カリフォルニア州エル・カミノ・ファンダメンタル高校に留学中の松田珠実さんから第１回目の留学報告が届きました。

 こんにちは！カリフォルニア州に留学している松田珠実です。今回のレポートではオレゴンでの約１か月間の研修と今のカリフォルニアでの学校生活などを書こうと思います。

 まず、成田空港からポートランド国際空港へ約９時間のフライトでした。機内で隣に座っていた方が日本語を学びに来たアメリカ人の方で、ちょっとお話しできて楽しかったです。でもその時はがちがちに緊張しすぎてあまり話せなかったので、今思えばその人に申し訳ないです。

 最初の１か月間は、オレゴン州の州都Salemというところで研修がありました。その研修期間では、アメリカの高校でよく使うフレーズだったり、会話練習という真面目なことだけではなく、truth or dearをしたりいす取りゲームをして遊びもしました。また、研修の時に私たちに英語を教えてくれた先生のいとこ？の方がcapital buildingで働いていて、そのおかげもあってそこへ行くことができました。今思えば研修すごい最高でとても楽しかったです。ファミリーもとてもやさしく温かくいい方たちだったので本当に本当にとても感謝しています。

 最初のファミリーはファザーとマザーとブラザーのBeaversが好きなBruceとゲームが好きなLanceとそしてきらきらしているものが大好きなsisterのGraceで、アウトドアが大好きでよく川や公園に行ったりまたファミリーがクリスチャンなので夜ご飯を食べる前にはlet’s prayっていってお祈りしたり日曜日には教会へ行ってバンドみたいな人たちと一緒に歌ったり、ダンスしたりこんなにぎやかな教会あるんだなって思いました。

 平日は９時から３時まで研修がありお昼の時間は自由だったのでのんびりしたり、たまに近くのモールに行ったり、勝手にタジマックスって呼んでいたドラッグストアに行ったりして友達と楽しみました。その研修へは、日本全国から留学生の人たちがきて友達もたくさんでき、年賀状出し合ったり帰国したら会う約束もしました。みんないい人たちで本当に恵まれた環境でした。研修期間にはエルティスがあり、やっぱりかって思いました。研修期間にもエルティスやる人もいるので、もし留学しようって思ってたらいい情報かわからないし言っていいのかもわかりませんが、あああるんだなくらいにでも思っといてください！平日の放課後は私のファミリーがびえいともう一人の留学生の子がステイしているファミリーとご近所さんで、プールで遊んだり、またみいなとフルーツピザ作ったりもしました。

 オレゴンについた次の日にファザーのマザーの誕生日を祝うためにワシントン州へ行き、そこでMexicanの方々と出会って日本のこととかいろいろ聞かれてまたメキシコのこととか色々教えてくれて、違う文化に触れることができてとても良い機会でした、また私はアメリカにいてたくさんの移民の方々がいてそして私は交換留学生なんだなと改めて実感しました。

 週末はファミリーが博物館やファーマーズマーケットへつれて行ってくれたり、また結婚式に出席することもできました。その結婚式はとても厳かでオレゴン州で最も古いカトリックの教会で開かれました。日本ではできない経験をさせてもらえてファミリーにとても感謝しています。その日の夜に見た火星と流れ星今でも覚えています。アメリカではなぜかはわかりませんが肉眼で火星が見られるんです！びっくりしました。

 またよくマザーのマザーの家にも行ってとてもパワフルなマックスという犬とたわむれたりマリオカートしたりもしました。ちなみにホストグランドペアレンツの家がMount Angelというところにあるんです！すごいかわいい名前ですよね。

 またファミリーはポートランドに夜景をみに連れていってくれました。橋がライトアップされていて次々と色が変わってとてもきれいでした！ポートランドは都会過ぎて未来都市かと思いました。マザーいわくポートランドは多様性にたけているそうです。またよくファミリーは教会の後にダッチブラザーズへも連れて行ってくれました。このお店はスターバックスみたいな感じですが、定員さんはみんないい人だし私的には、味も値段もふくめてスターバックスより断然大好きです。日本へ出店してほしいと時々思いました。

