Missing Sound of Police Car?
Shimane students and American students from East Carolina University exchanged differences of cultures while walking around Hiroshima and Miyajima on May 20. What impressed me the most was differences of cultures of the two countries.
I chatted with Remi and Tina from East Carolina University about their experiences in Japan. They said Japanese cities were really quiet, and to my surprise, they miss the siren of the American police cars. According to them their city, Greenville, North Carolina, is noisy because they hear police sirens almost every day.
Remi and Tina also said high school life is very different. American high school students do not have uniforms. They can color their hair. They can wear piercing. Tina had a pierce on her nose. Tina said, “American high scool students are crazy.” I was very intrigued.
Exchanging ideas about our cultures was so much fun.
At the end of the day, Remi introduced me to one of her friends, saying, “This is Ako. She is my best friend today.” I felt warm in my heart. We said good bye to each other at a JR station, hugging each other. The meeting with ECU students at Hiroshima and Miyajima was a wonderful experience for me.
By Ako Miyama (University of Shimane)
