Mai (who goes by Maya) is studying business at Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada

Who am I?

Hi everyone, I'm Mai Goto aka Maya from Japan. The majority of my life was in Hokkaido, Sapporo, which is famous for fresh seafood and fun winter sports, like skiing! Currently, I study Business at Truckee Meadows Community College in the U.S. and I work at their International Student Services office. Before I came here, I used to play badminton for 9 years, and my passion for it was immense. I spent a lot of time practicing with my best friend: my racket!!

Seeing a New World

While I was obsessed with badminton, I was also into English as well. My journey of English began when I first visited Guam when I was six years old. I, a girl who was born and raised only on a snowy island, completely fell in love with everything I was touching, seeing, and smelling as they were all new to me. The moments I experienced then are still unforgettable to me. 

Especially when I asked the beach girl at the hotel, “What time is it now?” It was the initial moment I could talk in English. Since I asked her alone and was a little nervous, she worried and asked me if I was lost after answering my question quickly. For some reason, we walked around together to find my mother, although I knew where she was. Anyway, that was the reason I developed an interest in other countries.

The Reasons Why I Chose a University in the U.S.A.

With my underlying curiosity about other countries, I thought studying in the U.S. could broaden my perceptions. I felt I needed more diversity to understand cultural differences to make one of my dreams come true, which is working in a different country with people around the globe. Additionally, I just changed myself to be more critical thinking and more engaged in classes. Therefore, I decided to study abroad, expecting it would be worth it!

My English Journey

I had spent about 4 years preparing to go abroad since I started to study English hard. When I was in high school, I learned mostly English grammar thanks to the Japanese education system. What I did outside of high school was watching English videos like YouTube and mimicking them. Teachers from around the world are always waiting for you on the platform. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by — take advantage of this!

NIC Bootcamp

Soon after graduating from high school, I moved to Tokyo for school to improve my English and prepare for studying abroad. The concentrated year in order to change the education style from Japan to the U.S. definitely changed my life. Basically, what I did at the college was a bunch of reading, listening, writing, making presentations, and so on. In hindsight, this was just a year, but it felt like almost 3 years. The busy days taught me how time management is significant in our lives. Thanks to going through the hardest year, now I’m in the U.S.! I look forward to sharing more of my first-hand experiences in Reno, Nevada, with you in my upcoming blogs.  

Mai (Maya) Goto from Japan is studying business at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.