Interview with JICUF Scholarship Recipient Yiyao Derek Ding
JICUF: Please tell us about yourself.
YD: I am originally from China. I am currently a third-year college student who majors in psychology and minors in architecture. I am a one-year exchange student.
JICUF: Why did you decide to study at ICU?
YD: I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture because of anime, Japanese sweets, and Japanese fashion. As Middlebury College has a wonderful language-teaching curriculum, I decided to start learning Japanese upon my entrance to college. Learning this language taught me many different things about Japanese culture. I wanted to learn more deeply about it and see things in different perspectives, so I decided to study at ICU.
JICUF: How is your life at ICU so far? What do you like about it?
YD: Students here are really friendly and intelligent. The vibe on campus is actually quite different from that of other Japanese universities, but this unique and liberal atmosphere might have facilitated my adaptation to the new environment, since it is quite similar to what I was used to in the US.
I really enjoy the wonderful facilities in my dorm. We have two huge refrigerators in every block and commodious storage space.
JICUF: Have you encountered any difficulties?
YD: I have indeed encountered some cultural shocks during the past few months. For example, the way in which Japanese people do things is very disciplined and sometimes, in my opinion, a little inflexible, which is quite different from what I was used to.
Language is also a barrier. Although I have already taken the highest-level Japanese class at ICU, it doesn’t indicate in any way that my Japanese is as good as native speakers. Most people are so nice that they will cater to my needs during conversations, but sometimes I would meet people who are not so aware of my linguistic deficiency, which can result in some misunderstandings. Therefore, even though the seemingly flimsy barrier between an advanced foreign speaker and a native speaker is actually really difficult to break, I am still trying my best to improve my Japanese.
JICUF: What classes are you taking? Have you joined any student clubs/circles?
YD: I am now taking two psychology classes in Japanese, one art history class in English, and one class designed by Middlebury College to help me immerse in the local environment.
I have joined the tea ceremony club, as I want to learn more about Japanese culture and aesthetics. My time spent at the club has been a wonderful experience so far. Not only did I meet many new friends, but also I got the chance to engage very deeply with one of the most important Japanese cultural practices.
JICUF: What do you hope to achieve during your time at ICU?
YD: During the remaining 6 months, I hope to stretch my ability more by coming out of my comfort zone more often. I know it is very difficult to do so, but only in this way will I be able to get the most out of this experience.
I hope to achieve high level of proficiency in Japanese and make more friends, but not just acquaintances. In a few weeks, I will depart for France to attend the Paris fashion week as an assistant of a prestigious flower-arrangement designer. I hope that I can make more connections during this amazing trip and eventually find a summer internship in Japan.
JICUF: Could you tell us what you mean by “coming out of your comfort zone”? Do you have specific goals?
YD: For now, probably attending the Paris collection can be my stepping out of my comfort zone. Even though I love fashion, the thought that I will work with such well-known professionals in a language with which I am not that familiar scares me. I am currently still waiting for my French visa. Also, I will try to take more academic classes in Japanese and engage with my Japanese friends on a deeper level.
JICUF: Thank you for your time, Derek. We wish you a safe trip to Paris, and hope that you enjoy the rest of your time at ICU!
