Nine students of University of Aizu (UoA) had three-weeks short-term Oversea Programs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, USA on UoA's short-term Overseas Study Programs for Academic year 2015.

Here are their reports of their research and daily life in USA.

Participants

• Mr. Hayato Watanabe (a first-year student)
• Mr. Yuhi Machishima (a first-year student)
• Mr. Yuki Ito (a first-year student)
• Ms. Natsuki Tomi (a first-year student)
• Mr. Yuki Ito (a first-year student)
• Ms. Rina Azuma (a second-year student)
• Mr. Masaki Yamada (a second-year student)
• Mr. Tatsuya Hanyu (a third-year student)
• Mr. Masumi Iwasaki(a third-year student)

Grade during the program

Study Report

Hayato Watanabe

I went to the United States in March for three weeks. I visited Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for study abroad. I took two computer courses. Although I had a few classes every day, class preparation and homework were too much for me. If I try to finish them perfectly, it will take me whole day. I am surprised that the Rose Student work every day really hard. On the campus I saw many students sit on the chair with computer. In our university it is more difficult to find the people studying on campus. I thought we should follow their attitude toward study. Every weekend American friend took us to some restaurants and shops to have fun. I really appreciate them. Now in Japan we have many international students. This is our turn to take them around Japan!

Yuhi Machishima

I stayed at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, The United States for 3 weeks as a short study abroad exchange student. The reasons why I participated in this program is that I wanted to foster my global understanding. I have an aim to work in overseas in the future, therefore I thought it was important to know what it is like to live in foreign country that exist multiple cultures together. Another reason is I have a great curiosity about different cultures. Many cultures exist in the United States together and I thought it would be new and precious experience for me to expose those cultures. Based on the two reasons, I set a goal that is to know new perspectives and concept of values by interacting with people from other cultures and backgrounds. While I was interacting with local people actually, I could know those, therefore I think I achieved my goal. After this short study abroad program, I gained a lot of things, for example I felt confident about myself. However, I found several things that are not satisfied with myself, for example English proficiency, voice and aggressiveness. I want to spend my university life making efforts to improve those subjects from now on. During the stay, I received much favor from local students who took me to eating out and enjoyed playing sports and music with me. I made many precious memories. I feel proud of participating in this program. I am truly thankful for all people I met in this short study abroad program.

Yuki Ito

I got a lot of things from this short-term study abroad. I had much surprise and discovery by the class and was able to get motivated to learn English.

However, it was "importance of the variety in human relations" to have been the most impressive for myself.

Various people from Asia, Europe, South America and really various countries as well as the United States learn in Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. There was the person who spoke various English, and there was a person of various character. To see those people interchanging without worry, I felt it so that there was the climate which accepted a heterogeneous thing there.

So we were able to exchange words with various people happily, pleasantly, too. They give me wide knowledge and a lot of surprise whenever I talk. And it made me generous to a person more and made eager to start an opinion forward positively by trying to understand them.

I came back to Japan and felt I should talk with more various person in the best environment that overflowed in variety called the Aizu University. I want to make an effort still more in future.

Natsuki Tomi

I went to America for studying computer science. I had never been to other country then. My goal was 1.Talking with Rose-Hulman students, 2.Understanding classes, and 3.Question to students that "Why do you choose this university?" and "Why do you choose these major?"

First, I couldn't understand American English because their English is too quick and my pronunciation is bad, so American couldn't understand my English on first week. So, I sometimes thought that "I want to back to Japan." But, I could understand English from second week. Final day was most interesting day. Second, I couldn't understand class of Operating System because I didn't study it in university of Aizu. I should study it before going to America. Third, I could question those to students.

I can talk in English and I gain myself confidence. So, I want freshman to challenge to participate in GEG.

Yuki Ito

This short study abroad program's purposes are class hearing and experience a different culture. This program is only about three weeks but I think I had a great time. In this report, I'm going to write three topics about class hearing, experience a different culture and through this study abroad program.

First is about class hearing. I felt that the distance between student and teacher is close. It is different point from University of Aizu. This is not only between student and teacher. I felt the distance between people is very close. There are many active people. The students answer the question from the teacher and if the student has a question, he/she will ask about it as soon as possible or resolve the problem using other time to ask questions. I had an impression that the students can naturally do the natural things. A class is only 50 minutes. But it is not just studying hard, sometimes the teacher say a joke. I could enjoy the class because the class's atmosphere is good. And I have an impression about exercise part in the class. In the class about Python, I had an exercise problem to move a robot by using my program. I had a real sense of achievement to see the robot moving by my program in fact. The name is class hearing, but I took a class and had assignments same as other student taking. It was not familiar for me to take a class talking by in English. But I think I could follow to class to a certain extent because the teachers and student assistant were very kind.

　Next is about experience a different culture. I felt that the people at rose-hulman were friendly. I think it was the most different things between Japan and America. I participated in rose-hulman's tennis club because I like tennis. When I told the club coach to want to play tennis, the coach allowed me gladly to take part in the practicing. I was surprised because I had an impression that the organization like a club team don't welcome stranger and I think I'll be refused by them. I asked other students who play tennis and they welcome to play tennis with me. And also rose-hulman's students accepted the request gladly that I want to take an interview video about them.

I have difficulty in greeting. We also have a greeting but we don't use the greeting like a "How are you?" so much. We don't have the custom of the greeting like that, so when I passed friends on the road in rose-hulman and was greeted by the students, I couldn't respond them. In contrast, rose-hulman's student said difference between them and us that Japanese people apologize too much. I realized it for the first time when I heard about it by the student. In particular, they don't say that "I'm sorry." so much between friends. In fact, I don't have a memory that I heard words of apology.

