamagami, an economics major, is a junior exchange student from Soka University and has been at UD for a year, including a difficult first semester.

“I didn’t know many people, and adjusting to my new life here was difficult. Then, I went on a trip to Costa Rica, and there I found out that it’s up to me to change the situation,” Yamagami said. “I also learned that it depends on what I do. I became more open and have gotten to know more people. I wish that I could stay here longer.”

Sujin Kim, a Korean native whose family lives in Seoul, is a student at Soka University. She recently came to UD to study at the English Language Institute.

“I hope someday to be a newscaster,” Kim said. “My experience at Soka University really opened my mind to the importance of good relationships between people and countries.”

Yoko Kasuya, an economics major and an exchange student from Soka University, said it took a study abroad trip to help her attain academic success at UD.

“During my first semester, I was busy pulling all-nighters, writing papers, and my grades weren’t going so well,” Kasuya said. “Then, I went to Peru with a group of 10 students from UD. I also took up Spanish to get to know more people. As a result, my grades began to improve. The trip to Peru and my experiences at UD have had an positive impact on my personality.”

Kasuya said that the experience of coming to another country also increased her appreciation of her family back home and the new friends she has made at UD.

“This was the first time I was without the close support of family, and I had to learn to do things for myself. I never really appreciated how much my family had been doing for me,” Kasuya said. “I also never thought I would have so many friends here, but I do. I want to keep in touch with them and to share my experience at UD with the people back at Soka University. My friends are my treasure.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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