SUMIOKA Mitsuru

カンザスシティで見た新しい世界

住岡暢

初めての海外で日本の岡山県周辺地域以外を知らない自分にとって、すべてが新鮮でとても興奮しました。行けること自体が楽しみで、現地で生活し、自分の知らない世界を体験することで視野を広げれることに期待していました。一方で英語での会話や文化の違いで誤解が生まれないか不安もあり、特に現地の人との会話には緊張していました。

カンザスシティについてまず驚いたのはとにかく何もかもが大きいことでした。道路や建物は日本とは比べ物にならないほど広く、人々もとてもフレンドリーで、知らない人と気軽に会話する光景が日常的にみられました。ダウンタウンの高層ビルや市役所の屋上からの景色は息をのむ美しさで、今でも忘れられません。

滞在中は2つの家庭にお世話になりました。一つ目は外食中心で、BBQやハンバーガー、メキシコ料理、日本のラーメンなど、多彩な料理を楽しみました。2つ目の家庭は家での食事が中心で、アメリカ料理は味付けが濃く量も多く、ナプキンを膝に敷いて食べる習慣など、日本との違いを感じました。また、湖や運動施設に連れて行ってもらい、ピックルボールというスポーツを体験するなど、新しい遊びも楽しみました。また、何か手伝えることあるか尋ね、家事を手伝うと喜んでもらえ、家族の一員として受け入れられていると感じました。 特に印象に残ったのは、市役所で市長や関係者と交流できたこと、野球観戦、第一次世界大戦の美術館訪問です。それぞれ異なる視点や文化を知る貴重な経験で、自分の視野が広がったと感じました。

今回の生活体験団で一番学んだことは世界は広く面白いものや景色にあふれているということです。もっと多くの国や都市を訪れ、多様な人々と会話して交流したいと思いました。また、一緒に行った6人のメンバーや、リーダーの目黒さん、ホームステイ先の方々など、みんな優しくて面白く、周りの人に恵まれたことも大きな学びでした。ホストファミリーの方々や、現地で出来た友達とは、今も連絡を取り合っています。今後、英語学習をさらに頑張り、将来も国際交流の機会を増やして、世界をもっと知りたいと思います。

A new world in Kansas City

It was my first time going abroad, and since I had never experienced the world outside of Okayama Prefecture, everything felt completely new and exciting. I was thrilled just to have the opportunity to go, and I looked forward to expanding my perspective by living there and experiencing a world I had never known. At the same time, I was a little nervous about communicating in English and about misunderstandings that might happen because of cultural differences, especially when talking with local people.

When I arrived in Kansas City, I was amazed at how big everything was. The roads and buildings were much larger than in Japan, and people were very friendly, often starting conversations with strangers. I was especially impressed by the view from the city hall rooftop and the tall buildings downtown. It was truly unforgettable. During my stay, I lived with two different host families. The first family mainly ate out, enjoying a variety of foods such as BBQ, hamburgers, Mexican dishes, and even Japanese ramen. The second family mostly ate at home, and I noticed that American meals were often richly flavored and served in large portions. Napkins were always placed on the lap, which was different from Japan. On weekends and after school, they took me to lakes and parks, and I even tried a sport called pickleball. Helping with housework such as taking out the trash or preparing meals was appreciated, and I felt like a part of the family.

Some of the most memorable experiences included visiting the city hall and meeting the mayor and other officials, watching a baseball game, and visiting a World War I museum. Each experience allowed me to see different perspectives and cultures, and I felt that my own viewpoint had expanded.

The most important thing I learned from this trip is that the world is much bigger and more interesting than I had imagined. I want to visit more countries and cities and meet more people to experience different ways of life. I also realized how important it is to improve my English skills so that I can communicate more freely and enjoy deeper conversations. 

Additionally, I am grateful to the six other members who went with me and our leader, Mr. Meguro. They were all funny, kind, and supportive, and I feel very lucky to have shared this experience with such wonderful people. I hope to continue studying English and participating in international exchange to explore and understand the world even more.