During my approximately three-week study abroad and internship program at The Ohio State University, I focused on two main areas. One was field research on improving the convenience of the local bus system, based on a proposal I developed through last year’s ISS-PBL program. The other was attending economics classes related to my major.
As part of my field research on the bus system, I rode local buses and conducted interviews with passengers. At first, I was a little nervous about approaching people I had never met before. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and welcoming people were, and many of them shared a wide range of opinions and experiences beyond what I had initially asked about. Through direct communication with residents, I was able to gain a deeper understanding, from the users’ perspective, of how transportation infrastructure in the United States affects people’s everyday lives.
I also attended classes in microeconomics, sports economics, and game theory, which allowed me to experience firsthand the differences between teaching styles in Japan and the United States. In particular, the game theory class incorporated a practical approach in which students used their own computers to participate in games. This made it easy for me to become actively engaged in the class. I was also impressed by how students frequently asked questions during lectures and actively participated in discussions. Their willingness to speak up and engage with the material was a refreshing experience and greatly inspired me.
Throughout my stay, I gained many new insights and learned a great deal by stepping outside my usual environment, approaching people on my own, and taking on new challenges. Although the three-week stay was relatively short, the experiences I gained by living and learning in the local environment will remain a valuable part of my personal growth. I hope to build on what I learned from this experience and continue to actively take on new challenges in unfamiliar environments.
