Spring 2002
No one will experience Japan in the same way a Rotary Exchange team member
will. We weren't tourists or military, relatives, or business partners. We felt
like celebrities. In some ways we truly were. Every Rotarian we met already
knew who we were and what our vocation and interests were. Our gracious hosts
always held doors open and insisted that we go first. Our comfort was their
main concern. Immediately after landing at Kansai International Airport, we
were met with a welcome unmatched. We were escorted to the New Otani Hotel by
a group of people who were to become our very good friends and guides.
Let's start from the beginning. My boss introduced me to the GSE program and encouraged me to apply. I am a mechanical engineer and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. How ideal to be able to visit a technologically advanced country with a deeply rooted history in martial arts. Hence, I applied and was accepted. I was elated.
The planning of our trip began months beforehand from both ends, Wisconsin and Japan. Every aspect of our month-long stay in Osaka was determined. We spent many hours getting equipped for our adventure. Preparation included language lessons, organizational meetings, reading several travel books, and a group dinner at a Japanese restaurant in the United States. Yet nothing could ready us for the 14 hour flight and the difference between the time zones. Our imaginations ran wild for weeks until the day we finally arrived in Osaka.
WEEK 1: The Time of Our Lives
There was so much to take in! Our team leader was the only one of us who had
been to Japan before. Even so, this was a week full of "firsts" for
each of us. Our first home stay experience, our first magical soak in a Japanese
style bath, our first time sleeping on a tatami floor, a first time eating fish
up to three times a day. Certainly for me, it was the first time I have felt
what it is like to be a minority. In a busy city packed with 9 million people,
it seemed that I was the only one with naturally blonde hair!
The homes in Japan are similar to those in the United States. The differences
were mainly decorative and also religious. I had never stayed in a home with
a room devoted to prayer. I found that shrines were common in almost every home.
It was like I imagined, paper window frames when opened overlook meticulous
gardens and landscaping. In most cases, homes are built close together. Everything
was close together. The streets were very narrow. Evenings at home with my host
family were fun and educational. I brought pictures with me to show them what
my life is like. I was shown utmost hospitality. I felt like a part of the family.
I spent much of my first week amusing my host family and Rotarians with the
clumsy way I used chopsticks. It is amazing how something so simple can replace
a fork, knife and spoon. Practice, practice, practice! I found that almost everyone
apologized for how poorly they spoke English. On the contrary, it was wonderful.
I had little trouble making a connection with those who spoke only a little
English. Besides, the Japanese I had learned prior to our departure was only
a few words and phrases.
Our second day in Osaka was a sightseeing and shopping trip followed by an afternoon at a Sumo tournament. It was an honor to attend such a magnificent event. Walking the streets of Osaka really helped us realize where we were. Signs were written in Japanese. Music was pouring onto the street from hundreds of little shops. Smells from the restaurants that we passed peaked our curiosity. We were thrust into the culture and excitement. It was one of my favorite days. Japanese etiquette took a while to get used to. It is a formal society as indicated by frequent bowing. The exchange of business cards was mandatory upon meeting someone new. And we met several new Rotarians daily. Afternoon tea became a welcomed practice, as did the removal of shoes at the door. At first, the fast pace of Japanese society was dragging us along behind, but we learned to keep up with our busy schedules and take advantage of free time.
Nara was an enchanting town. We tried calligraphy and fed the deer in the park. The Todaiji temple was simply enchanting. The largest indoor statue of Buddha was a remarkable sight. We saw a Toyota warehouse and a hybrid vehicle. My vocational day was a tour of Sanyo and a discussion about their environmental efforts in the area of alternative energy. Solar energy and fuel cell technology are important fields in Japan. The week ended on a Saturday spent with our host families. I was invited to a barbecue under the sakura in the park.
WEEK 2: Even Better
Given the first week to make mistakes, we were learning how to settle in and
get around in Japan. We were comfortable purchasing something by ourselves and
using the Japanese yen. The train was an easy and inexpensive way to get around.
For lack of parking space, bicycles are extremely popular.
By the second week we had tried many different types of Japanese cuisine. Much
of it was homemade for us by our host families. Typical meals consisted of tempura,
noodles, seafood, vegetables and of course, sushi. Before a meal, hot towels
were passed out to wash your hands and face - one of the many customs that I
miss.
