District News
Meet foreign exchange student Mei Yamagishi
October, 2010
Mei Yamagishi yearned to study abroad since she
was in middle school. The
18-year-old from Otaru, Japan, finally realized her dream this year.
Mei is currently an AFS foreign exchange student Canajoharie High
School and couldn’t be happier.
She lives with host sister, senior Melody Mead, and the Lee family. Melody had been interested in Japan since she was 10 years old. So last spring, when the school began looking for families interested in hosting an exchange student, she approached her parents. Like Mei, Melody got her wish.
“It’s fun because I can learn about her culture, which I was interested in for a long time, and she can learn about ours,” she said. “I’m trying to learn the language so we can communicate better.”
When Mei graduates, she wants to go to a university in Japan. Her hometown of Otaru is located on Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island. The island – which hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics – has close to 40 universities. At home, her father runs a used car shop and her mother works part-time as a delivery person. She also has one older brother.
Although she’s only been in America for a short time, she’s noticed a few differences. For starters, students in Japan don’t travel to school in cars. Instead, they use public transportation. And although American fast food chains have a presence there, many Japanese opt for their own version of fast food: “gyudon,” or a beef bowl.
We sat down with Mei and found out what she likes
about school, the U.S., and her new friends.
Q. How did the exchange program come about?
A. I wanted to come to study abroad since I was in middle school. I
had to wait one year to come here. There was an orientation over
there. I like music and I’m interested in music here. I listen to
the foreign music and I want to learn (about) many cultures.
Q. How long are you here?
A. I came here August 21 and am here for the year.
Q. What do you like about Canajoharie?
A. I like it. It’s really clean and people are nice. I like
listening to music and like reading, and I’m learning how to read
English.
Q. Who are you staying with?
A. I am staying with Melody (Mead) and her family. They are really
nice. Melody helps me with homework and tells me about America. And
she’s interested in Japan so we can talk about Japan.
Q. Why did you want to go to school in America?
A. I wanted to improve my English skills. I wanted to see a
different culture and wanted to know what people were thinking
about.
Q. Have you been anywhere else in the U.S.?
A. No. I want to go to New York City and I want to go to Europe and
Australia. I want to travel around the world someday.
Q. Do you play any sports?
A. I play basketball and I like skiing. I’m going to join the cross
country team this year.
Q. Does anything surprise you about America?
A. They don’t say anything before they eat meals. After dinner we
say something. Every meal is big in restaurants here.
Five Facts
Favorite cafeteria food: chicken
Favorite bands: Bump of Chicken, Lincoln Park, Green Day, and
Paramore.
Favorite movie: Alice in Wonderland
Favorite subject: Spanish
Place you most want to travel: New York City.