The Valuable Tour to Portland

I went to Portland from November 18th to the 21st. I had a really good time and learned a lot of things about American history and culture. I especially liked three things on the trip: conversations with students at Columbia Basin College, the McLaughlin House and the Japanese American Memorial.

First of all, I enjoyed talking with Columbia Basin College students about my presentation topic. Before we started talking, I was nervous because I was not sure that my topic "Hokkaido" would be interesting to them, but while I was talking, they listened carefully and one student said, "I should go there once!" It made me really happy because it meant she had interest in my topic. Other students didn't understand my topic well, so I realized I have to practice a lot and prepare well before the day of my presentation.

Second, the man who taught us about McLaughlin was a great speaker. I was impressed with his explanations. They were very clear and easy to understand. He used many ways to attract our attention such as to stress important words and to use various tones and speed. I learned not only about McLaughlin but also the way to make a speech interesting and attractive. It was a helpful experience for me.

Finally, I was moved by the poems on stones at the Japanese American Memorial. "Sure, I go to school. Same as you. I'm an American." I was especially impressed by this poem. I think it shows the strength and pride of Japanese Americans. They were Japanese but also American. In the 13 poems, I could feel various kinds of feelings like sadness, mortification and strength. The Japanese American Memorial was the place I learned about the history of World War Ⅱ.

In conclusion, I learned many things on the trip. All of the things I learned were good for me and I can use some of them for my presentation. Also, I enjoyed the trip very much. I could communicate with a lot of people. I will never forget these precious memories.