College in Japan: The Right Choice!
During the last quarter of 2008, three huge opportunities came into my way in a surprise. First was the month-long program called College in Japan, organized by the Japan Foundation; second, a national quiz bee competition; and the third, a 10-day study tour in Japan. Believing that opportunity knocks only once, I grabbed them all with no signs of reluctance. However, as time drew me closer and closer to the realization of those three chances, it seemed like destiny was trying to teach me something—you cannot take three opportunities all at once. Broken-hearted and upset, I had no choice but to let go of the others and decide on which of the three is best and most opportune. And my pick was that which came in first: College in Japan.
“Have I made the right choice?”…From the day I voiced my decision to the day of our departure for Japan; and from the time I returned to the Philippines up to the moment of conceiving this essay, that question had been incessantly ringing inside my head. Simple as it seemed, but the truth is, at first, I found it difficult to answer. Yet, recalling and considering the things I’ve done and gone through throughout the said program, I realized that that was never tough at all. Revealing what happened reveals the answer.
So, what really happened in Japan? What was with College in Japan? Also dubbed as Japanese-Language Program for University Students in East Asia, College in Japan has three objectives: (1) to test the participants’ aptitude in Japanese language in various activities; (2) to participate in exchanges with the Japanese and; (3) to experience Japanese culture and society. Without a doubt, I must say that the program has outstandingly accomplished its own purposes. But, I never did imagine that the ways of accomplishing it would be…beyond imagining.
Upon arrival at the Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan
To fulfill those three objectives, what the organizers did first was of course, sending us, the participants, to Japan. From the time of our arrival at the Kansai Int’l Airport onwards, our proficiency in Japanese had been into a quite serious shake. Personally, I felt like I took the JLPT for a month; hearing questions in Japanese like “Doko kara kimashitaka?” (“Where’d you come from?”), “Sōdesuka?” (“Really?”); and replying to them in Japanese as well saying, “Firipin kara mairimashita.” (“I’m from the Philippines.”) “Sōdesune.” (“Yes…”) It was, in a way, tense and nerve-wracking, but at the same time, educational and inspiring. It made me realize how useful Nihongo is in Nihon. It goes out with saying, Nihongo wo benkyō subeki desu. (I should study Japanese!)
Aside from that, three activities—discussion, interview and presentation, were conceived. Those were the “main dishes” of the program; things I once thought would cause me “hemorrhage” but, turned out to be “medicines” for my Nihongo-related shortcomings. Together with my group mates from Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, I was involved in brainstorming in Japanese, ideas sharing in Japanese and, interacting with the Japanese in Japanese; all aiming to collect data for our chosen topic to be presented…in Japanese. After those trying moments came another one which needed a lot more of trying, the happyōkai. It was the highlight of the program where we are to present the fruit of our group’s endeavors. With hearts pounding and palms sweating, we delivered our lines as excellent as we could and answered the queries as brave as we should be. At the end of it all, everything went just fine and I realized I did something I just didn’t expect. All the Japanese verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs I thought I could never verbally throw, I did.
On the other hand, a day-long home visit was also included in the itinerary of the program. It was on that activity where I met my Japanese “dad,” Nagayoshi Matsunami. Otōsan (Japanese term for “daddy”) showed me the world he has been living for years which in the past, I was able to witness only by pictures and films. He gave me the chance to visit a jinja (shrine), watch the dazzling beauty of the sakura (cherry blossom), fill my stomach with tempura and yakisoba and, wear garments of mighty samurais. I gave him the chance to be acquainted to Filipino culture, too. Basic greetings, customs, traditions, beliefs…I have taught them all to him…a beautiful example of cultural exchange, I must say.
Samurai Pose - Shot by Nagayoshi Matsunami
Lastly were the study tours in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Personally speaking, those were the “spices” that made College in Japan a program worth remembering for. Until now, I can still vividly recall the breathtaking spots I have gone to, and at the same time, I still cannot believe I managed to set my own feet on them spots that became witnesses of various major turning points in the histories of Japan and the world. With no joking at all, I am so proud of my feet. I am so proud it has gone to the towering Ōsaka-jō (Osaka Castle), reached the old Kiyomizu-dera (Kiyomizu Temple), walked the fine, sandy beaches of Miyajima and crossed the wide pedestrian lanes of Shibuya. I am proud it had entered the 45th floor of the Tochō (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building) and, had stood at the very front of the Genbaku Dome and the Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). Truly, with the study tours, my feet has widened its coverage, and so is my mind, for it has learned and discovered so much in the country, where the harmonious blend of tradition and modernization has ever since been happening, Japan.
At the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)
If I had not chosen College in Japan, and joined the national quiz bee instead, I would have had a chance to win an education plan, a laptop and a cell phone. If I had chosen the 10-day study tour instead, I would have gone to Hokkaido and stayed longer in Tokyo. I guess in life, in order to pursue something, you must forgo of something. But, as long as the thing you chose to pursue outweighs the things you have forgone, in the end, you will come out contented and at peace. Words have been said and actions have been done. I am contented and at peace. I believe I have made the right choice.
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That would definitely be something worth doing no matter where you came from or how old you are, especially with the fascination with Japanese culture at an all time high where I don’t feel like a geek anymore (I’ve been in love with Japanese culture since I was about 10 years old; possibly even younger), though I think we could all definitely deal without the pubescent yaoi-fangirls of America randomly and annoyingly spouting about how “kawaii” something is. Things that make me want to go insane aside, I’m a little envious since there’s no such program where I live (smack dab in the center of the southern US: Texas) and even if there was, my Japanese is rather spotty (I’m having a bit of a difficult time with grammar, mostly some of the particles and sentence structure in general), my coherence of kanji is almost non-existent (there’s many I can recognize by sight, but even fewer I can remember their meaning), and quite frankly, I’ve never eaten Japanese cuisine (that is, if you exclude instant ramen and a few sweets such as ramune and pocky, which is all that can be found in my area) and it would be rude to find I dislike it after being offered some by my host.
Yes it is! I totally had a great experience while I was in Japan.
Uhmmm…I don’t keep in touch with my otosan anymore. I lost his contact number…and I haven’t gotten any message from him. But he’ll always be in my heart. XD
Ha, I love you in the second picture!
But seriously, it sounds like it was a great oppurtunity for you.And what better way to learn the language.
Do you still keep in contact with your Otosan?