International Golfers Adjust to the States
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The University of Houston Department of Intercollegiate Athletics inspires excellence today while preparing CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE by fostering a culture, which challenges student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations. Throughout the 2015-16 athletic season, UHCougars.com will highlight Houston student-athletes, coaches and alumni who are committed to building CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE on the field, in the classroom and throughout the community. Today's CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE feature, written by Communications Assistant Nicole Acosta, takes an in-depth look at the transition to the United States for international student-athletes Yuka Kajiki and Tatiana Pineda of Houston Women's Golf and Blair Hamilton of Houston Men's Golf.
HOUSTON - The University of Houston is one of the most diverse institutions in the nation. People from everywhere in the city, from other states and even other countries attend our University. We wonder, why do international students choose the state of Texas, and specifically, why The University of Houston. The answer is simple: Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States, with plenty of chances to learn and grow.
Texas offers a lot of opportunities, but for an international student, it is still a hard process to move away from their homeland and to adjust to new surroundings. Athletes from all over the world leave everything behind to start a new life in Houston all on their own, including several members of the Houston Men's and Women's Golf teams.
"It was very stressful and hard coming to the U.S. by myself, not knowing any English. I actually can't believe I did it. I wanted to quit all the time, but I pushed myself because I didn't want to go back to Japan without accomplishing anything here. I simply didn't want to give up," Yuka Kajiki said.
Kajiki, a sophomore from Hiroshima, Japan, had a difficult time adjusting to the American ways, but fitting in with other Japanese students wasn't quite working out for her either.
Kajiki moved to the U.S. in 2011 to attend Monteverde Academy in Orlando, Fla. As a sophomore in high school, leaving her family behind without knowing any English was one of the toughest battles Kajiki has overcome. She was also playing golf with Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy. Kajiki has been playing for 10 years, and after a difficult transition, she is more than happy to be where she is today.
"I moved from Japan and came to the academy because I wanted to practice and play more, and it was the best school for international students. GGGA took me in, providing me housing and all," Kajiki said.
As for other international athletes, the transition to UH was also rewarding.
Back in Bogota, Colombia at the age of 9 years old, Tatiana Pineda started playing golf.
"I used to horseback ride, but once I tried golf, I loved it," Pineda said. "I started playing in tournaments when I was around 10 years old and traveling to America to play with American Junior Golf Association when I was 14."
Language wasn't an issue for Pineda, but obtaining a visa as a Colombian immigrant wanting to study in a university was a very long process.
"In Colombia, I went to a private school, so all my classes have been in English since the first grade," Pineda said. "I came to study English, with my family, during my first two years of high school in Gainesville, Fla. Living in Florida helped a lot to get used to living in America, but coming to college was a completely different experience. I had to move away from my parents and sisters. I had never lived by myself, so becoming more independent scared me a little."
Like many Canadian children, senior men's golfer Blair Hamilton grew up playing hockey, but he started playing golf when he was 11 years old.
Hamilton is currently part of the Canadian Men's National team. When he was playing for the Association of Ontario at a training camp in Arizona in 2011, he was recruited by UH coach Jonathan Dismuke and former assistant Chris Hill.
"They brought me on a visit in March of 2011," Hamilton said. "They were pretty smart about it. They took me out of the snow, brought me down to 75 degree weather, showed me a PGA Tour golf course, bought me a steak dinner and offered me a scholarship. What was I going to say, no?"
Kajiki had no idea what was next after high school. She wanted to stay in America and needed help.
Kajiki's academy coach knew Houston Women's Golf coach Gerrod Chadwell. Luckily for Kajiki, Chadwell happened to be at the same tournament she was playing in one weekend. Chadwell was actually there for another player, but as soon as he saw Kajiki's swing, he wanted her at Houston.
"It was my junior year and he couldn't reach out to me yet, but senior year he started contacting me. It was really scary to think if he didn't pick me, my life would have been completely different," Kajiki said. "It was my only full ride offer. He saved my life."
"I contacted Coach Chadwell because he used to watch me play in the AJGA tournaments, so he knew about me and emailed me. I had other options, and I went to visit a lot of other schools, but when I met Coach Chadwell and visited the golf facilities and the campus at UH, I felt at home," Pineda said.
Getting used to the fast-paced American routine and the student life was worth the risk for every international member of the Houston golf programs.
"My freshmen year, I struggled managing my time with school and golf," Pineda said. I missed a lot of homework assignments and didn't do very good in school. Waking up in the morning for workouts, then golf, and then having energy for class was very tiring, so getting used to that schedule was hard, but I am very grateful for the structure provided to me at Houston, and eventually I was able to adjust."
"The process of adjusting took a while," Hamilton said. "I definitely had a culture shock; Texas is its own place! Having such a great support system behind me here at UH and an amazing family made it easier."
Hamilton is proud of the fact that UH has world-class coaches and facilities.
"The people that succeed buy into what the coaches are saying," Hamilton said. "Everyone here at Houston, from the coaches to the administrators to our athletic trainers, care about each student-athlete, not just as a golfer, but as a person."
"I like the school," Kajiki said. "I really like the team. Although I wasn't used to the hard practices, and at times it's still hard, I always feel like I've accomplished something. My teammates motivate me to work hard and have helped me a lot. I've improved a lot in and outside of golf."
"I love it here at UH; I love my teammates and my coach," Pineda said. "I struggled a bit my freshmen year, but I am more independent now. I still miss my family, but I know very few people get the opportunity that I have to be in America in a Division I program, so I am very grateful and happy."
"I've grown so much as a person and a player at UH," Hamilton said. "The coaching staff and also the Leadership Academy advisors made the process of coming to school so much easier."
The transition is still ongoing, but Kajiki, Pineda and Hamilton are already champions for life, on and off the course. Every day, it becomes clearer: their decision to come to Houston was the best one they could have made.
Help support Yuka Kajiki, Tatiana Pineda, Blair Hamilton and more than 400 Houston student-athletes in their pursuit to be Champions for Life by joining Cougar Pride. Click here to join now.
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