At last, I felt that rose-hulman's students are good at time management. In this program, I used a dormitory and I realized most of them are not in their room. When they have a free time, they study in the space to learn or they play sports and take exercise. They don't waste of them free time like that. And one class has only 50 minutes in rose-hulman, but there are many assignments. I could see that they look normal (this means no differences), but they said that I have studied by 3 a.m. or today's sleeping time was only 2 hours. I was very surprised because staying up night is not unusual for them. They don't only study hard, but also play sport or work on their hobby hard. When they have finished their assignments, they start to do something to want to do like playing guitar or Frisbee and so on. They used full of their time.

Rina Azuma

This March, I went to Rose-Hulman University which is one of the highest academic science ability to stay and audit some class for 3 weeks by using Short-term go abroad program of University of Aizu. I have been interested in this program since last year, but when it offered for this subscription, I'd already lost a motivation toward going abroad because I was busy to active my club and offering was too late for me(because I knew this program in April but, offering is in October).

But I couldn't throw away this feeling that I want to go to university of institute of technology in the US. Because it's ideal for me as a student and US country is one of the most developed countries. That's way, I applied this program this year. Now I can say that my life will be changed clearly by this decision and I want to recommend this program to people who thinking of this program or have an interest in.

Environment and atmosphere of Rose-Hulman is amazing and I thought I want to stay here for more long term. Great differences between Aizu University and Rose-Hulman are number of students one class has and student's motivation as I thought. Every student are taking a class seriously and professors are so kind and they advise us anything. One class has a fewer number of students than Aizu University so that we can ask anything to professor easily, and they can see all student's eyes. This atmosphere gives good motivation to students and I think it's natural to feel these classes are interesting. We participated in class as audit student but we submitted some homework and I wanted to conduct discussion with professor and other students like Rose-Hulman students.

Actually, I wanted to try to join a class like Rose-Hulman students, but it was most difficult problem for me to talk with native English speaker. Professor and tutor speak slowly for us, but in the class, students don't care about us so I couldn't understand what they said. I often thought why professor ask me what I said again but doesn't ask Rose-Hulman students again? I thought my pronounce was better than native students because I couldn't understand! But it was not true at all.

Also I received many help from tutors and staff of Rose-Hulman University. They did a best for us. They took us to the any place by car and held various events to make relationship with Rose-Hulman students. I think we must never forget this and we have to help international students of Aizu University like them. Because I want international students to feel this feeling by returning this benefit we got from Rose-Hulman to them.

After this 3 weeks, my thought toward going abroad and international students is clearly changed. I think you never feel this experience unless you go to Rose-Hulman. As recent and future plan, I want to communicate with international students and help them. And I will store the power of speaking English so that I can talk with Rose-Hulman students with no problem for mid-term going abroad.

At last, I want to express my gratitude to teacher and staff of Aizu University who prepared this great project and all people of Rose-Hulman University who welcomed us. Thank you. I promise to try to do a best and contribute other people by using my experience.

Tatsuya Hanyu

I joined this year short study abroad program. And then, I learned about of course English skill and the strength to faith Christianity. Also I could reduce my resistance of go to overseas countries.

At first, I will talk about my English skills improve. The experience to talk with English native students. I communicated with many foreign students in University of Aizu. That's why I have a little confidence to talk English. But I noticed I should study English more. So the experiences to talk with many native English students in Rose Hulman was good experience for me.

And also I noticed the strength to faith Christianity. This was the best experience for me. Japanese students and Rose students are different each other because most of Japanese students don't have dreams but most of Rose students have dreams. This point is based on religion I thought. Every Christian have a habit to think about "why I am here" and "How I could act for the people". I think for long time, Christian think about that things so most Rose students have dream. One of my Rose student said "My dream is to make a strong army. For the purpose to make a peaceful world." Another Rose student said "I want to act to other person. I trust that good act return to me someday". I wrote about the importance to have a dream because I think it is stupid thing to study without their dreams. If I don't have dream, I will confuse later for example "Why I am studying computer science". That's why I really admired Rose students.

Masumi Iwasaki

The reason why I applied for this project is that I wavered if I apply. I wavered until the previous day of deadline. After all, I got irritated at I wavering, I prepared some forms and I applied. After that, I was excited that I want to see foreign university and I find out differences between Japan and America. At the same time, I was filled with anxiety because I worried about my English skill and although member of the project took classes two people, since the member was odd number, I have to take class alone. However, people in Rose-Hulman welcomed me. In class, when I had difficulty, a student who were sitting next me said "What's up?" And helped me, so I thought everyone is very kind. I tried to ask students and professor problem proactively and it became my confidence.

For me, there were difficult and memorable things in the first time I met people in Rose-Hulman.

Difficult thing is hearing their names. They say it very fast and the pronunciation is difficult for me, so I could not hear. At first, I didn't ask again, when I met the person next, I was confused. After that, I tried to do it.

Memorable thing is handshake. After they introduce themselves, asked me for it and they gripped my hand tightly. I think it brought us closer together. I will do it in Japan.

Since I'm a third student now, after return to my country, I have to do job hunting. I envious of my junior who are also member of this program and saying "I want to apply for medium-term program.", because this project was very full for me. Actually, it is affecting my decision. You should apply for this program if you waver. Certainly formalities took long time and maybe you will get nervous at selection, but you will get fantastic experience.

Lastly, I thank OSIP and people in Rose-Hulman for support and welcome. And I thank also member who experienced this program together for being confused and enjoying together.

Thank you very much.