I started learning English outside school at the age of fifteen. When I became a college student I noticed my English study was plateauing. I was also less motive. Study abroad programs that my college provided looked appealing to me, and I thought it was a very good way to improve my learning process because I can exercise all elements of language every day in a real-life situation. In addition to that, I was interested in living in a different culture and climate.

Another reason why I desired to study at Evergreen state college was that I had extended families in Seattle and Seattle surroundings. They are Japanese Americans, whose ancestors immigrated to Seattle before World War Ⅱ. I always wanted to learn the history and hear personal stories of those people.

The most enjoyable activity I had was the woodworking class. The class was conducted every Tuesday, from 5:30 pm to 9:30. I designed and fabricated stool in beautiful western maple. I failed countless times for multiple occasions and took longer to learn every process. Plus, it was such a frustration all the more because I was a perfectionist. In the latter half of the quarter, I worked in the woodshop for hours on Fridays and Saturdays. At most 6 hours straight, which brought me pain in my neck and lower back. It was constantly fun to work on the project in consultation with shop aids and teachers. I was able to hyper-focus and forgot about time. I came to have a deeper respect for the materials, people and processes involved.


At the last day for an open shop, I sanded each part of my stool for 6 hours and happily completed it at the last minute. I could not stop petting its surface and feeling its smoothness. I enjoyed the final presentation in front of classmates and instructors I like. It’s unforgettable that I was having a smile on my face during it .

During these nine months in Evergreen, I developed a somatic understanding of visual art, awareness on my learning disciplines, and a meaningful relationship with people. I am grateful that I could study at Evergreen. I thank all the people who supported me while I was there: my lovely relatives in Seattle, family in Japan, my partner, and friends in Japan.