A program called “Asian Youth Exchange Program in Okinawa 2008” gave a big influence on me. When I was in the second grade at high school, I was chosen one of the participants as a representative of Japan. That program was held by Japanese Cabinet Office and seventy five students from Asian and Oceania region gathered in Okinawa to build good relationship by studying and playing together.We did mainly three things there. Firstly, we learned environmental issues such as global warming, water pollution and blanching coral leaf as we listened to lectures and watched coral leaf by scuba diving. Then we discussed the issues in English. Since each participant who has a different lifestyle in a different county had a different point of view about the issues and field works, discussing was interesting even though we could not come to the conclusion.
Secondly, the participants introduced their countries. We, Japanese group presented the culture. We talked about famous places and food related with their home prefectures. We explained a tea ceremony related with Kyoto prefecture, Biwa Lake with Shiga prefecture and Natto with Ibaraki prefecture and so on. Since I did not have much information about Eastern South Asia countries, it was very interesting for me to listen to their explanations and to find similarities in their languages or national costumes especially in Indochina Peninsula.
Finally, we did many fantastic activities in the program not only just for enjoyment but also for getting better understanding Okinawa and one another. For example, we, all members walked Kokusai Streets, and went to Churaumi Aquarium, which are famous sightseeing places in Okinawa. We also enjoyed barbecue near the beach and stayed at islanders’ houses in Ie-Island which is isolated island of Okinawa for three days. In addition, we visited the peace memorial park of World War II. These activities were included in the program and we fully played and talked together whenever we had time.
That was the first time I spent with such a many people from many different countries and studied about environmental issues, which gave me a lot of influence. The program stimulated me to study English harder and widened my views to see the world, and the friends who I made through the program have been continuing influence on my personality.
Firstly, I wanted to study English harder after the program because I regretted that I could not sufficiently say my opinions or feelings. The members listened to my stories carefully and guessed what I meant and suggested what I should have said. I want to communicate with them more smoothly. It is one of the reasons why I am studying at ICU.
Finally, I learned the fact that many people who have different backgrounds live in the same planet with same feelings such as kindness and compassion and different opinions based on their cultures. In addition, I learned different approaches and views to a thing. I can easily accept others’ opinions now and examine a situation from many points of view by imaging how and what friends of mine would think.
Although it has been three years since I spent the program, that experience is still the base of my thinking.
YouTube:
Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful experience, and so influential to your life's direction. I liked the quotation in the video, "Life is an unwritten book, and you are the author." I think this experience was the first chapter of your book.
Ken
I'm glad to hear your wonderful learning from the meeting other people who have another culture and sense. The meeting other people bring us a great influence. So, I always seek and expect a new meeting! The more people I meet, the more my life become joyful!
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