茨城キリスト教大学

2016年5・6月分報告書 Jonatthan Garcés

【アメリカ】
オクラホマ・クリスチャン大学からの留学生
ジョナサン ガルシス
Jonatthan Garcés

Japan to many people signifies a country where the old meets the new and to be honest my trip has been no different. To most Americans of my generation, Japan isn't known for its intricate history. It isn't known for being the third largest world economy, though being at a standstill for over twenty years, and it is certainly not known for vast technological advances. Japan is known as the place where their favorite anime or manga character was created and though horribly dubbed into English they still prefer to enjoy it as such. I pride myself of being a seasoned traveler, and a balanced individual who refuses to let the novelty of his surrounding take the best of him. People can say it is because of the way I was raised, being raised in three different countries. A fact people ignore or don't care to take into consideration when finding out what documented nationality. I am of mixed heritage and though many people in America are, I place myself in an advantage knowing that I am a first generation. Therefore, I can see what is good and what isn't from “my” country and others I travel to. Back to my trip to Japan, however, it may not give confidence to some people by actually being here in Omika or Ibaraki. My trip to and stay in Japan has been similar to my experiences in America with certainly negative and the positive experiences.

Since Japan is becoming more westernized, most of the store resemble that of the U.S, which wasn't a huge surprise for me. Sure, the food is different but in reality it is the same core foods that Japanese people eat. The breads & pastries, ramen, candy, drinks and the occasional specialty items. Those are the ones to see with most gusto, in my opinion. One of my favorite places to go is Uchihara. It has the Aeon Mall and is one of the most well balanced places I've seen in Ibaraki. Trains are trains, I didn't get surprised there. It is a rather simple process to using them, too. However, I dislike the cramped-ness of Tokyo and its many districts. No matter the time or place, it is always cramped and full of people. I definitely prefer the country side even if people look at me weird.

There are my places I would love to go but unfortunately with class on both OC's side and IC's side along with unstable part-time jobs, I know it won't be possible even during summer vacation. The thing I can do is make the best of it and take it one step at a time.