The warm accommodation of Japanese
people enable us to bridge the gap and communicate, regardless of differences
in customs and traditions. Despite of having a hard-time to speak Nihonggo and
converse through English language, the connection and the bond started as we start sharing experiences. It all started when we
had our first step in the land of the rising sun, Japan.
Days passed and our knowledge about Japanese culture is increasing, especially when we visited Natori City, the most affected area of earthquake and tsunami last March 2011 that leaves a big mark on our hearts. But the most highlighted part of the Kizuna (Bond) Project where we really feel and experience the Japanese Culture is during our home-stay. On the sixth day in Japan, we learn how to make origami and ikebana as the people from Ensemble Mobara explains to us the importance of origami and ikebana to Japanese. Our own-made origami and ikebana serves as our present to our foster family. Everyone during that night is agitated to meet and greet their 3-days and 2-nights family. We are given short time to get to know each other – just basic information that could help them in accommodating us during our stay. Luckily, our foster parent are kind and open-minded, Mr. and Mrs. Tsuruoka always asked us what we want to do and what we want to eat. We ate breakfast together, we tour around the prefecture and they allowed us to call our family overseas. Everything inside their home defines technology, from the toilet to the light bulb with censor. We also went to Akihabara City even if it is 3-hours drive away from our home, they allow me meet my childhood friend and give us time to spend while waiting for their daughter. After roaming around electronic city, we spend the whole time together with their daughter at anime store, sharing different stories about Japanese anime that we used to watch. And after choosing what we are planning to give as present or “pasalubong” our foster sister pay all the expenses like what her parents did when we buy chocolates at supermarket.When we were traveling back home, we passed by and saw the beauty of well-known Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo and take a glance at Tokyo Disneyland. During our dinner, we savour Nabe Soup, a Japanese soup used to dish up every winter. Me moires completed the next day when we rode and drove beach motor bike along the striking sceneries of sea, watched the surfers and feel the refreshing and relaxing sea breeze while we rode on the big motor bike going to the monument of “Landing of Don Rodrigo,” – it took place after Spanish came to Philippines and when heading back to their country they met a typhoon and landed at Chiba Prefecture where Japanese took care and fed them.
Lastly, we cooked chicken adobo for lunch which really completed the bond since it was their first time to eat Filipino cuisine.
Culture does not take place as hindrance to welcome everybody as an individual. Because cultural differences serve as stepping stone to reach out and build camaraderie. After a fruitful experience, our farewell party has come. All of us disregard everything around us, we just mind taking pictures, hugging and laughing. Though saying goodbye is the hardest and saddest part of all, after several speeches and feedback about the home stay program, after several cultural performances of Japanese and Filipino, our moments have come to an end. Everybody wants to stop the clock; everybody needs more time to exchange messages, reminders and goodbyes.It is the finale, however, one thing is for sure, everything we experience in Japan will linger, that living a Japanese home is like living in your own – full of memories that will be treasured forever.
My foster parents together with Cheth Necemie Mundin, Ateneo De Manila University Student
My own Ikebana
I met up a Filipina friend who used to work and stay for good in Japan - Jennifer Arai
Together with Risa Tsurouka
their dog named koro
Cold weather suits ice cream and pomelo juice (really! Hahaha!)
Family Portrait
-irishmurillodizon
-irishmurillodizon
