International Students at BCMT
Every quarter we are given gifts from foreign lands in the form of students who enlighten our environment and add to our diversity. We have had students from 33 countries grace our hallways. Each and everyone unique in their own ways, and bringing their own colorful culture to us. South Africa, Kenya, Indonesia, Canada, Iceland, England just to name a few. Of these students, I had the joy of meeting with Ryoko almost 2 years ago to see if BCMT would be a good fit for her. She is from Japan a wife and mother of 2 boys, brought here due to her husbands employment. Ryoko, like many of our international students has embraced the program. She joined us in 2007 with high hopes and dreams of becoming a certified massage therapist. However, the reality of the matter is, that excitement was peppered with fears of dealing with the language barriers that can make studying at academic levels a challenge.
Ryoko in the student clinic.
Ryoko first became interested in massage when a friend of hers, marathon runner, came from Japan to Boulder for training. She could see how massage benefited athletes and wanted to be part of that. Her sons are both on the swim team and she sought to help them to become the best athletes they could be. She found that many families with children on the swim team wanted and needed her services. Though she still is a student and can not receive any compensation for her work she is volunteering her time to work with and practice on swimmers. Community service is currently part of her requirements at BCMT and she is finding great joy in sharing her new found talent with those in need. This great opportunity she feels will be a valuable tool in starting up her private practice in just a couple months.
Challenges she faced :
* Language barriers
* Anatomikin ™ Class
* Communications Class
* Ethics Class
Many of us who grow up in this country (or me in Colorado to be precise) take for granted the ways of the fast speaking west. This can be a tough road for international students. One of the more academically challenging courses is Anatomiken ™ When I asked her about it she simply said “it was tough for me, but then it’s tough for everyone. But, I really like Michelle, as a teacher. She was a helpful teacher, and it was good help!” She also noted that Ethics and Communications are very different from Japan because of the cultural differences. So not only did Ryoko get a communications lesson she got a cultural lesson too. Over all she felt she learned a lot and that the school was very helpful for international students, she was happy she chose to come to BCMT because of helpful and knowledgeable instructors. We love having her here. I just received a session from Ryoko and she is an excelling therapist, she has acquired so much knowledge. The medical terms alone, in English, make my head swim and she sounds like a pro conversing about upper trapezius, and trigger points. You go girl! Ryoko will be graduating very soon and we’ll be sad to see her go, but Superior you’re in for a treat because you’re going to have a very talented therapist in your midst!
Tags: International
Jessica
