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Two Years in Salem (Studying Abroad from the Age of 60)
by Masao Mizukami
published April 2001 by the Kawagoe-Salem Friendship Society
Cover | Introduction | Contents


(Cover designed by Mr. Ichiro Sato; Illustration by Mrs. Fujiko Mizukami)

Introduction

This English translation is by Masao Mizukami of his original Japanese manuscript, written in his English journals during 2002-2003, proofread by his English teacher in Japan Jazzmin Tanner, and adapted by Barry Duell.
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Masao Mizukami writes:

"I'm a member of the Kawagoe-Salem Friendship Society (KSFS). When I came back to Japan in September 2000, Barry Duell, who is chairman of KSFS, and the other staff asked me to give a lecture to members of KSFS about my experience in Salem. I prepared a manuscript and lectured to about 30 members who gathered at Tokyo International University on December 2, 2000, but I was able to tell less than half of what I wanted to within the limit of two hours. The chairman and staff proposed that I should write about my Salem experience for giving to all members of KSFS as one of the commemorating events of the 15th anniversary of the founding of KSFS the next year. I wrote 30 pages, of course in Japanese. The copies were handed to those in attendance at the general meeting of KSFS on April 14, 2001, and they also were mailed to those who were absent.

The English title is "Two Years in Salem (Studying Abroad from the Age of 60)." I challenged myself to translate the original Japanese into English little by little."

Contents

Foreword (by Barry Duell, Chair, Kawagoe-Salem Friendship Society)
In the beginning
Salem homestay tour
Determination to study abroad
Chemeketa Community College
Housing, meals, prices
Things I was aware of in the US
About cars
Weather, clothes
My associates

Things I was interested in

My medical treatment experience
National holidays

At the end