Genevieve CP#3

Today I met with Yuma.  He is from Japan and has come here to get a Master's in Sports Management.  His Bachelors is in this field as well.  He chose to come to FSU for his Master's in Sports Management because his major professor at his undergraduate university in Japan earned his Ph.D. in sports management from FSU and he recommended this program specifically.  Yuma is studying English full-time at CIES.  He has been here for two months.  He will study with CIES for at least a year before taking the TOEFL.  Then he will enter the masters program.  He will be in Tallahassee for approximately 3 years.
The first thing we discussed is the ineffective transportation in Tallahassee.  Yuma had visited NYC in the past and the public transportation was sufficient there.  Public transportation is inadequate in the U.S. generally speaking.  NYC is an exception to the rule.
Next we discussed sports and Yuma pulled out his dictionary to look up a word.  He told me about maybe working for something like FIFA and I mentioned that FIFA is in trouble lately and he laughed.  I asked if he was familiar with parkour and he said no so I showed him a clip and then he said that he had heard of it but that he didn't think there was anyone doing parkour in Japan.  We discussed his housing and that his roommate is a very kind person.  I learned that Yuma has a golden retriever at home in Japan.  Yuma confirmed that he had studied much English grammar but that his English education through middle and high school was wanting when it came to speaking and listening.  Yuma has been to England, Australia, the Philippines and Korea.  He thinks that Americans are quite friendly and that they are more open emotionally.  He explained that in Japan people are quite shy and so he is reserved there but here he can be more honest and expressive about his feelings and that he likes that.  I enjoyed our conversation and learning so much.