Yoshiko Okuyama's Personal Information
Hear my message and view my family album.
Answering the most F.A.Q.s
Where did I come from?
I was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1962, and grew up in an adjacent prefecture,
Saitama. In the summer of 1991, I came to this country. Before moving
to Hilo, Hawai‘i in August 1998, I had lived seven years in Tucson,
Arizona. There I taught at the University of Arizona as well as at Pima
Community College. I completed my Ph.D in Second Language Acquisition
(Applied Linguistics) in 2000. I'm not much comfortable with "Dr.
Okuyama ." It sounds a bit snobbish to me. Culturally, " Sensei
" or " Okuyama Sensei " sounds much better to me. Yet,
this is America, and you can call me whatever you like.
Do I have a family here?
Yes, I'm married and have a family here in Hawai‘i. My husband,
Dave, works for an insurance company. We met on a train coming from Tokyo about 15 years ago. Our teenage son, Sai, is quite energetic and sociable, enjoying Aikido, sports, and community-based activities here.
Do you like living in the United States?
Oh, sure. I've loved the English language since age 13, and I'm quite happy to be living my own dream of using it every day. Living in a foreign country has been a great experience because it makes me face my weaknesses and strengths, for example. I'd rather be in a challenging environment than in a lukewarm life.
How do you like living in Hawai‘i?
I love it! The food is great and the climate is wonderful. My favorite
thing in Hawai‘i is anuenue (rainbows). I can't live without an ocean
any more. People are really nice, and this place has helped me grow as a person.
What are your favorite things?
Rainbows, sunflowers, and coffee. I also love Keali`i Reichel's music. Reading and drawing are things I'd like to do for recreational purposes. But these days I just don't have much time for those.
Are there anything you are not much fond of?
Doing an intensive exercise and eating something made with Spam. But the most affordable lunch on campus is Spam musubi. So, sometimes I have no choice... Although I'm allergic to MSG and other preservatives, I occasionally cheat myself. Not well disciplined...
My favorite sayings
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (English)
A child is not a vessel to fill; he is a fire to light. (French)
Gambatte! (in Japanese, it means: "Bear down," or "Persevere" or "Just hang in there.")
My favorite quotation
What students can perform with assistance today, they can perform independently
with confidence tomorrow. (Lev Vygotsky)