Izumi Furusawa is currently an international student here at CSUSM. She hails from Tokyo, Japan where she started her academic studies before transferring to this university. She’s been here for over two years studying Global Studies and will be participating in the commencement ceremony in May, although she’ll be officially done in the fall.

Furusawa has always been interested in foreign countries because of her family’s love of traveling. She was exposed to different cultures at a young age. It was this exposure that led her to come to America as well as her love of foreign cultures.

“America has more diversity. This is diversity. Diversity means the world to me,” Furusawa said.

But it was through her own local college that Furusawa found out about CSUSM.

“My college was/is connected to CSUs all over California. I chose this school because of the beach,” she said.

Being a student at CSUSM is an advantage for Furusawa and her future career because American degrees are more valuable in Japan. However, all good things must come to an end. After she gets her degree she will have to return to her native country Japan even though she doesn’t want to.

“My goal is to come back here through a Japanese company. I don’t know what I want to do with my career but I do know that I want to come back here,” Furusawa said.

Throughout the two years that she’s been here, CSUSM and California life have become a part of her. She especially likes our campus and environment.

“I love it here ‘cause it’s small enough. If I walk around on campus. I see people that I’ve said hi to before and eventually it’s easier to befriend them.”

Despite this experience, she’s also realized that not every student is as warm.

“I feel like American students are not interested in foreign culture. They don’t care about internationals. In Japan, we are interested in international students, unlike here… here people don’t care where I’m from,” Furusawa said.

Nonetheless, she admits that she has been impressed many times by locals and their ability to talk to strangers, something that is not done in Tokyo.

“I feel like people here are more kind. They are caring of others.”

It’s hard to envision a life without the people she has come to know and love.

“I really, really like it here. I’ve met so many people from around the world. I’ve made many American friends. I’ve experienced American parties that I had only watched on TV before coming here. It’s totally different from Japanese culture, we don’t dance,” Furusawa said.

Overall, Furusawa is a fun, loving and adventurous person. She is full of life and laughter. There is no one else like her, she can’t be replaced and because of this, I’m certain that she will be dearly missed on campus, especially by her friends, the ones that have become family. All these experiences are memories she will have and cherish for many years to come.
Congratulations, Izumi! Cheers to you and your accomplishments!