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While I was looking for interviewees, one of the professors that I know at University of Minnesota introduced another professor.
Her name suggests she may be a Japanese person and I was very excited because I never expected to meet a Japanese researcher in Minnesota!
I emailed her and got a reply very soon.
Surprisingly she also uses wheelchair (Moon Rider) and came to the U.S. more than 10 years ago.
She first started her research with the same sponsorship that I am receiving now.
I think it is fate that I am able to connect with her!
She is currently a post-doctoral associate at School of Social Work.
She has researched about comparison of learning environment for students with disabilities in Japan and other countries.
Since she was a college student in Japan, she had pursued a career as a researcher.
However, she got an accident and needed to use a wheelchair when she was a graduate student.
She couldn’t not continue her research at the institute, she gave up the dream and joined a major company.
Although she could get a researching position and had enough knowledge about the field, she felt many discriminations since she joined the company through the special position for people with disabilities.
Then she applied for the sponsorship and went to the U.S.
For the first 6 months, she worked at an international voluntary organization.
But she changed her mind to pursue her dream again, a researcher, in the U.S.
She went to graduate school in Illinois state and has been working as a researcher since then.
We never know what can be a turning point in life!
That is why life is so interesting.
I got so much energies by meeting her.
I really appreciate this unexpected encounter!
I will keep it up for the rest of 10 months in the U.S.!