 マザーはとても家族思いの優しい方でまた明るく強くたくましく、また温かみのあるという最高の方でした。マザーは家族の話をするのが大好きで、よく私にマザーの家族の話をしてくれました。またキルトとクッキングが好きで、よく一緒に夜ご飯を作ったり、スイーツを作りました。平日の夜はファザーとマザーと一緒にHawaii Five Oを見てから寝るのが日課でした。たまに見ている間にソファーで爆睡してしまったのですが、それでも Tamami! You were sleeping! と笑いながらそっと起こしてくれたファミリーに感謝しています。マザーはマザー自身のおばあちゃんのお世話をしながらまた子供たち３人の面倒を見ているとてもすごい方です。英語以外にも大切なことをマザーからたくさん学べました。

 ファザーはとてもおもしろくまたとてもやさしい方で本当にファザーがホストファザーでよかったなと思いました。ファザーはつりが大好きで船を２個も所有していました。またいつも魚のTシャツをきていて、本当に釣りが大好きなんだなと思いました。ファザーは私をオレゴンコーストにつれていってくれて、そこで初めて船釣りを経験できました！魚を自力では１匹も釣れませんでしたが、とても楽しかったです。水族館へも行けて、そこではファザーのお友達が働いていて、そのおかげでバックヤードツアーも体験できました。またある日、ファザーに第二次世界大戦について意見を聞かれて、最初は自分の意見が正しくちゃんと伝わるか不安でしたが、きちんとそれについての自分の意見を伝えられてそして色々と話すことができたので、とても貴重な機会でした。こういうことについてきちんと自分の意見をもっておくのは本当に大事だなと思いました。

 オレゴンでは本当に本当に貴重な経験ができ、とても自分の周りの人たちに感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。オレゴンを離れる前の日に開かれたさよならパーティーが今でも頭に残っています。もう友達に１年間会えないということをその時にやっと心から実感して涙が止まりませんでした。家族もいて友達もいてまた日本で私を支えてくれている人たちがいるという大事さ、またすばらしさを身をもって実感しました。オレゴンを離れる日の前の晩には、ファミリーがわたしのこれからの無事を祈ってくれて、また家族写真もとりました。ファザーにいつでもウェルカムだからいつでも帰っておいでと言われたときはとてもジーンと心にきました。また日課のブラザーたちとシスターとの寝る前のハグもこれで最後かと思うと寂しすぎて、泣きそうになりましたが、最後のハグはみんなとても力強くしてくれました。離れる日の朝には、ブラザーが私のためにわざわざ朝食をつくってくれました！とてもおいしくてとにかくすごくうれしかったです。またまたこれも心にジーンときました。最後に空港でお別れをしなくてはいけないときは、離れたくなさ過ぎてずっとハグしていました。（笑）みんなとてもやさしくてこのファミリーが私をホストすることを決めてくれ、私を本当の家族のように温かく受け入れてくれたこと、そしてホストしてくれたことにとても感謝しています。

 そして、とうとう長期のホストファミリーの方の家に到着しました。今のホストファミリーの方々は、日本との混血の方々なので、日本語はそんなに話せませんが書き方のシステムは知っているし、お家にはたくさん日本食があるので、正直に言うと日本食シックにはなったことがありません、、、これからどうなるかはわかりませんが、、。マザーとファザーとシスターのSydneyとMiki、そしてブラザーのJacob (Coby)がいます。Sydneyはサッカーと新体操とテニスとバレーバールをしていてMikiはサッカーと新体操とテニスをしています。CobyはEdu careというプレスクールみたいなところに通っています。

 ファザーとマザーは仕事がとても忙しく大変ですが家族思いでとても温かくやさしく面白く、この家族はいい意味でクレイジーです。（笑）私の将来のことを気遣ってくれて色々大事な事を教えてくれるマザーにはとても感謝していますし、尊敬しています。空港に到着したその日にMikiのサッカーの試合があったので、家についてスーツケースを置いたらすぐにその会場へ行って夕方までそこに滞在して家に帰るというクレイジースケジュールでした。

 このファミリーは大抵いつも忙しいですが、日々充実していて余計早く時が過ぎるような気がします。先月はディズニーランドへ連れて行ってくれたり、またファザーとマザーの職場関係のイベントへ連れて行ってくれたりと、色々なことを経験させてくれるファミリーにとても感謝しています。平日はシスターたちが忙しすぎてあまり遊べませんがたまに公園へ行って遊んだり、休日にはシスターたちが私のスポーツのコーチになってくれてサッカーやバレーバールを教えてくれます。また学校で作ったパワーポイントを見せてくれたりして、それらの時間は本当に楽しいです。またシスターたちが学校でSpanishを習っているので、よくSpanishを教わったり日本語を教えたり、また私がFrenchを学校でとっているので、フランス語をちょっと教えたり、ととても楽しいです。たまに辛いことはありますが、ファミリーや周りの人に相談したり、また自分で解決しています。こっちでは自分のことはすべて自分でしないといけないので、何か問題があるときはすごく大変です。日本でのんびり過ごしすぎたな、と今ではちょっと反省しています。

