It looked like far away, but actually it was pretty close.
Everything was passed away in front of me.
My study abroad is almost over.
I have 1 more week to go but I have many things to do before leaving.
2 final exams which are May 1st and May 2nd.
This week, I did not sleep well because of a fuckin final exam for hotel management.
My professor told me that this exam would be more than 2 hours.
At first I thought it was joke but actually it wasn't joke.
There are two questions on the exam.
1. Make your own hotel.
2. Describe simple-feedback-control system.
First question may sounds like interesting for you, but this question is terrible actually.
Because I had to describe my own hotel from many aspects.
For example, I had to decide my hotel's target market, the size, number of employees, etc..
Not only about the hotel's setting, but also I had to decide "inside" of my hotel.
Training programs for employees are vital tool for effective development for employees.
Therefore, I described my training programs precisely such as Off-the-job-training period,
and On-the-job-training. To achieve effective development, Performance appraisal for the
training system is essential. Also, training for recruits can be a training for trainers, too.
It means that trainers also learn from the recruits' feedback about the training quality,
Management can measure the effectiveness of the employees' training using "Measures of
the quality"First measurement method is content mastery, This method is mainly for Off-
the-job-training period, Management checks whether the recruits learned what they had
supposed to learn through the training. Second method is "Behavioral changes of the employees".
If the job training was effective, behaviors of the participants would change positively such as
new skills, and knowledge. Third method is "Organizational improvement". Because, if each employee's
quality was improved, the organizational overall performance would be increased.
Like this way, I answered the question. Now I think you noticed the question is not interesting.
It took me 1 and half hours to answer each question. So total time was 3 hours.
Definitely. this exam was the hardest and time-consuming exam in my study abroad.
But I did, I climbed the highest mountain using my poor English knowledge and grammar skills.
At this point, I want to stop to talk about my terrible story,
From here, I will summarize my study abroad at College of Charleston.
In August,
Everything was brand-new for me when I came to Charleston.
Unfamiliar food, people, culture, and language. I confuzed with the new environment first.
I often felt isolation from others because there are only few Japanese here.
However, I decided to stop to cmplain about my circumstances.
"I chose my way by myself and this is the great opportunity to develop myself"
I put the paper with this sentence in front of my study desk and read everyday.
By the way, I wrote this sentence in Japanese becase my roommate is American.
I did not want to tell my feeling to my roommate because the sentence was so shameful.
My roommate is 20 years old, but pretty matured man compared with my suitemate.
To tell the truth, my suitemate was sucks. As the evidence of this fact, my another
suitemate was escaped from his room because he could not endure living with my suitemate.
Classes were begun and then I suffered by tons of readings for the classes.
Sometime, I had to read more than 50 pages for one class,
Thanks for the tremendous reading amount, I believe that my reading speed was improved,
Also, I had a problem with pronounciation. Generally, Japanese peole are not good at pronounciation
of "r" and "l" sounds like "really" and "lyric". In my Public Speaking class, I was pointed about
my pronounciation by my professor. Also I took the class for Hospitality and Tourism.
Charleston is a kind like "real" hospitality place because Charleston is one of the biggest
tourism places in the US. So I learned about current hospitality situation in my daily life,
My another communication class was very boring class, Only I did in this class was lecure.
3 boring lectures in a week, was terrible. It was my worst class in my study abroad,
In September,
I started to get used my life in charleston.
I strated to read novels and do running almost everyday.
I thought that I would become fat if I eat American food everyday, but actually I was so healthy
and lost some of my weight in contrast.
In fall break I went to North Carolina and had camp with internationals.
It was so funny time and I drunk a lot with Germans.
Hiking with hangover was so tough and it was the hardest hinking in my life.
Come to think of it, I never lost Beer Pong in my life in Charleston.
Also, I met Japanese people in Columbia, SC.
They were so nice and I spent great time with them. I never forget Karaoke and football game
with them. Thank you for everyone in Columbia.
In October,
my fourh class, business class was started, this class was 3 hours class and I had 2 classes
in a week. I had to read 60 pages for each class becasue it was express course.
Halloween party was so hilarious and crazy. I dressed up in French maid costume and
shaved my hairs of legs for the first time. Due to these challenges, I won the vote that
which hot girl you want to date with. It was my first halloween party and it wll be the best
haloween party in my life. Thank you everyone who joined the party,
After the joyful party, I lost the biggest supporter in my study abroad,
I know it was my fault and it was inevitable for us. I devoted bunch of time for my things.
But I noticed that she was the biggest part of my heart. It was like I lost a piece of my body.
Because of this, I could not concentrate on my life and my heart was far away from my body.
I lost my weight 8kgs and I was so desperated. Without my friend's help, I would not recover
from this sadness. Thank you for my friends. Especially one who loves Giants.
In November,
I became 21 and finally I could buy alcohol in the US.
Legal age for alcohol and tabbaco is 21 in the US. It's too rate, right?
American beers are so light and cheap like $10 for 18 cans,
My friends held my birthday party in Sushi Hiro.
Thanks for everyone who participated my birthday party.
In December,
Classes were over and I got not so bad scores.
In winter break, I went to NY and CO.
I went to NY with my Gaidai frineds and spent about 1 week in NY,
We visited many place, walked a lot, took many pictures, and bought many stuffs.
I wnjoyed NY but still want to go NY again because I still have many things to do in NY.
I will be back to NY within few years surely.
Then I went to CO and enjoyed snowboard.
Unfortunately, one of my frined could not join us due to airplane problem.
I hope that we will be able go to snowboard in Japan this year.
I stayed CO for 2 weeks and I met with her.
I thought she was change but she was not change anything. she was as she is. :)
Both NY and CO was so chilly but i want to say thank you for everyone who joined this trip.
In January,
My second and final semester was started.
I took hotel management class, meetings & convention management class,
service operations class, and psychology.
I enjoyed my classes because I took 3 hospitality classes and that is what I really want
to do in study abroad. I tried to study at least 3 hours everyday and library became my
second house in Charleston.
In February-April
Only I did was studying.
I studied the most in my life.
I knew studing is the most fascinating entertainment in the world.
I craved things I didn't know and I read many books in both Japanese and English.
However, I did not forget to hang out with my friend.
I enjoyed time with them and sometime went to crazy.
Now...
I am almost done my studying abroad.
Through study abroad I learned a lot and I lost something.
But I believe Charleston was the best place for me.
And People in Charleston was the best people in the US.
I promise you that I will be back to Charleston someday.
Without all of you, my study abroad would be in a mess.
Beside my friends in the US, I want to say thank you for all of my friends in Japan.
They fo me out of difficulty and encouraged me a lot.
Furthermore, I want say thank you for parents.
I am sorry but I am not good son of you but I will repay for your help by all means.
Special Thanks:
Yuki, Saki, Shunzo, Yuka, Kana, Kie, U2, Tatsuya, Tacchan, Tadashi, Mina, Shizuka, Yumi, Ami, Nao, Shinya, Aya, Takeshi, Taku, Kazuki, Akio, Kaori, Melody, Huey, Meredith, Hannah, Vans, Sablina, Mike, Rob, David, Pat, Darian, Aldo, Alex, Benjamin, Christian, Chris, Fernando, Pablo, Sebastioan, Gregor, Olli, Steve, Dr, Wayne, Linda, Reese, Palmer, Micheal, Crotts, Gass, Mack, Sobiesuo, Everyone who helped my study abroad, and Rie.
Thank you.
Daiki Chihara 4/29/2009
