現代文化学部のRenee Sawazaki 准教授は、現在California State University, East Bay校（カリフォルニア州立大学イーストベイ校・本学の交換留学の協定校）のDepartment of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourismで、1年間の在外研究に励んでいます。このほど、下記のように近況を伝えるお便りが届きました。英語の勉強にもなると思いますので、原文のまま掲載します。

Dear faculty, staff, students and friends of Surugadai University,

Hello from Renée Sawazaki in sunny California! Actually, the weather has just recently become the typical California weather - blue skies and warm. Most of the summer, unlike Japan, was rather cold. I am originally from California, but moved to Japan when I was 22 years old (many years ago...I will not tell you exactly how many!). So, it is great to spend one year doing research in my home country. Now, I am able to truly experience and understand the American way of life and thinking. I have been happily surprised by some things and disappointed by others.

When I return to Surugadai University, I will be teaching both general English classes to students in various departments and specialty English classes and seminars focusing on English for hospitality and tourism. So, the main focus for my research in the San Francisco Bay Area is to learn about hospitality and tourism. In recent years, during short stays in the US, I found that service in stores, banks, and other places of business was getting worse and worse. I often felt that I had to be careful to be kind to workers in order for them not to get angry, when they should be kind to me, the customer! Fortunately, since April, when visiting hotels, restaurants and tour companies, I've found the people to be very energetic, kind and willing to help everyone. In my experience, each person, whether rich or poor, was treated with respect.

The faculty and staff at California State University, East Bay have been wonderful. I am working with faculty in the Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism and am interviewing them to get to know how they help their students prepare for a career in these fields. They are giving me a lot of advice that I hope to share with students and faculty after I return. Also, I'm very happy that Surugadai students have the chance to study at CSUEB. It is an especially good place for students interested in tourism, hotels and spas, sports and recreation. The San Francisco Bay Area has so much to offer: world famous sightseeing spots, businesses and events, arts and entertainment, nature, restaurants, sports teams and facilities, and more. My most precious experience so far was getting a private tour of Pixar by an animator who knows Hayao Miyazaki. There are so many interesting people in this area!

Some things have surprised me about modern American culture, at least what I can understand from where I live. I live in a beautiful city just 30 minutes outside of San Francisco. It seems that people are busy with three things: festivals and events (there are events somewhere in the area every weekend), volunteering and fund raising (people are always asked for money or time to help a group or activity, like schools or medical research), and going to the gym/doing sports (California people are very concerned about physical health. I've been very busy with my daughter's swim team. Swimming is a big sport in the area where we live.) Yet, everyone is working very hard, that is, for those who still have a job - the California economy is very, very bad (12.4% are out of work).

For me, although I am not teaching right now, it feels like I never have enough time to do all the things I want to do here. I am very lucky to be in such a beautiful, active area of the world and look forward to sharing my experiences with you after I return.

All the best,

Renee