Sayaka

     This is Sayaka Otani (大谷さやか). She is 20 years old and a student at Kansai Gaidai university. She is also my speaking partner. As speaking partners, her and I have had the opportunity to spend time together and get to know one another.
     The first time I met with Sayaka, I was nervous, simply because I am always nervous upon meeting with people that I don't know very well. But within minutes of sitting down with Sayaka I felt very comfortable and at ease. Even though there was a language barrier, she was very easy to talk to. She almost always knew what I was trying to say (in my then poor Japanese) and helped me find the correct way to express it. She is a very kind, fun-loving, happy person.
     Sayaka is an English major at Kansai Gaidai and spends a good amount of her time within the university grounds. She also enjoys being outside, especially in the spring time, and playing sports such as tennis and racquetball. I felt this picture was appropriate since it shows her where she feels most at home: outside at her university.

     In addition to enjoying sports and being outdoors, Sayaka also enjoys just hanging out with her friends and shopping. But on the topic of interests, she expressed to me how much she loves food! Her and I, along with some of her friends, went for lunch at the McDonald's on the university campus. She originally suggested taking a picture of her eating, but we weren't happy with how those pictures turned out. This picture seemed to be an appropriate substitute.
     In both of these pictures Sayaka is seen doing the peace sign, which is common practice in Japanese culture. She asked me if it was ok, and I told her that the most important part of these portraits was for her to be herself. I think it helps to re-enforce the fact that she is just an all around happy person who loves life and tries to enjoy it to the best of her capability. I personally can't look at these pictures without smiling. Her positive personality and smile is contagious.