HI,there!!  

Japan has incorporated many components of American life since the end of World War II.  We eat American food on a regular basis, use English words in daily conversation, and appreciate all things American.  When I was in Japan, I thought I had a decent understanding of what American life is like.  However, after coming to Kansas, I have realized that my “understanding” was completely off the mark.  Now, I understand that Japanese culture is indeed totally different from American culture.  I hope that as I spend more time here in Kansas, I will be able to understand American culture more thoroughly, and perhaps even form a “cultural bridge” between Japan and the U.S.