 次に、やっと学校生活のことを話したいと思います。私の学校は結構大きく、全校生徒は1500人くらいいます。最初来たときはすごく圧倒されて、教室移動でさえ一苦労でした。ですが、今はだんだん慣れてきて、前よりは楽になりました。友達もでき、お昼はその子たちと毎日一緒に食べています。私の友達は日本好きで、ジブリの映画や君の名は、また花より男子、そしてテラスハウスまで知っていました。私はテラスハウス見るのが好きなので、話がとてもあい、その子たちも色んな言語に興味があって話がとても合って、またとても優しくて面白くて本当に楽しいです。この前はコリアンレストランに行ってburitoというメキシコ料理をたべたりボーリングしたり、またモールへ行って遊んだりととても楽しいです、本当にその子たちにはすごく感謝しています。

 教科は、French1, US History, Concert Choir, English 3, Financial Math, Biologyをとっています。どれもそこまで難しいというわけではないのですが、レポートを書く宿題はちょっと大変です。またUS Historyの授業では授業内で教科書を要約してまとめたり、またニュースを調べてそれについてまとめるクラスワークもちょっと大変です。ですが、難しいことにチャレンジするのは楽しいです。Mathの授業内容は結構簡単ですが、復習しているみたいで楽しいです。

 こっちに来てから、自分がどれだけ日本でのんびり過ごしてきたか、そして自立できてないかがよくわかります、ですがそれと同時にこうした成長できるチャンスをくれた家族、友達、そして学校の先生方や周りの人々に対しての感謝の気持ちはすごく学べているなと思います。留学しているのはもちろん英語を学ぶためもありますが、それと同じくらいに大事なことを学べて、本当に貴重なチャンスを自分は今もっているんだなとつくづく思います。私のこの留学中の目標は後悔しないで何事にもチャレンジしてここでしか学べないことを学んでくるということです！長々としたレポートでごめんなさい、でもレポート最後まで読んでくれてありがとうございます！！５Gのみんな頑張ろうね！！

 Hello everyone!! It’s Tamami Matsuda staying in California. In this report I’m going to talk about the orientation in Oregon for a month and the present life in California.

