Racial discrimination – the first thing came up in my mind when I determined to study abroad in America. It is a stereotyped knowledge that Southern States including Tennessee are well-known to be racially discriminating. I used to perceive southern people as closed-minded, unwelcoming group of people. However, what I have seen and experienced in Maryville/Maryville College is the complete opposite. Welcoming, warm-hearted, courteous are the adjectives I think would well attach to people around Maryville. My friends, faculty, and staff are very understanding of my culture even though Maryville’s community is not as internationalized as other states in America. My roommate is an American, most of my friends are from America, but they never did and will discriminate me despite my race. I have taught them about my culture, my experience, my perspectives, and I believe that I have also helped my friends know about my country and culture more than they ever knew. I participated in GCO in order to get involved in even more of contribution to spread and let everybody on campus, even the city know about what I know about my culture, countries, and differences in American culture and Japanese culture. GCO helped me become more capable of being a “cultural ambassador” from Japan. GCO has given me opportunity to be more engaged with American culture. GCO became the best organization for me to be part of Maryville College. My first year here at Maryville College has become one of the best chances I ever had to be well educated, to get involved in other cultures, and to befriend diverse people. I appreciate the opportunity MC has given me. Racial discrimination – the first thing came up in my mind when I determined to study abroad in America. It is a stereotyped knowledge that Southern States including Tennessee are well-known to be racially discriminating. I used to perceive southern people as closed-minded, unwelcoming group of people. However, what I have seen and experienced in Maryville/Maryville College is the complete opposite. Welcoming, warm-hearted, courteous are the adjectives I think would well attach to people around Maryville. My friends, faculty, and staff are very understanding of my culture even though Maryville’s community is not as internationalized as other states in America. My roommate is an American, most of my friends are from America, but they never did and will discriminate me despite my race. I have thought them about my culture, my experience, my perspectives, and I believe that I have also helped my friends know about my country and culture more than they ever knew. I participated in GCO in order to get involved in even more of contribution to spread and let everybody on campus, even the city know about what I know about my culture, countries, and differences in American culture and Japanese culture. GCO helped me become more capable of being a “cultural ambassador” from Japan. GCO has given me opportunity to be more engaged with American culture. GCO became the best organization for me to be part of Maryville College. My first year here at Maryville College has become one of the best chances I ever had to be well educated, to get involved in other cultures, and to befriend diverse people. I appreciate the opportunity MC has given me. 