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Except for an occasional vacation trip to various states on the East Coast, I had never been anywhere else in the world. Despite my lack of experience, I harbored no ill feelings, nor apprehensions for the potential risks associated with exploring new, and different places. Especially places that were almost half way around the world. Up to now, my life had been one of confidence where I could usually presume, with certainty, the eventual outcome of an experience, or situation. I never would have thought, in my elementary school days, that I was to embark upon the adventure of becoming an exchange student to Japan.Beforehand, everything looks insurmountable. Later, after having gained some experience, the novice begins to feel like a pro. When asked "How did it go?" the response is now "No problem." But getting to the "no problem" level proved to be a challenge. When I first realized my new opportunity, I was filled with joy. Later, my feelings of joy became those of great nervousness. I had never traveled in an airplane, let alone travel to another country before. "What sort of adventure was waiting for me", I quietly pondered. |
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Now that I am back in the States, and looking back upon my journey, if I had to characterize my experience, I would have to say that the three best adjectives that describe my journey would be: educational, different, and interesting. I hope that there will be others to continue in my place to enjoy such a great experience.
I have always been fascinated with Japan. I think that Japan is going to become one of the economic kingdoms of the world, and that many international companies will be eventually controlled by Japanese interests. I feel the Japanese people are highly motivated, intelligent people who have very good lives, but live in more compact houses than we do in the States. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are also just normal people, having the same desires, and fears as I do.
Before I was old enough to realize or understand modernization, I had always thought of Japan as being a retro-land with everyone running around in traditional dress, such as Kimonos, with men carrying Samurai swords, and women wearing the Shinto wedding makeup. My experience helped me better understand, that a newer Japan exists; one that parallels the lifestyle of the States.
When I was in Japan it seemed to me a very modernized place, like the States; the primary difference being the language. My first impression of Tokyo, was that it seemed to be like New York City. Most of the signs were written in both English, and Japanese. The city had skyscrapers, and very dense building spaces. The traffic was horrendous. Many times the city was overcast, and it rained a lot. I was slightly disappointed in the fact that Tokyo seemed to be so much like an American city, and not the exotically different place I had imagined.
During my stay in Tokyo, I met several friendly people. I also found that the majority of people were very distant in their attitude. People acted like they did not notice us, as being different from the people they regularly see. I was disappointed that no one in Tokyo really cared that we were exchange students interested in visiting their country.
The complex we stayed at during orientation, while in Tokyo, was called the Olympic Village. I always knew that the Japanese accommodations were very small, and everything there is expensive, especially land. I was happy that every person at the Tokyo orientation had privacy. The rooms were about the width of a king sized bed, and the length was that of a half a school bus. Each room contained a small bed, a desk, and a window. They were very adequate rooms, and very clean.
The city was very crowded and looked busy. The people were walking around, shopping, or eating their lunch by the sidewalk. The people seemed to be without a worry in the world. The food was always eaten with rice. Rice was the staple, and it went with every meal for everyone.
I soon had to leave for my host families, who lived in Okinawa. We were all taken to the respective places for travel to our host families. We departed. The flight service was not of the same standards as the flight from the States. The flight attendants would charge you for everything: drinks, sound entertainment, or snacks. The heat from the sun was beating hard upon the plane, making all the windows hot to the touch.
Okinawa looked small and narrow against the azure backdrop of the Pacific ocean. Upon leaving the plane, I felt as though I walked into a wall of pure heat. The air was so very hot and humid, and it made me feel uncomfortable. I shall always remember the heat of the Okinawa summer. It was the most intense hot feeling I have ever endured. By comparison, Florida, in August, was minor league.
I thought that the people of Okinawa were a lot nicer and more open than the people in Tokyo. The people in Okinawa wanted to understand you more, and to know more about you than the people in Tokyo. My host families, at first, thought I was just a stranger, and treated me like a guest of honor for the first couple of days. They fed me what ever I wanted, and whenever. They tried to do whatever you wanted as well. My host siblings stared at me, and teased me about my faults. They enjoyed, with great fascination, a foreigner pretending to be like they. We soon became friends, and family. All the people in town wanted to meet me, and wanted to know why I came to Japan, or why I was studying the language. My replies improved each day, with subsequent rehearsals that helped refine my banter until it was a convincingly polished exchange.
I thought that Okinawa was very different from Japan. Okinawa contains several tall hotels, but no giant skyscrapers like those in Tokyo. People there had less living space, because of the military bases all over the place. There were so many US military bases, that they took up almost half of the main island. Everyone was so much tanner and had very different looking faces. Their eyes and facial features were different from the average Japanese person.
The schools in Okinawa were air conditioned, but they were also very old. They looked as though they could use some refurbishing. The teachers looked as young as the students, and even gossiped, and acted like students. The students were in charge of cleaning the school every morning after homeroom. Homeroom would begin at eight, and there were several fifty minute periods, with ten minutes in between each period. Everyone wanted to know me as a friend in school, and would give me little things as presents. School, as well as the bus trip to and from the school, was very long, and because of the heat, I became exhausted by the end of the day.
School, for me, ended a couple of days before I had to go back to the States. It was wonderful to have participated in my new families lives, but I also missed my family at home. It is not completely true when I say that "I wish I could have stayed longer", but it is true to say that I want to revisit Japan, and my host families, sometime in the future. I will miss my wonderful new parents and brothers, and sister, greatly. I will also miss experiencing the lifestyle of the Japanese archipelago. I will always hold fond memories, and harbor deep longings for a time when I may someday return.