It was unseasonably warm for springtime in Osaka and as if it was just for
us, the sakura were blooming during our entire stay. Cherry blossoms surrounded
every park. They were a beautiful background in many photos, wonderfully fragrant
and even delicious in the seasonal sweets that include sakura in the recipe.
Week two I lived with 3 teenage girls and their parents. I developed a sense
of what being a Japanese girl is like. I watched a little TV with the girls
in the evening, but did not stay up as late as they did. I was too exhausted
each day and they were still on break from school. The new semester started
during the week I was there. I learned that even though there is a dress code
and uniform that is mandatory through high school, there are ways to express
individuality.
My vocational day during week two was exceptional. I received a special invitation to attend the grand opening of Sanyo's Solar Ark. I was accompanied by a famed professor, Dr. Hamakawa who has published several articles and teaches in the field of solar engineering. Also, it was my first ride of "Shinkansen", the bullet train. Week two included a group tour of the Asahi brewery, breathtaking gardens, a visit to a chapel and museum with relics of early Christianity in Japan and a day trip to Kyoto.
WEEK 3: The Challenge
The beginning of the third week was the realization that we were only half
way through our journey. The previous two weeks were action packed and full
of amazing discoveries and experiences. And we get to stay for another two weeks.
The reality set in as we began to miss our homes but truly embrace the adventure
of living in another country.
Twice a week we attended a Rotary meeting and gave a presentation about ethnic
diversity in Wisconsin. By the third week, we could speak without referring
to our notes at all, and the team members could quote each other's lines. Our
presentation gained depth as we began to understand life in Japan and make correlations
between our societies.
The generosity of the Rotary clubs and host families was evident in our bulging
suitcases. Each Rotary club or company that we visited had a memento for us
to take home. We received everything from hand-painted pottery, fans used in
traditional tea ceremonies, books, picture frames and Japanese sweets.
Japan is a technology leader, indeed. What seems up-and-coming in the United
States is an everyday item in Japan. Almost everyone carried "handy phones".
Digital cell phones with LCD screens allow one to send e-mail and take photos
to send to another person's phone. As a group, we toured the major technology
companies such as Panasonic and Sanyo. Daihatsu motors gave us an inside look
and a ride in their electric cars and fuel cell vehicles.
During the week, the GSE group went on a tour of Kitano Hospital, the NHK television studio, an aquarium, and a maritime museum. As a group we met the mayor of Osaka in a very formal meeting with interpreters. We took a boat tour of Osaka Bay. One of the host Rotary clubs organized a giant barbecue and pool party. It got a bit chilly that night, but a few people did end up in the pool. My vocational experience included a tour of the Kansai Electric Power plant and Osaka Gas. The week ended with a host family trip to USJ, Universal Studios Japan.
WEEK 4: Last Looks
Despite overflowing suitcases and carry-ons, there were so many things we wanted
to bring back to the United States to remind us of our adventure. This final
week was one of major shopping. Somehow, all of the gifts we received had to
make it home. For me the solution was a new piece of luggage!
I spent much of week four watching the Hanshin Tigers baseball team on television
with my host family. Phrases such as "home run" and "strike out"
are common worldwide. Without a doubt, sports were a gigantic bonding experience
that allowed us to share feelings of excitement and disappointment - mostly
excitement because the Tigers are a really good team. I became an instant fan
and still
keep up with them via the internet.
Every weekend, between host families, we stayed overnight at the New Otani
hotel. It was walking distance from Osaka Castle and there were festivals in
the Osaka Jo Koen (park). I found the youth very interesting. Several rock bands
would set up and play. The fashion was similar but more extreme than that of
American youth.
During week 4 we toured the inside of Osaka Castle. There was an amazing view
from the top. My vocational day consisted of a visit to a water purification
plant and an incineration plant. The GSE team took the bullet train to Hiroshima.
The rainy weather seemed appropriate; it was a serious and introspective day.
The night before our departure, District 2660 hosted a farewell party and invited
all of our host families among others. This gave us one more chance to say thank
you and exchange gifts and take pictures. Many heartfelt speeches were made
that evening by Rotarians and GSE team members. It was clear that our trip was
a success. Rotary International is built on a foundation of good will, service
and world understanding. Since I've been home, I've received letters, pictures
and e-mails from friends and Rotarians in Japan. My only wish is that we left
behind a sense of what we were able to take home with us; knowledge, friendships
and an essence of the other side of the world.
I extend a deep bow to Rotary International and all of the people involved
who made this an experience of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Erin Alexis Graff