 First, I was on the airplane for about 9 hours from Narita Airport to Portland International Airport. An woman who was sitting next to me was an American who came to Japan to learn Japanese, and I could talk with her a little, which was FUN. However, I was too nervous to talk with her, so now I feel sorry for her. Anyway, there was an orientation for a month in Salem, Oregon before I came to California for a whole school year. In the orientation, we not only learned English phrases which are often used at school, slung, how to communicate with people, and vocabularies about many kinds of stuffs but also played truth or dear, musical chairs, and some games, which were so much fun!! ( Moreover the teacher who taught us English was so nice and beautiful) The cousin of our teacher worked at capital building of Oregon, so thanks to her we could go there and learn about a system of senate, the house of representatives, what is called politics. That was a very good opportunity for us. Recently I realized that the orientation was super fun and unforgettable, and even now I sometimes do miss the orientation actually. Also my former host family was so so sweet and nice to me so that I really can’t thank them enough. My host family was consisted of father, mother, two host brothers called Bruce who likes Beavers and Lance who likes playing games and one host sister called Grace who likes something shining, and they all like outdoor activity so that we often went fishing in lake and rode on a boat in the river, which were so fun, and also they are Christian, so we went to church every Sunday and had prayed together after host father said “Let’s pray” on every time we ate dinner. The church which I went was relatively sound and there was a band group which was playing Christian songs and I sang songs and danced to the songs. They were valuable opportunities for me because if I were in Japan, I wouldn’t be able to experience them, my host family gave me a lot of precious memories which I will treasure forever. On weekdays we had an orientation for school life in America from 9am to 3pm and during the lunch break we would often go to such a drag store as T J Max and overall we had so much fun in the orientation!! For the orientation, many exchange students from several areas in Japan gathered so that I could make many friends there and we promised to keep in touch, to send New Year Card each other, and to see each other again after this exchange year. Everyone was nice and I thought that I’m really blessed with this good environment. In addition to these good memories, I took the ELTiS during the orientation!! Actually I had predicted that I would take ELTiS before I came to America, but I was surprised when I was told that I have to take it!! Though I don’t know if I can say it and it’s an good information, but let me say that if you are thinking to study abroad for one year, it might be good to keep in mind that some people have to take ELTiS not only in Japan but also in America!! After school I sometimes went swimming in the pool which the host family who hosted Biei and another exchange student has, and also I made a fruit pizza with Miina. Though the story goes back to the first day I came to Oregon, on the day I went to the state of Washington to celebrate my host father’s mother’s birthday, and there were many Mexican people because his mother’s boyfriend is Mexican man so that I could interact with them and know some Mexican culture and they asked me about Japan, which was a very good opportunity for me. Also the experience reminded me that there are many people from many countries (melting bowl) and I’m an exchange student from Japan. On weekends my host family took me to the airplane museum, farmers’ market on Saturday, and wedding party!! And the wedding party was so ritual and held at the oldest Catholic church in Oregon, which was a valuable experience for me and I appreciate my host family who took me to these places. On the day I went to the wedding party, I could see Mars and a shooting star with the naked eyes, and I still remember them and will never forget them. Though I don’t know why we can see planets with the naked eyes in America, that was so good and I was surprised a lot. Also, I often visited to my host mother’s parents’ house and played with a powerful dog called Max and Mario cart. By the way my host grandparents’ house is in the area called Mount Angel!! How cute it is!! Moreover, with these wonderful experiences, my host family also took me to Portland to see landscapes at night from the bridge whose colors are changed frequently, and of course the view was amazing. Portland was like a city in the future for me because it was so developed and urban and I had never seen lots of higher buildings before. Also, I would often go to Dutch Brothers with my host family after worship at the church on Sunday which was our routine, and I loved it because people work at the store are so nice and for me taste and price are better than Starbucks. I hope there was Dutch Brothers in Japan.

 Second, let me talk about my sweet host parents. My host mother always considers about her family and kind, nice, strong, cheerful, and,,,,,if I try to describe her with one word, I would say she’s amazing!! She likes talking about her family, so she often told me about them. Also she likes quilt and cooking, and I often cooked dinner and made sweets with her. It was a routine for me to watch Hawaii Five O with my host parents before going to bed. I sometimes fell in asleep while watching it, however they always woke me up and told me that “You were sleeping” with laughing. Lol She takes care of not only her children but also her grandmother, therefore I’m really respect of her and could learn many important things which is not related with English from her.

 My host father was so funny and treated me as if I was a real part of this family and I thought that it was really good for me to have him as a host father! He loves fishing, so he owns two boats and always wore a T-shirt printed with a picture of fish, which made me think that he loves fishing so much. Due to he loves fishing, he took me to the Oregon Coast and there I could experience fishing on a boat on the ocean for the first time!! Though I couldn’t catch any fish by myself, he gave me one of fish he caught and it seemed to be like I managed to catch fish lol, but as you know, the truth is not. Anyway I had so much fun with fishing!!!!! Also, nearby the Oregon Coast there was an aquarium and one of my host father’s friend works there, so I could see backyard of it and see many fish, sharks, and jellyfish from above the water tank. Actually it was a little bit scary for me because there was no cover or fence on the edge of the water tank, so if I should slip or fall down to the ground, I might be falling down into the water tank, that would be so scary. One day, he asked me about WW2, and at that time, to be honest, I got a little nervous to talk about it, because our perspective is of course different from Americans’ perspective and if I talk about it in a wrong way, he would misunderstand my thoughts, so I tried to be careful when I talked about it. Eventually I could convey my opinion to him and also I could know what he thinks about it which was good for both sides. It was a really good opportunity for me to talk about it, actually which was one of what I wanted to do ( to know what Americans think about it). This opportunity also reminded me of the importance of knowing about what Japan has done deeply and considering about such kind of stuff.

