Japanese Housewife Wins East Coast Writers' Award
East Coast Writers announced that Japanese-born Setsuko Tsuchiya received third place in the 2006 East Coast Writers' Awards for her personal essay about her first experience as a Japanese in an American restaurant.


    /College News News Articles/ - HONOLULU, HI, May 10, 2007 - The work wil be published in the bi-annual East Coast Writers' Journal. East Coast Writers is dedicated to promoting the best in unpublished, new personal essay, fiction, poetry and children's works.

"I remember the episode as if it were yesterday," says Tsuchiya. "It's scary to visit a foreign restaurant in a foreign land." Now a permanent resident of Hawaii, Tsuchiya says that going to American restaurants is less daunting, but still intriguing: "Back then, I had innocent eyes. Now I have interested eyes" she says.

In her winning essay, Tsuchiya writes, "I was surprised that during dinner, American customers somethimes kissed each other! Americans know how to enjoy having dinner. Japanese, on the other hand, care more about etiquette and attitude. Enjoying dinner is second." Nowadays? "Having fun is an American custom I have adopted in my own life," she says with an innocent smile.

"I wrote this and several other personal essays while a student at Intercultural Communications College in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was my dream then to go to college. Now am living my dream attending Thomas Edison State University in New Jersey." Tsuchiya was one of the first students at Intercultural Communications College (ICC) to participate in a "Fast Start" program for international students interested in studying in the USA. In the program, students complete fifteen credit hours of the hardest, required courses. Upon completion, they are accepted at outstanding American colleges and universities often on scholarship. "ICC's stong English program not only prepared me for college success, but also opened the door for me as professional writer - in English" says Tsuchiya.

Asked if winning such an award has changed her life, Tsuchiya says, "Yes, of course. My perception of life here in America continues to change as a consequence of this experience. To me, this is a demonstration of the American dream that is held so tightly by so many people like myself throughout the world. Women have a privileged place in America, one that allows them to challenge and discover their true potential. In America, first encounters, like the one I wrote about, change rapidly from innocent sweetness to delicious daily expectation, and expectation here is commonly exceeded by reality."

Ms. Tsuchiya is also a licensed medical massage therapist and award-winning dancesport competitor interested in dance therapy.

Further Related Resources:


Press Release Contact Information:

Daniel Janik
Intercultural Communications Col
TOEFL/College Studies Coord
1601 Kapiolani Blvd #1000
Honolulu, HI
USA 96826
Voice: 808-946-2445
Fax: 808-946-2231
Website: Visit Our Website