マギー　ジェナ　真子の留学レポート

I could never forget the scene landing to LAX. Huge line of cars, all of the tall buildings, my first poem trees… I thought to myself, “This is it. This is the place I’ve been dreamed of the whole time.” 

 　As same as before, workers at the airport aren’t as nice as Japan. They treat me like a toy. Since there are too many humans especially at LAX, they can’t treat humans as a human! But somehow, I liked that feeling. My vacation at LA had just begun! Yaaaay!

　It was my first time to see my aunt, Monica. I was so excited to meet her! Because she is my closest relatives in the USA. She looked so beautiful in a blue dress. She was way too beautiful that I couldn’t believe she is my close blood. Everyone is beautiful in LA. I was shocked.

　My biggest concern was my English. Because I had no experience putting myself in a situation that anyone spoked my first language. Every time I went abroad was whether with my father or with my friend. But I didn’t try to speak English even though I could easily try to! I guess I was too lazy to speak English. However, I figured I have to put myself in a challenging environment in order to improve myself, not only English. So I went there alone. It was the biggest journey of my life! What a wonderful world.

 On my way to Monica’s house, she asked me “shorter way or longer but pretty drive?” Are you kidding me?! Of course pretty drive no question for that! So we took PSH, which can see Malibu. It was my first time to see Palm trees. And when I look around, pretty cars were all around. I was surprised because one of my favorite cars, Range Rovers were no big deal there! When I saw the Palm trees and all the pretty cars, I thought “This is it.” While I was listening to my favorite song, “Hotel California” what a perfect timing to listen to it! It’s funny because I used to listen to it on a snowy windy freaking cold day in a car, dreaming of such a lovely place, California. This is how my journey started.

 People were very nice there. They were very different from people from my favorite city, New York. New Yorkers were very proud and fashionable and never out of style. But people in California seemed more easy going and friendly. But talking about friendly, it doesn’t mean that people would suddenly come up to you and start talking for hours. I went to a wedding one day.  They might smile and greet and say something nice about Japan, but on less I was the one starting conversation, they would walk away. Why not? Who wants to be talking to a shy uninteresting girl from Japan who doesn’t even speak good English? And the next thing you know, you are on your own pretending like you are texting your friends even though you don’t have Wifi!

That’s the worst feeling in your life! So, I had to show people that I was a fun and cool girl to talk to. I had to be the one who makes the first move. This was necessary for me because it was my first time to meet my relatives in USA, and I thought it was crucial for me to build a good relationship with them for my future. Being friendly makes life much more easier, I learned from this journey.

 　Look up, sell yourself and say something nice to someone. Thanks to people in LA for teaching me these. This is the easiest way to explore your life. And I will try hard to go back there, where my heart fell in love. I Love LA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAXに着陸する瞬間は一生忘れられません。並んでいる車たち、高層ビル街、初めて見るヤシの木。。。このとき、これだ！と思いました。

　いつもと同じように、海外の空港は優しくありません。だけど、なぜかその感じが大好きなんです！日本を出てきた気がして。

　叔母に合うの初めてで、美しすぎて、本当に血がつながってるの？！って思いました。

　英語だけしか話さない環境に自分を置くのは初めてでした。少し緊張していましたが、その緊張よりたのしすぎて浮かれているだけでした。なぜかというと、初めての一人旅だから！！！

　PSHでのHOTEL CALIFORNIA…最高でした。ここはカルフォルニア！

　カルフォルニアの人はとても親切でした。ニューよーかのようにキッドっている感じがしなくて。NYCは永遠に私のお気に入りですけどね。

　でも、親切、と言っても、自分からアクションを起こさなければ人は寄ってきません。だから、このたびでは、自分から何かをしないとどうにもならない、ということを学びました。アメリカ人、だからと言って話しかけてくれるわけではないのです。

　上を見て、自分を売って、誰かにやさしいことをいう。　LAの人たちが教えてくれたことです。私の未来はLAにあります。だいすき！LA１