Each and every scholar in Lewis County had a most strange school calendar year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but just one Lewis County Superior School student experienced an even more uncommon 12 months: Mao Igo was an trade pupil from Japan who spent the 2020-21 school 12 months in this article. She lived with host household Brad and Bobbie Davisson, and performed soccer and basketball, was a member of the observe workforce, and the Marching Minutemen.
Igo stated her sister was an trade pupil two several years back, and she has required to do the very same given that then. She additional that she will overlook her buddies and friends the most when she returns to Japan.
“I really enjoy American large faculty,” she mentioned.
Aside from the people, who Igo explained are the biggest change, she will pass up biscuits and gravy, incorporating foodstuff was also a enormous variance.
“At to start with, it was awful. I love it now,” she mentioned.
Igo is one of five trade learners who used the faculty year in Lewis and Upshur counties. Her beloved knowledge was conversing to fellow trade college students, calling it attention-grabbing. She extra that all of their thoughts differed from 1 a further.
As considerably as People in america go, Igo claimed people today are so expressive, and living freely.
“Japanese individuals are so shy and they point out every other. I do not like it. That is so awkward. It feels cramped,” she reported. “Most men and women constantly treatment about people’s eyes. But in The united states, they are residing freely. They dwell their have way. Also, the United states of america is extremely worldwide country, so there is Asian, Indigenous American, white men and women, and they have different hair colour, distinctive eye color, unique religions, and distinctive feeling. Everyone is exceptional and humorous.”
Igo, who resides in Yokohama, stated language was the most difficult section of getting an trade student, and masks mandates thanks to COVID-19 did not assist. She mentioned it was created even a lot more challenging when people talked speedy.
“I even did not know my friend’s deal with due to the fact they are generally wearing a mask,” she claimed, incorporating she skipped experiences like feeding on lunch in the cafeteria, and so several learners had been distance learners. “I received COVID-19,” she continued.
All in all, nevertheless, she claimed coming right here has been a excellent encounter. She and her host family did get to travel to Niagara Falls, New York, Igo’s only out-of-state excursion, which she said was stunning. They did pay a visit to a few spots in West Virginia, but with tactics and satisfies, there have been not several no cost weekends.
“Everything overlapped,” Davisson stated.
Igo said her favored element of West Virginia was its natural attractiveness. She claimed the mountains, lakes, rivers, and falls are stunning, and included that individuals are sweet.
“I never know that it is due to the fact they are American or due to the fact they are West Virginian, but they are so sort, friendly, and sweet. Some persons contact me ‘sweety’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘honey.’ I like that,” Igo stated.
Faculty is even now in session in Japan, and Igo mentioned she will have three a long time remaining upon returning. This 12 months in an American higher college does not rely towards graduation in Japan.
Davisson added that Igo also will have to quarantine for 14 days when she comes back again in Japan because of to a recent condition of unexpected emergency the state is in mainly because of COVID-19. Adhering to that, Igo will have to remain in her residence for a interval of time, as perfectly.
Igo performs only basketball in Japan, and had in no way performed soccer or ran track until finally coming to LCHS. She experienced also never performed in a marching band or jazz band.
“I did perform soccer, basketball, and keep track of. Also I performed cymbal in band class, and marching band, and I performed guitar in jazz band class,” Igo stated. “I’ve never carried out marching, so I actually liked it.”
While Igo is returning to her residence in Japan, she is not finished with The us still. She needs to show up at a university in the states immediately after graduating large school. Wanting back again on her year, it was a good knowledge.
“I relished the time. I relished basketball time, college, American lifestyle, keep track of observe, band exercise, marching band, soccer, homecoming, jazz band, food items, and fishing.”