Naoko Kasahara of Japan is studying and practicing English as a foreign exchange student at Kimball Area High School. Kasahara would like to work as a grand hostess at an airport in Japan and her experience in the United States will be helpful. Kasahara is from Gunma, a medium-sized city near Tokyo. She has taken English classes in school for about five years. As part of her exchange program, she spent a month in Washington state studying English and American culture with other exchange students before coming to Kimball in August. Kasahara is staying with Debbie and Vic Lochen in Kimball. Unlike the other exchange students at KAHS, Kasahara is on a six-month exchange which is soon coming to an end. During her stay she has noticed many differences between life in Japan and in the United States. Kasahara sees the most differences in school. One of her favorite things about American high school is that students don’t wear uniforms. In Japan students have to wear uniforms. “Here, I can wear what I want,” she said. Also, the class schedules are different. Instead of having the same schedule Monday through Friday, students in Japan have a different schedule for each day of the week that stays the same for that day. Kasahara is trying many new things, one is cheerleading. She is a varsity cheerleader for boys’ basketball. “They have cheerleaders in Japan, but in Japan cheerleading is for everything (all teams),” she said. Before coming to the United States, Kasahara’s English teacher in Japan told her of some differences to expect. She was told that students ride yellow school busses to school, that there are more tests at school ,and that people can get their drivers’ licsense at age 16 instead of 18. Most of what she had heard about the United States she has found to be true. Kasahara has made her own discoveries through her experiences, as well. “I haven’t ever seen trains (here),” she said. “Japan has a lot of trains so I was surprised.” Another thing that surprised her was the differences in food. “American food is oily, Japanese is more healthy,” Kasahara said. “But we have McDonalds and Pizza Hut, too.” In Japan they eat rice everyday. “I like American food,” she said. Her favorite foods here are pizza and tacos. “But I don’t like pickles and sour cream,” she said. Religious practices in the United States are also much different from Japan, where most people are Buddhists. Kasahara was surprised that people go to church every Sunday. “We have temple but we don’t go every Sunday,” she said. In Japan people usually go temple for special occasions like New Year’s Eve or weddings. In addition to the temple, they also have a church where people can congregate. For instance, there are secular Halloween and Christmas parties held at the church for children. While Japanese Star Weddings, traditional weddings, are usually held in the temple, “People like the church better because it’s cool,” Kasahara said. Since arriving, Kasahara has done many things with her host family and learned about American, as well as Minnesotan, culture and traditions. They went to the State Fair and ValleyFair. At ValleyFair her favorite ride was Steel Venom, the new rollercoaster. “It was scary; I don’t like high things,” she said. Kasahara also went to the Hard Rock Cafe, a football game and snowboarding. Before she leaves Minnesota, Kasahara wants to go to the Mall of America. Kasahara’s exchange program will end this winter. “I miss my family and friends and send e-mail to them,” she said, “but, it’s not so bad because I go back in two months.” After she leaves Minnesota, Kasahara will do some sight-seeing with friends and teachers in her exchange program. They will go to Los Angeles, Hollywood and Disneyland. “I’m so excited (to go to Hollywood and Disneyland),” Kasahara said. She would also like to go to New York City. “It’s cool in my image,” she said.
