My Trip to the Land of the Rising Sun...Japan

There are limited things I could claim to have in life. But I am not complaining. I am not complaining even if I know it is not God’s design. I am not complaining even if I know it is not a choice I have to make. And I am not complaining because I compensate this lack by having many dreams. Yes, I have so many dreams and why shouldn’t I have many when dreaming is free. It is in fact one of the thing that we can do without limit and free of charge. Getting those dreams realized though hard to believe is an entirely different matter.

At this moment of my life some of my dreams came true. And now I understand why some people say “ Be careful of what you dream, it might come true”. Because they are realized yet I still find it hard to believe.

Up to this moment, I cannot imagine myself telling my friends, happy, feeling great and proud being one of the scholars of the Rotary Club of East Davao and Rotary Club of Ishinomaki South. Yes, I am very much fortunate to have the scholarship and having the chance to visit a country, wherein my generous sponsors live.

Welcome Anna…. A pleasant word I will always remember. In my whole life I never thought of going to a foreign land because it is very much expensive. I considered it a stroke of good luck when my sponsors extend their invitation for me to be with their place. 

At first I hesitate to accept the invitation, but thanks for all the support and encouragement I was enlightened if not surely I will regret it for the rest of my life. The fact that one should spend resources, to go in Japan is not an easy process.

When I was in the place, I cannot imagine myself by just 6:00 AM in the morning by that day May 27, 2005 I am at our home in the Philippines and then by 8:00 PM I was already in Japan.

Wow! What a beautiful place, I can say that all things are almost in it’s proper way; I feel I am very safe, I feel the cold air and it makes me believe that “I am really here in Japan”. During my first night that was in the Washington Hotel in Narita I experienced basic Japanese culture that I will always remember. Mr. Oikawa taught me about some important things to do before and after eating.

Yes indeed that traveling to faraway lands and meeting people from different places is interesting, enjoyable and enriching in the mind. And it helps me to broaden my knowledge in understanding other cultures and heritage. During the long trip from one train to another I did not feel any bored moment because of the many stories in life Mr. Oikawa and I shared.

At first hand experienced I proved that people of different races could be good friends. It was May 28, 2005 when I met my new friends Dr. Ferdinand Maquito a Filipino who attained a degree of his studies at Japan, two Korean students who are both studying in Japan, a Japanese high school teacher “ Sensei Miyako, my host family Mr.& Mrs.Asano.

In spite of our differences we still have the chance to be together and considered ourselves as friends. We ate our lunch at that day together. Then we visited lots of beautiful spots and historical sceneries in the Sendai city, which make me to appreciate more the simple yet productive country having the well-preserved culture and tradition.

After then, I prepare myself because after few moment we will have our trip to the Ishinomaki to meet my sponsors at the welcome party they prepared for me. It was really good to remember, how hospitable they are and they made me feel that I am very much welcome to their place. By giving me an assurance to have the best memories in the whole duration of my stay in the place. It was also one of the best experienced to look myself wearing the traditional Japanese dress Kimono.

      

My journey to the land of the rising sun would be considered as one of the best trip, that I would cherish forever. Having the chance to met Asian students was a rare experienced and I must be proud of because I met them and they become my friends.

But to speak in a crowd was a very awesome experienced. Sharing to the people out there the dreams I have in life, on what I can do to develop my country and what I can do to help young people like me.

Since my trip was coincide with the celebration of the Rotary 100^th years, Mr. Oikawa told me that I must meet at least 100 hundred people. And maybe that objective was really fulfilled. I was able to met more than a hundred people. And maybe they will never forget me because I have a popular and common name. Well in fact the people there tease me about how rich I am because I own an airline company “ANA”.

One also of the best experienced that I will always remember was my trip to Nagoya, Japan with Mr.Oikawa to visit the 2005 World Exposition. I will cherish that day and every time there will be a rain wherever I am, I will remember “ one rainy day I was in Aichi in the world expo” that was too great, informative and enjoyable place. I enjoyed all the rides and seeing lots of new innovation in the world of technology at this time and in the future. Having the chance to went in the expo was a very rare opportunity for young students like me and being there made me know the how big is the challenge that every individual must face the challenge of preserving the earth our one and only home.

But what I considered as the highlight of my trip was the chance to met Japanese students from different levels started from elementary, senior high school and university and meeting new friends there. Speaking in front of them, playing and eating with them was a very nice experience. Talking and sharing some ideas about the role of the teacher was very informative and it made me conclude that teacher’s role would be globally the same.

I have also the chance to visit the business site of my sponsors Mr. Ohashi, the owner of the biggest flower shop in Ishinomaki and there I met his daughter. I was so amazed seeing lots of flowers that I thought I could only see in pictures. Mr. Ohashi gave me a flower that can be kept for more than one year. After then, with my host family we went in the market we bought some of the materials for our dinner on that day the TEMPURA. Then we ate cake at the cake shop and we went home at that night Mrs. Asano taught me how to do the Ikebana.

Even a single word of regrets I cannot utter because my trip was really one of the best experience I have in life. I have lots of stories to tell that I will always remember up to the time of my old age. That once upon a time I was there in the land of the rising sun experienced their rich flourishing culture and traditions. Maybe my experienced was different and unique from all Rotary Youth Exchange students. Maybe they did not experienced playing with the traditional Japanese instrument the KOTO. It was really amazing I was able to play some musical piece using the instrument.

With regards to the days and nights I spend in the place I still find myself at home because of the warm accommodation and hospitality of the people behind my trip. I was really fortunate of all that’s why I will always thanks all the people who have supported me.

From now on I will say that we generally broaden our horizons by understanding other people and places. As we explore our surroundings and widen our field of experience, our knowledge expands and our outlook in life improves. And then we can see things in wider perspectives and we learn to understand life’s deeper secrets.

To all of you Domo Arigato Gozaimas!!!