 In Oregon, I could experience many wonderful things which will be remained in my mind forever and I really appreciated all of people around me. The farewell party held on the day before we left for several areas in the U.S. still remains in my head. At the party I couldn’t stop crying because I realized that I won’t be able to see my friends until next June next year, but I really appreciate my friends who supported me and always offer me to help. But I have to be independent more! Also, on the same day as the farewell party, we took a picture as a family and my host father told me that “You’re always welcome” which healed my heart from the bottom. I also realized that I will not be able to do he routine of giving a hug each other before going bed, which made me so sad, but my host siblings gave me a tightened hug on the day!! Them the day when I left Oregon came and on the day, my host brother Bruce got up earlier to make me breakfast!! which was cinnamon toast, cereal, yogurt, and a glass of water, of course it was so so good. At the airport I had kept hugging for a long time, but the time of leaving Oregon came and I left for California.

 Third, I’m going to talk about my life in California!! Finally I arrived in California and met host family for one year. They are mixed race with Japanese, so actually they can speak Japanese just a little bit and there are many Japanese foods in the house. That’s why I haven’t missed Japanese foods so badly. I don’t know if I will miss them though. I have two host sisters Sydney and Miki and one host brother Jacob (Coby). Sydney plays soccer, tennis, gymnastics, and volleyball, and Miki plays soccer, gymnastics, tennis, and baton, and Coby commutes to Edu care what’s called preschool. As you can tell, this family is always busy including my host parents!! My host mother runs even in the house! That’s truth!! This family is crazy for good meanings. Lol  My host mother cares of my future and often tells me something important for my life, I really respect off her. By the way let me explain a crazy schedule which I experienced on the day I came here that right after I arrived at the airport, I went to home for the first time for just a few seconds and we rushed to Miki’s soccer game in Davis. This family is usually so busy, but because of it I feel time passes so fast. Unwittingly September was over and October has come, I have no time to waste! My host mother has studied abroad to French and from her experience she thinks experience is really important, so y host family took me to Disneyland ln last month and festivals held by the company which my host parents work at. On weekdays I usually can’t hung out with host sisters because they are so busy, but on weekends we sometimes go to park and they teach me how to play sports. They’re my good coaches. They also learn Spanish at school and I take French at school, so we often teach many languages each other, which is so fun!! Of course I sometimes feel difficulty and there have been some little problems, but I try to solve them with my host family or by myself. Here I have to meet problem by myself and it’s quite hard for me, but it’s a challenge.

 Forth, let me talk about my school life in America! Finally!! I know you’ve read a lot of my report since you started to read this report, to be honest it takes more paragraphs and sentences than I expected. Anyway, my school is relatively big though there is a school which has more students than that of my school nearby my home. Actually I couldn’t enroll the nearest school because it was already full when I tried to enroll it, that’s why I commute to just a little bit far school from my home by biking. My school has almost 1500 students, and when I went to the school for the first time to talk about which classes to take with my counselor, I was so surprised by the size of it and I felt a little scary. However, now I’m doing well, I could make sweet friends whom I eat lunch with and have learned to move each classroom to classrooms easily. My friends are interested in Asian culture like k-pop and they even know Terrace House, hanadann, your name, and so on. Actually I like to watch Terrace House, so I can enjoy talking about such kind of a stuff, which is so wonderful, isn’t it?? They are also eager to learn foreign languages and one of them can already speak English, Spanish, and French!! She’s so cool!! Last day I went to Korean and Mexican restaurant and burrito which is one of Mexican food, and it was so delicious. Of course I sometimes have difficulty during classes and doing homework, but if I ask people how to do homework or classwork, they always tell me what to do and I have never met mean people. Before I came here, I expected that US History would be the hardest class for me, and it was true. I usually write a summary of current news, essay, something like that during the class. It sometimes can be difficult for me, but I’m enjoying it. It is so fun to challenge something difficult. On the other hand, math class is quite easy and the contents of it can be like a class for elementary school students sometimes.

 Finally, since I came here, I’ve realized many times that I was relying on people around me in Japan and was not independent at all. In Japan, there were always people who supported me and I didn’t feel hard at all and my parents always helped me every time I needed their help. But now there are no one to help me or care of me, but thanks to this circumstance or environment, more or less I have been able to grow up and found out that how precious my family and friends are. I cannot thank enough to my parents who agreed with this exchange program and allowing me to go to America for one year. It’s a very precious opportunity that ordinary people cannot have. Therefore I don’t want to waste this opportunity and try everything not to regret not having tried many things and learn many things which are only in California, which are my goals during this exchange program!! By the way I joined to Science Club. Lol Like this, I’m trying to do many things! We got this!! See you on next report!!