Hi everyone. My real name is Harold, but my friends call me Sonny so please just call me that. This is my second time in Japan but my first long-term stay. My first time, I came as a high school student and in two weeks, I went from Wakayama to Hiroshima to Kyoto and finally to Tokyo. Currently I am a student of Japanese language at Aoyama Gakuin Daigaku (青山学院大学). I arrived in Tokyo in March of this year and will be staying for a full year. Currently I live in a dormitory in Kameari (亀有)　in Adachiku (足立区).
At my home university, in Oregon in the United States, I am a fourth year economics student. There, I also have two years experience teaching foreign students English at the language school on my campus. I worked with students particularly on pronunciation and conversational skills. I know that some students find these skills a little embarrassing to work on but it is something that everyone has difficult with… R’s and L’s, B’s and P’s so don’t let that hold you back.
In my free time, here in Japan I enjoy meeting with friends, playing my bass guitar, and just walking around Tokyo, looking at the many sights. I also love Japanese food. There is no question that Japan has much better food than Oregon. My favorite food is either Katsu Curry (カツカレー) or Sashimi but I also love soba and ramen.
I think learning a foreign language is one of the most difficult but also one of the most rewarding things a person can do. Even if I use Japanese only in Japan, the benefits from gaining a second language extend to every area of life. Problem solving, quick thinking, confidence and an open mind are things that everyone can gain through learning a second language. Don’t be shy so stop in and start improving your language skills.