I had many opportunities to learn about the history, industries, and real estate related to community development in Buffalo.

地元の人との交流について印象に残ったことは？
How was your experience interacting with local people? 

I was impressed by the friendliness and high flexibility of the locals. Not only did unfamiliar students talk to me at the university, but conversations also started in the streets and in Uber cars with questions like, “How are you?” and “Where are you from?” They wished me to “enjoy your trip” They were very friendly, even to strangers from Japan.

Additionally, when I coincidentally met a friend who had participated in the study tour program at our university, they helped me order lunch and attended the following classes with me. I felt that their ability to maintain a relaxed attitude in situations that would make me anxious was connected to their openness in accepting others. However, in order not to let these relationships remain one-sided and temporary, I wanted to cherish this connection and be conscious of fostering mutual communication to deepen our interactions.

プログラム期間中の活動で特に印象に残ったこと
Please write about what left a strong impression on you during the program period. 

I have an interest in community development and want to broaden my perspective, hoping to form my own ideas by comparing them with my local Hokuriku region. This motivated me to participate in the program. To achieve this goal, I made efforts to deepen my understanding of the local area of Buffalo from historical and industrial viewpoints. In the afternoon of the third day after the program began, I took advantage of my free time to visit the Buffalo History Museum, where I learned about the development of industries through the establishment and historical and geographical background of Buffalo. By organizing what I learned that day, I was able to ask questions to the host teacher in subsequent classes and understand why certain historically valuable places are preserved when I visited them.

Through my research on industry, I found two particularly interesting points. The first was the history of the flour milling and its related industries in early 1900s Buffalo, along with its geographical characteristics and immigration aspects. The advantages of transportation via the Erie Canal and the use of hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls contributed to the development of large grain elevators that promoted beer brewing. This attracted German immigrants, but the industry declined due to Prohibition. It was interesting to see how the former factory sites are now being commercially utilized for events and tourism. The second point is that, although they differ in scale, both Kanazawa and Buffalo developed as key ports and had thriving industries utilizing hydroelectric power. On the final day of the program, I presented a comparison of the history, people, and industries of Buffalo and received feedback that “there were many things we were unaware of.”

プログラム中の経験で将来のキャリアのために役立つと思うこと
What was a useful experience for your future career among your experiences during the program?

I have decided to pursue a career in the financial industry because I want to contribute to the development of the Hokuriku region through diverse business support. Therefore, I believe that learning about community development in areas outside the Hokuriku region will be beneficial for my future career, which is why I participated in this program. In fact, I had many opportunities to learn about the history, industries, and real estate related to community development in Buffalo. I became interested in the development of industries utilizing geography, the connections between historical facts and industries, and the use of industrial heritage with historical significance.

Additionally, there were classes where I learned about the University at Buffalo’s efforts regarding the SDGs. I was surprised to see various sustainable initiatives in place, such as tableware made from recycled materials, the use of compost, and large-scale solar power generation. I felt that positively recognizing young people’s interest in the environment as a basis for promoting these initiatives is an important perspective that will also be relevant in the SDG financing I may be involved with in the future.

次年度以降、同じプログラムに参加する学生に伝えたいこと
Comments for students who will participate in the same program next year.

I felt that I should have clearly defined what I wanted to gain from my learning experience before traveling and actively participating. I noticed that there were many opportunities to express my opinions, and I was often asked why I thought that way. I set my goal of “understanding the local culture and broadening my perspective by comparing community development.” However, I felt that there were too many differences, which resulted in a shallow and broad learning experience. Therefore, I believe that having a specific theme to focus on and being attentive to local experiences would lead to deeper learning.

渡航前・渡航後のCOILを含め、プログラム全体を通しての感想
Feedback on the program, including COILs before and after trips to the US/Japan.

Before traveling, I was able to deepen interactions with local students, and I felt it was great to have someone reliable nearby when I had questions during my stay in Buffalo. Personally, I had little experience with international exchanges and was worried about whether I would be able to get along with the students in Buffalo. However, having the opportunity to interact online beforehand allowed me to build a relationship with them, and I felt reassured when we could share our happiness with hugs when we finally met in person.

In the pre-COIL learning, we compared things related to both regions online and shared interesting aspects of both cities on Facebook. Additionally, I participated in a Shiramine tour with students from the University at Buffalo, where we engaged in workshops and cultural experiences together, naturally deepening our interactions. During my stay in Buffalo, I had many opportunities to meet not only during the classes but also on weekends, which broadened my range of experiences. I also had the chance to talk with friends of the local students I became close with, allowing me to encounter a wider variety of perspectives.