Akiko Minowa, Exchange Student, Japan
Read interview below in Japanese. Opens as Word document.
Akiko Minowa was an exchange student from Nagoya University, Japan, during 2006-07 school years. An anthropology/sociology major, she chose the St. Olaf exchange as she wanted, “better relationship with professors and friends at a small liberal arts college than I could in a big university in other foreign countries.”
What was your year like academically, socially, or in other ways at St. Olaf?
My one year at St. Olaf was wonderful, both academically and socially. At first, to keep up with the courses was challenging, but they were very interesting and I was able to grow academically. I studied hardest in my life. Professors were very supportive, and I (finished) all the courses successfully. I was glad that I made the Dean's Lists for both the fall and spring semester, because there (are) no such (academic) awards in Japan.
I also took an off-campus interim course and taught a kindergarten autism class (at) an elementary school in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Minneapolis. I participated in a volunteer program to Washington D.C. and worked for a shelter (with) homeless women. For these opportunities which St. Olaf gave me, I was able to look at a darker side of American society, and it was very eye-opening.
I (made) many good friends while I was at St. Olaf. I often had meals with my friends and talked with them a lot. It is one of my brightest memories that I went (sledding on snow) with my friend (on) Old Main Hill.
(While she was writing this in January 2008, she met up with her English tutor and St. Olaf students who were in Japan for an interim program. Akiko shared these further thoughts.)
It is wonderful that I am still exchanging letters and e-mails with my friends and professors at St. Olaf and I even showed my friends from St. Olaf around Japan. My favorite professor at St. Olaf let me stay at her house (for two weeks) after I finished my studies at St. Olaf. (She) helped me (visit) the University of Minnesota where I'd like to study as a graduate student, and she even showed me around the Twin Cities. She mentored me throughout the process of applying to graduate programs in the U.S. and wrote the letters of recommendation for me after I came back to Japan. It was very kind of her.
Also, my friendship-family in Northfield was very nice to me, and they even took me to their cabin on a lake in northern Minnesota after I finished St. Olaf. I am so fortunate that I was able to develop such lasting and good relationships with my friends and professors at St. Olaf, and with my friendship-family in Northfield. My year at St. Olaf widened my world very much.
What were your expectations for your experience and how did they match up (or not)?
I feel that my experiences at St. Olaf exceeded my expectations. I expected to study hard at St. Olaf and grow academically. I was able to do quantitative and qualitative sociological research by myself, and take a sociological theory course. They were courses for juniors/ seniors and were very difficult, but they have let me grow academically drastically. I also expected to make friends, and think about graduate programs. People at St. Olaf were much kinder than I had expected, and I was able to make very good relationships with many people. Also, some professors helped me to think about my future life path. In addition, my English improved dramatically (TOEFL CBT 227 to TOEFL iBT 110, which is equivalent to CBT 270) while I was studying at St. Olaf.
Do you miss anything about St. Olaf?
I miss many things about St. Olaf -- definitely my friends and professors. I miss the interesting and intense courses at St. Olaf, the quietness of the library and helpful librarians, the beautiful campus and powdery snow (snowflakes), and so on, too.
Why would you recommend St. Olaf to other exchange or international students?
I would highly recommend St. Olaf to other international students, because you can study in a very caring community. Since it is a small college, it is easy to make friends, and people are very caring and supportive. That kind of caring and supportive environment made my one-year at St. Olaf very comfortable and successful.
