Around 20 years ago it was not uncommon to see a student from Japan walking across campus. Paul Smith’s relationship with Japan was once very close, and for a time we had around 15 students from cities and towns all over Tokyo. Unfortunately, over the years, that relationship with Japan has sizzled out like hot bacon left on a cold pan. Attempts, however, are being made to heat up the pan once again. The earliest effect of this action was the enrollment, and soon-to-be graduate from the Hospitalities department, of Yuta Kon.
Yuta was born in the warm, moist climates of the Okinawa in the southern part of Japan. When he was three, however, his parents moved north to join the busy world of Tokyo. French pastries, edible Italian masterpieces, salivatingly authentic Mexican food, and of course delicious Japanese cuisine flooded the streets, and distracted Yuta from the hustle and bustle of city life.
One day, representatives from Paul Smith’s College arrived at his high school, and described a more mellow and simplified lifestyle; Yuta was hooked. A year later Yuta took his first steps on campus, and was both excited and afraid. Despite having attended a school in Vancouver over the summer, to learn English, he worried that this might not have been enough. The school he attended was structured for students who spoke English only as a second language and many faced similar struggles as Yuta. Once at Paul Smith’ s however, almost everyone spoke English as a first language.
His fears were unfounded. I remember being in the welcome week group with Yuta. Unfamiliar faces were around every corner. Social events plagued our schedules. A bizarrely friendly campus made everyone even more anxious. This all preceded school and we were anxious to start classes. Yuta, however, managed to keep the same cheerful smile all week long – it’s the same smile he puts on to this day (I challenge anyone to find a happier student at PSC). Despite a lingering accent, his vernacular grows more sophisticated and his vocabulary more robust. There are words that Yuta is unable to translate to English perfectly. The most heart-warming example might be the word Komorebi, which means beautiful sunlight filtering through trees.
Language is not the only aspect of his life that has changed. The variety of foods he had on one street in Tokyo has been diminished to a very simple, and less dignified, cuisine: cafeteria food. But the quality is not the only difference Yuta remarked. His daily diet now consists of less vegetables, and more meat. The preparation of most dishes served here is also much simpler. Yuta described how strenuous and laborious the preparation for a meal could be in Japan. Hard work yielded greater rewards, he remembered, and the hours spent preparing a meal were never considered a waste. He understands however that time is a commodity not accessible to everyone, and in an increasingly fast paced society, time is of the essence.
Most of Yuta’s time is not spent in the cafeteria, but rather the classroom, and this is where one of the greatest societal shocks occurred for our fellow Smitty. In Japan, a student must hold the teacher in incredibly high regard. You must never address a teacher by their first name, and you absolutely cannot speak or ask a question during a class. If one has a question on the lecture, they must approach the teacher after class has ended. What’s more, students are required to clean portions of the school including blackboards, desks, hallways, and various other sections of the school. Yuta is quite pleased with the shift in learning styles.
The change in culture has been incredible and daunting for Yuta. There were times when he was nervous and a little scared, but he is quite happy with the change of pace in his life. The experiences, friends, and memories he has made will remain with him well after he graduates, and I’m quite sure no one has regretted him coming overseas to learn here. Personally, being in class with him was a pleasure, and I only wish we had more classes in common.
Near the end of the interview Yuta had one last final thing to say. “More people should go abroad. Going abroad was such an amazing experience for me.” Yuta told me how visiting other countries and experiencing different cultures illuminates people to one simple fact in life: everyone has the same basic desires, and under each of our unique layers of skin, we want the same things: to love, to feel, to laugh, and to be happy. When you encounter people different from you and realize how similar they truly are, you start to see humanity in a different light.
Kevin is an editor and writer for The Apollos. Check out his bio here.