Arts and Sports

The students are dedicated to their studies. They never skip class. Their attitude toward learning is proactive.
However, they also find time to enthusiastically engage in cultural and sports activities, and actively participate in various events.

Here, I’d like to touch briefly on some of the arts and sports events that took place during my stay.

Last November (1969), a concert by the NHK Symphony Orchestra was held in the campus hall, thrilling a packed audience. Hiroyuki Iwaki conducted, and Hiroko Nakamura performed on piano.
This was part of an arts series organized by the students. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and pianist Van Cliburn also came to perform.

In rock music, acts like Arlo Guthrie, Iron Butterfly, Chicago, and The Fifth Dimension came to perform. As expected, Chicago was incredibly popular.
It’s quite something that they can bring such popular groups to this “backwater.” Really!

In sports, college football from fall through winter is a spectacular sight. Moreover, Penn State has remained undefeated for two consecutive years. Yet in the national rankings, they were second only to Ohio State last season. This season, they’re second only to Texas.

Since they’ve been stuck in second place both seasons without even getting to face the No. 1 team, it’s no wonder the students are fed up. On campus, in bars, everywhere—the rallying cry is “We are No. 1.”

The day I watched the game against the University of Maryland, there was snow on the ground and the temperature was below freezing.
The stands were covered in about 5 centimeters of ice, and a cold wind mixed with snow was howling. Men and women alike cheered fiercely while warming themselves with whiskey.
The score? A win, of course. 40 to 0—pretty impressive, right?

Even so, amidst that biting wind, the cheerleaders—those lovely ladies—unhesitatingly bared their incredibly attractive bodies and devoted themselves entirely to cheering on the team. I saluted them with my binoculars!

The ceremony right before the game

It’s hot with excitement, even in the snow!

Women are always full of energy

Besides football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey are also popular, but Penn State isn’t very strong in those sports.

Friends

Since I have to go home soon, it’s time to say goodbye to my friends. Such wonderful friends. I’m so sad.
Many of them interfered with my studies, taught me nothing but unnecessary slang, forced me to drink alcohol even though I hated it, and dragged me to boring XXX movies.

Before I knew it, they were treating me not as a foreigner, but as a friend. Even though my English isn’t anything to brag about, they made me forget I was Japanese.

I’ll wrap up this exchange student newsletter by introducing a few of my friends.

Mark the Bearded

He’s my best friend—a title we both accept. A Greek-American. His priorities: first, alcohol; second, women; third, small talk; fourth, studying.
Even so,
“Soon you’ll have no choice but to call me ‘Dr. Geosciences,’”
he boasts, feigning innocence.

Every time he returns to his hometown of Baltimore, he brings back Greek wine, and we end up saying, “Well, let’s have a glass.”
No matter how much I resist drinking or going to bars, he’s the one who drags me out against my will.

When we go to bars, we’re always joined by Assistant Professor Spardock, Safi from Egypt, and Saeed from Pakistan…

Nick, the Ladykiller

At first glance, he’s polite and always popular with the ladies.
After lecturing me on “how to be popular with women,” he’s been making me join him on his daily early-morning runs ever since—using “I’ll treat you to ice cream” as bait.

Nick is also the one who reads *Hustler* and brings it over to me.

Doug, the Rock Fanatic

Having such a close-knit group of friends seems like it will be quite an asset. More than anything else, though, they've made my year so incredibly fun. I’m filled with gratitude.

Well then, I look forward to seeing you all soon...

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