Japanese Student with Big Dreams Comes to COM-FSM

Palikir, Pohnpei -  A citizen of Gunma, Japan , Hanae Shimizu is a freshman studying Marine Science at COM-FSM's National Campus. After spending a few semesters at a Junior College in the United States, Hanae decided to return to Japan and searched for another college, that offered a marine science program and is in touch with nature and the ocean. She searched on-line and found COM-FSM, applied and eventually got accepted.

Marine Science major Hanae Shimizu of Gunma, Japan.

A nature lover, she says coming to COM-FSM is a dream come true. "Pohnpei is like a paradise, nature is everywhere from the moment I wake up in the morning and when I close my eyes at night all I see is nature. It's really beautiful here."      

Ms. Shimizu (third from left) performing a cultural dance for COM-FSM's 20th Founding Day Anniversary festivities.

The events that followed the devastating tsunami in Japan fueled her passion to become a Marine Science major and at the same time pursue studies in Oceanography.

Aside from her academic goals, her choice to attend COM-FSM was also to experience living in an environment where she could learn the local ways of fishing, preparing local food, weaving baskets using coconut leaves, or even lighting a fire without using a lighter. "These basic skills are very important for the Japanese people to learn" , she adds.

Hanae enjoys all her classes and is having a great time residing in the Female Residence Hall. "The instructors and the students are friendly; I'm having a great time knowing people and learning about the Micronesian Culture." , she expressed during her interview.

Hanae is active in participating in college activities; she recently performed as a member of the ChuChok organization in presenting a cultural dance at the College's recent Founding Day.