Hi, my name is Hiroki Funatsu. I’m an exchange student and from Japan. Since I’m an exchange student, I will stay here for just one year. This is my second semester in Western Michigan University and sadly will be the last semester as well. This is the first time to come to the US for me. Everything is really different from Japan and is interesting. I was surprised at many things in the states. In Japan we can drink alcohol in public but here it’s prohibited although it depends on states. Especially in Kalamazoo, the coldness is beyond my expectation. I have never experienced such a freezing winter. It’s beautiful though. I like travel so if you have some place to recommend, please tell me. My major is English education and I’m studying French too. I’d like to be an English teacher at middle school in Japan. Also I’m really interested in the educational system in the states because it seems really different from the one in Japan.

My hobby is reading books, sports like soccer, basketball, watching movies, dramas and travel, playing a guitar. I used to play basketball for almost 3 years and soccer for almost 9 years. I like playing any sports. I’ve played a guitar for 3 or 4 years. I’m not that good at playing but I like playing it and singing. If you have something in common, let’s talk about it.

I have two siblings and I’m in the middle. Elder sister and younger brother.  I rarely see them because I was living by myself before coming to the states but when I go to my parents home, we go out together a lot.