“Kon’nichiwa!” After a long 20 hour travel day, exchange student Nanako Inakazu arrived in Atlanta with her friends and an open minded attitude, thrilled to immerse herself in American culture. Welcomed with a big sign and lots of smiles at the airport, her eyes were wide with excitement while on the way to her host family’s house. From the English language, new indulgent food, lots of traffic, and towering skyscrapers, Inakazu’s life was going to be vastly different for a week.
Inakazu is from Fukuoka Japan, a 5 hour bullet-train ride from Tokyo. Japan is about the length of the US East Coast, so it would take 12 hours to drive between these cities. However, unlike the U.S., Japan has a spectacular transportation system. Fukuoka is a stunning city with lots of nature and old architecture. Inakazu appreciates the stark juxtaposition between the scenery and enjoys being able to spend time outside. She can be seen running, video-gaming, and playing with her dog, Luke, on the weekends. Anime is a big trend in Japan, and Inakazu is no exception. Her favorite show is Demon Slayer. Inakazu also loves spending time with her friends and embracing the values she shares with her family. This includes giving thanks before and after eating. “Before we eat and consume the lives of plants and animals, we say ‘gochisousama’ which means we are grateful for life and ‘itadakimasu’ which means we are ready to receive the life that we eat,” said Inakazu. “We are very thankful for our food.”
The short time period of five days is all that Inakazu and her friends were given to soak in and experience American culture. They were able to do lots of activities such as visit the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke; both of which are popular tourist attractions which Atlanta is known for. While some of the exchange students went to a Braves Game on Wednesday, Inakazu and her friends Mao and Koyuri were able to go see Katy Perry in concert. They were delighted to see an American singer live and looking forward to telling everyone back home in Fukuoka about it. However, Inakazu wouldn’t have experienced American life fully without trying one thing: a hamburger. She adored this, and claims it is her favorite food in the American cuisine. Throughout her time here, Inakazu was able to observe two full days of school. She describes how it is different from school in Japan and that American teachers are much more fun. “My favorite class was Spanish with Sr. Williams,” said Inakazu. “I even got to learn a few words in a new language.”
Inakazu’s visit to Atlanta was short but unforgettable, filled with lots of new friendships and experiences. As she heads back to Fukuoka, she takes with her new knowledge of the world and cultures around her. We will miss you Nanako, sayonara!
