“Life here feels comfortable, and I feel like I can be myself.”

Maoko Umeda never expected Iowa to feel familiar.

Before moving to the Cedar Valley, she had spent most of her life in Kanagawa, Japan, a region located about two hours from Tokyo by train. When she learned she would be relocating to Cedar Falls through the Japan Outreach Initiative – a joint program by the Japan Foundation and the Laurasian Institution that promotes Japanese culture across the United States – she admits she knew very little about the place she would soon call home.

“To be honest, I had never heard of Cedar Falls when I was first told I would be coming to Iowa,” Maoko said. “At that time, I simply hoped that I could enjoy my two-year term and make the most of the experience.”

Assigned to the University of Northern Iowa as a Japanese Outreach Initiative Coordinator, Maoko arrived in the Cedar Valley prepared for a cultural adjustment. What she did not anticipate was how quickly the community itself would become one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

At first, everyday life in Iowa felt dramatically different from what she had known in Japan.

“I was surprised that there are no trains, how wide the roads are, and how vast the cornfields are,” she said. “Most of all, I was truly surprised by how kind and welcoming people are.”

That warmth became foundational as she adjusted to life in a new country, language, and culture.

“I think it started to feel like home after about a year,” Maoko said. “At first, I couldn’t speak much English and everything felt new and overwhelming, so I was always a bit nervous. Over time, the warmth of the people here made me feel at ease.”

Through her work at UNI, Maoko helps share Japanese culture throughout the Cedar Valley by organizing workshops, educational events, and community programs with local organizations including libraries and art centers. All the chances she had to share her life and culture became opportunities to find her own sense of belonging here in the Cedar Valley.

“Through those opportunities, I was able to connect with many people in the community, who have been incredibly kind and supportive,” she said.

For Maoko, one of the defining characteristics of the Cedar Valley is the way community spaces naturally bring people together. She has grown to love exploring local events, spending time in libraries and art centers, and simply enjoying the quiet rhythms of Cedar Falls.

“I also love simply taking walks and appreciating the peaceful atmosphere of Cedar Falls,” she said. “It gives me time to reflect and recharge.”

Living in the Cedar Valley has also reshaped her personally and professionally. Experiencing American culture firsthand challenged her to adapt to entirely new ways of communicating, working, and connecting with others.

“Before coming here, I had lived my entire life in Japan, so the values, work style, and ways of interacting with others were all very different from what I was used to,” Maoko said. “These new experiences have made me more flexible and open-minded.”

The experience has also inspired her future goals. After returning to Japan later this year, she hopes to continue building bridges between the two countries and cultures that have shaped her life.

“These experiences inspired me to pursue a future where I can help connect Japan and the United States,” she said.

Although her current program is scheduled to end in July, leaving the Cedar Valley will not be easy.

“Life here feels comfortable, and I feel like I can be myself,” Maoko said. “I truly hope to come back again in the future.”

For someone who arrived in Iowa without expectations and thousands of miles away from home, the Cedar Valley ultimately became something much deeper than a temporary assignment. It became a place of belonging.

“I Live the Valley because it is a place where people welcome you with warmth, and where I found a sense of belonging far from home.”

— Maoko Umeda, Japanese Outreach Initiative Coordinator | University of Northern Iowa