As the academic year comes to an end and summer vacation begins, we'll take a look back at the past school year and share some of your favorite posts...and some of our favorites too! So stay tuned over the next week or so for a bunch of lists recapping the best of the past school year. Starting with...
It’s like a movie, something like a disaster film. This is my very first time to undergo such a severe earthquake in Japan. Since never having experienced an earthquake like this, my other international friends and I was so astonished and panicked. On the contrary to this, other Japanese people were relatively calm.
We also spoke several times to Kana Igarashi, a Japanese student studying in California. Kana's family was in Fukushima, and she talked about their experience in the earthquake and subsequent nuclear crisis.
I’m not exaggerating in saying that American movies and music were my principal English teachers in 9th grade. I would buy CDs of Westlife and Britney Spears, download the lyrics and sing along to the songs.
Since I came here I’ve undergone significant personal transformation, especially in terms of my knowledge. Because before that I was very – I wouldn’t say closed-minded, but I wasn’t aware of the issues around me and the global issues.
So newcomers, please take a conservative attitude when people here say you are amazing, great or something is wonderful, perfect. Most of times, it is just a habit of saying like that, the truth is you are still who you are, your worries are still out there, just enjoy the compliment for a second and then get back to real life.
I am happy to say that outright discrimination or prejudice have never been a problem for me. What I have noted most of all is plain ignorance, simply a lack of information on other cultures, religions, and traditions, a gap which I am always more than happy to close when it comes to things pertaining to Armenians.
