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**Introduction
----
[katrina]
Youkoso! Welcome!
So you've made it to ICU! Congratulations! Allow us to applaud you for making the decision to be part of this unique international environment that ICU offers. We're sure you're excited to take your first steps into this new world and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds. It won't be easy... but we assure you it will be fun. All you need is a dose of postive attitude, a desire to make friends, an open mind and this little step-by-step guide that we have created just for you. So if you're ready to make friends and enjoy your life at ICU, take a deep breath and dive in!
*So what is this guide really?
This website is dedicated to newcomers and those who may still feel like newcomes to the ICU environment. Our goal is to present a step-by-step guide to allow you to make the most of ICU's culturally diverse community and help you build genuine friendships that go beyond languages and borders. :)
*How do I use this guide?
It's simple! This guide consists of five parts:
1. Motivation
2. Language
3. Initial Meetings
4. Everyday Conversations/ Manners
5. Social Interaction
We are presenting these steps in the form of a staircase, wherein each part represents a single step. Feel free to move up and down the staircase depending on your own needs. We suggest starting from the very first step for maximum learning experience. (Besides, don't we all take the first step when we climb the stairs?) Read each module carefully and try not to skip any of the steps!
*About the creators
This website is the product of the joint efforts of April, September and OYR students for our Intercultural Communication and Relations class. That being said, you need not worry that this guide would not be applicable to you. We've all been there, done that. Trust us in this one.
Courtney Smith: an OYR from California! I owe a lot of my understanding of the Japanese culture to this project :)
Daisuke Nakamura: a super super senior April student. Never studied abroad, but loves american culture.
Jin:
Katrina Soliman, 113890: an OYR from the Philippines. This is her first time abroad, and she's LOVING it.
Masumi:
Megumi Sato: a sophomore April student, and studied at Toronto by SEA program. I love talking with people even who have different cultures!
Miki Kansai: April student. Don't worry! If you are poor English or Japanese speakers, somebody support you like this company supports me.
Yoshimi:
*For the conclusion, it has been decided that everyone will write a paragraph about their own experiences about barriers and making friends at ICU. (please post this on the "intro" page on the wiki as soon as possible!) ← This page?
Miki: When I become a freshman at ICU, I was little bit nervous. I warried whether I could have good relationships with students who are younger than me (=making friends) or not, because I am older than other freshmans and I am not a good English speaker. I did not mind how old friends are or good speakers, but I thought that they may mind how old friends are or good speakers. This thinking is my barrier to make friends. Although there are not many, I have good friends here now. I am very satisfied with it. Through this group work, I think that it is not that barriers have already presented. Barriers are made by you and me. In addition what I learn it is that knowing and appreciating the differnces amoung people prevent us from barriers.
Megumi: I entered ICU with wish for making many non-Japanese friends. However, April, September, and OYR students have their own groups; there are big barriers. I thought if I spent my ICU life with only April students, it would be really hard to make other cultural freiends. Therefore, I tried to speak with OYR students at Bakayama, in class, and Library. Even though I was not a good English speaker, they talked with pleasure. Now, I have many friends all over the world. In addtion, my friends and I have cultural differences. In order to keep good relationships, we always try to understand each other, and talk a lot. With a little courage and comprehensive mind, you can make good relationships with people who are in other culture!! Just do it☆
Katrina: Being neither a native speaker of English nor Japanese and considering that my stay in ICU would only be for a year, I was kinda hesitant about making friends. However, entering ICU somehow changed my perspective on things. My world suddenly expanded and I knew I had to pick either of these two choices: to shut myself from this new world or take the risk and discover what it has to offer. I chose the latter and I'm glad I did. I learned that you don't have to be afraid of making mistakes or try so hard to be someone you're not to make friends. Just be yourself, be open-minded and don't let all your differences freak you out. Lastly, don't let your broken Japanese/English hold you down! Believe me, most people don't mind! It's your willingness to make friends that counts!
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