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Because of my loneliness and homesickness for Japan, immediately after graduating I returned to Japan from 1962 to 1963. I studied at International Christian University and later transferred to Sophia University, and worked at Hotel Okura. At that time, a Water Safety Instructor’s certificate allowed me to manage the pool at the Okura and to teach swimming, as well as being a “lifeguard.” In the pool, I had twelve Japanese employees and learned about Japanese organizational behavior from my boss, the Jinji Bucho.
After the swimming pool closed for the season, I created and edited the new hotel magazine about Japan for tourists, the “Okura Lantern.” I also escorted a lot of people from overseas on short tours around the hotel. I met some movie stars like Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner. Also I taught swimming to Shirley MacLaine’s daughter.
After wonderful days at Hotel Okura, I returned to the U.S. for graduate school in 1963. I was influenced by my Christian faith so I went to the seminary to study. While at Duke University, a Methodist Divinity School, I got an internship to serve in Campus ministry for American students at the Baptist Student Center at the University of North Carolina. That experience taught me again that I could not relate to the issues and problems that American university students experienced. I just could not empathize with their concerns and worries.
At that time, I met a Foreign Student Advisor of the University of North Carolina and he introduced me to his program. His office provided services to foreign students on US campuses, including orientation to the campus, housing assistance, financial aid advice, academic advising, career advising, personal counseling, and international student programming of social activities. The office also had references and advice for US students who planed to study abroad. A few foreign student advisors initiated the development of an international theme house where 50% of the residents were from abroad and 50% were local students. They held International Fairs where students and faculty come together to learn about foods, dress, and dances of many nations’ cultures. It was only natural for me that this kind of working environment or professional career would be perfect for someone with my background. And I began to think, “I need a change. This is for me.”
When I graduated in 1966 with my Master’s, I was hired at Cornell University as Assistant Director of the International Student Office in the role of the Foreign Student Advisor. I entered my 11?year career in the International Educational Exchange field.(3/9)