The Clackamas print., March 03, 2004, Page 7, Image 7

F eature
M arch 3, 2004
T he C lackamas P rint
Japanese student exchanges heartfelt sayonara
Karen Hill
F eature E ditor
The start of a new school year
at CCC brought a variety of aspir­
ing writers, photographers and
designers parading into the office
of The Clackamas Print; one in
particular was 21-year-old Shingo
Izumi, all the way from Obihiro,
Japan.
Izumi joined the staff with a
passion and enthusiasm for jour­
nalism. His plans were to improve
his English skills while writing sto­
ries, as weir as gain experience to
take back with him to Japan, where
he planned to pursue journalism as
a career.
“Journalism is the fundamental
foundation to communicating and
writing well;” said Izumi. “Writing
gives you the opportunity to
express your feelings on
paper.”
lzumi’s determi­
nation to benefit
from his expe­
riences in
t h e
United States drove him to do the amazing that someone could write
for a publication in a foreign lan­
best job possibLp in his endeavors.
“Shingo ca^ie a long way since guage,” she said.
In addition to
the beginning of
his appreciation for
the term in his
the language, Izumi
writing ability and
“He brought a
also brought a little
comprehension of
unique energy to culture to the staff.
the English lan­
“Shingo taught
guage,”
said
our staff and will
me a lot of cool
Cyndee Mady, co
truely be
things about Japan,”
editor-in-chief of
said Isaiah Creel,
The Print. “He
missed. ”
A&E editor of The
brought a unique
Print. “He taught
energy to our staff
Cyndee Mady
me that over there
and will truly be
Co Editor-in-Cheif
missed.”
they don’t have
‘corn dogs,’ they
The Clackamas
‘American
Print
Advisor
have
1 .inda Vogt WaS La»-«—
dogs.’”
also
very
As
well
impressed with lzumi’s initiative to
write in an unfamiliar lan­
guage.
becoming involved on the newspa­
per, Izumi volunteered part-time
for local children’s charities while
in America.
“Mentoring and guiding chil­
dren who have recently lost a fam­
ily member is important,” he said.
He plans to continue this volunteer
work in Japan. “Mentoring these
children through this most difficult
time is important to me.”
After attending Clackamas for
nearly a year, Izumi returned to his
homeland in Obihiro at the begin­
ning of February.
“I am glad to go back to Japan
to make use of the experiences 1
have attained, but I am sad because
1 feel there is more for me to learn
here in the United States,” said
Izumi. “1
truly enjoy
my stud-
ics in
this field.”
Izumi will long be remembered
for his ability to make people
laugh, for his heart-warming
speeches of gratitude, and the
phrase, “Oh really?” which may
never be heard the same way by
staff members again.
“1 appreciated his sense of
humor and willingness to jump in
and be part of this group in a real­
ly positive way,” said Vogt.
Izumi did not let cultural barrier;,
prevent him from quickly adapting
to the American lifestyle or from
making lasting friendships.
“Shingo was awesome,” said
Print production assistant Michael'
Cooper.
Though more than four thot
sand miles away, Izumi has left tl
spirit of his heart and soul here ...
Oregon City.
“He taught us all somethin;
about ourselves,” said Cory Price,
The Print’s co editor-in-chief. “He
kind of changed each one of i
in his own way.”
1 'aith Paddock also co
tributed to th
f-
story.
These photos were taken by various staff members during the Fall term retreat.
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