公開日 2022年02月28日
On January 18, 2022, the International Center at Shimane University held its 6th USA Online Cafe for this academic year. There were four participants from the University of Arkansas, a partner institution of the university, and five Shimane University students. This cafe's theme was foods eaten around or on New Year’s.
Students from Shimane University shared examples of foods they eat at home around the New Year season. Some examples were osechi (typical New Year’s food in Japan, in particular, sweet black beans and chestnut jam) and soba noodles. Some families even pounded their own mochi (sweet rice cake). One Japanese student talked about how a shrimp’s back is curved, so it is said that eating shrimp leads to a long life. Many University of Arkansas students had never heard this before. One American student shared that at her house eating boiled cabbage is said to lead to wealth, and everyone was surprised.
During the free talk session, topics such as Winter Olympic sports, how much it had snowed, and the state of university classes (online or in-person) came up, and the students talked enthusiastically.
During the exchange, conversations are divided into English time and Japanese time, but sometimes groups speak in their non-native language to help with understanding. Additionally, at the end of the event, there were students who exchanged personal contact information. The cafe is a good opportunity to interact with students abroad and make friends even when they cannot travel overseas due to COVID-19.
The International Center at Shimane University will continue to actively hold these types of exchanges for Shimane University students to have an opportunity to talk with people outside of Japan and to convey the appeal of studying abroad in Japan to overseas students.
