シャイマさん（高1）のインタビュー

O’Connor: Please briefly introduce yourself.

Chaima: Hi, my name is Chaima Achefa, but people call me Chaï. I’m from France. When I came to Friends School I was 17 but now I’m 18. I am a student in 高1 A組, but back in France I am in 高３.

 

O’Connor: What was the biggest culture shock you experienced here in Japan?

Chaima: Every time someone poses this question to me I’m like “I don’t know”, but maybe my biggest culture shock is that people are so kind. Also, in class, when the class starts everyone is quiet. In France when class starts the teacher has to yell at everyone because they keep talking. So, yeah everyone is so kind and serious.

 

O’Connor: What did you miss the most about home while being in Japan?

Chaima: Diversity. I think, in Japan the country is open but not so open. Like, in Europe it's really open. In France there are people from multiple backgrounds. We can see people from Japan, American people, Arabic people, black people. So in Japan when I see someone who doesn’t look Japanese I’m surprised and think we can be friends!

Also, in France people are very direct. In Japan, they tell you something little by little, it’s different from France. In France we are not being mean when we are direct and sometimes in Japan I have been too direct with people and they have been shocked. It’s not something I really miss but it makes me think carefully.

 

O’Connor: What’s your favorite Japanese word?

Chaima:  Maybe 愛, because I love the meaning and I love the kanji of 愛. Every time I see the kanji I feel happy. I love 愛.

 

O’Connor: What was your school life experience like here in Japan? Did you have a favorite subject?

Chaima: I think my favorite subject is Food Fashion. I made my own yukata. Every week when I have this class I’m so happy to go there. The teacher is so kind. I love her. She’s so funny and so kind. My Japanese is not good enough to understand her every time and she cannot speak English but somehow I can understand her. Being in a small class and making my own yukata is so great. It’s so much fun. In France we don’t have a class like that.

I also love Oral Communication. I can speak to teachers and students in English. It’s so interesting. I can really understand so I like that class too.

 

O’Connor: You joined the 高２ trip to Kyoto and Nara, and the 高１ Empowerment Program. How was it?

Chaima: Incredible. They were my two most favorite moments in Japan. I fell in love with Kyoto — really I love Kyoto! I could grow closer to other 高２ students because I didn’t have many opportunities to talk with them before. And so we became really good friends. I became really good friends with my roommate on the trip. My group for the free day in Kyoto was great. Like, we had so much fun! I also became friends with the taxi driver from Kyoto!! So it was such a great trip!! I laughed a lot and I really liked that trip. Also, the school medical staff on that trip was so kind to me. I really like her, too. We had really good moments.

And the 高1 Empowerment Program I became great friends with the university students who joined us. They were so kind and it was such a fun time, and we could speak French. Spending time with them and with the Friends School students was so nice. I really, really, loved that so at the end I cried. I was really going to miss the university students and having that time with my classmates.

 

O’ Connor: What was the hardest thing for you this year?

Chaima: I think speaking with each other. I don’t have trouble going up to people but when you don’t speak the language it’s hard. Honestly I’m kind of a bad student because I love studying Japanese but if it’s by myself I don’t study, but my Japanese teacher is really great and my Japanese has improved. But it’s hard for me because in France I’m considered a chatterbox — I’m always talking, I speak too much so for me it was hard when I couldn’t find my words. I was frustrated. But I have good friends here and everyone is so kind so I was happy. But, yeah, it was the most difficult for me.

 

O’Connor: What’s the next step for you?

Chaima: Right now I want to pass my baccalaureate. I want to go to university, and, I hope I don’t change my mind — I often change my mind, I want to be an English teacher, so maybe at university I’ll study English. I really want to do the science of education to learn about kids and things. It’s really interesting for me. I want to teach junior high school and high school students.

 

O’Connor: Do you have a message for FGS students?

Chaima: I was really happy to meet everyone because everyone was so kind. I don’t know if it’s special to Friends School but everyone was so kind and welcoming. I want to say thanks because I was really nervous about coming to Japan and not speaking Japanese. I felt bad at first and I was homesick but when I came to school I was so happy. From the first day I was never alone. Hitomi really took me under her wing so I was never, ever alone. Every one came to speak to me on the first day, even within the first hour. I will never forget people like that. Maybe they will forget about me because there will be many exchange students who come but I will never forget them. It’s the best memory in my life. It was such a great experience for me. And thank you too — the teachers are some of the most kind people I have met. So, thank you, just thank you!!