[Interim Report]

I have just returned to Japan after 6 months of study in the United States. At first, I planned to study abroad for three months, but my time there was so stimulating and fulfilling that I extended it to six months, allowing me to grow and develop myself.

To put it simply, my study abroad experience changed my sense of values. In fact, the U.S. was a completely different environment from Japan. However, I felt that living in the U.S. was a place where I could express myself more naturally. I had been abroad several times before going to the U.S., but the U.S. is a multicultural country, and I was able to experience a variety of cultures and common sense. I felt that the local people cherish their country and language and express themselves as individual human beings. However, they communicate with each other in English, which is the common language. I learned that what I had taken for granted in Japan was different in the U.S., and that there are many ways of thinking and places. And I realized once again that I can expand my world through English.

Of course, life in the U.S. was not all fun and games. In fact, my English level at the beginning was not high enough to confidently go abroad to study. However, because I was able to take on the challenge of studying abroad, I was able to challenge myself in a variety of things while there, even though I was still inexperienced. I experienced many hard times as well as enjoyable days of English, programming, and job hunting. However, when I think about it now, these experiences gave me confidence and hope. I gained many new experiences through this study abroad program. I am glad that I chose to study abroad during my junior year of undergraduate school.

[Interim Report]

It has been about three months since I came to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. I have become used to life here, and I feel that I am able to hear and communicate in English better than when I first spoke to native English speakers.

At first, even my listening skills, which I was confident in, were not good, and I struggled with conversation every day. I also had a lot of assignments and stayed at the university until 2 am. However, fortunately, I made many friends at the university, and I came to realize that it was rather fulfilling university life by spending time with my friends and getting through what was a tough life together. I don't think I would have had this experience if I had not studied abroad. Also, the students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology are very motivated, so this environment has been very exciting for me.

In these days of living such a life, I am thinking every day how I can improve my English and how I can make my life here have more meaningful. With only 3 months left, I will try my best every day to set new goals and work hard each day.