Music teacher at Osaka International Women's University
Pianist and organist
Sponsored by the Katano Rotary Club
Introduction
I am deeply grateful for the precious opportunity I was given to be a member of the GSE team sent to Ontario, Canada by the Osaka R.I. D-2660 and for everyone involved in the GSE program.
I am also thankful to everyone on R.I. D-7080 in Ontario who worked so
hard to put this program together. It is impossible for me to express my
feelings in writing!
As I sit here now recalling my four weeks in Canada, I am feeling afresh
just how wonderful the Rotary International organization and their GSE
program are.
Up until my selection
I first learned that the Rotary Club was accepting applications for those interested in participating in the GSE program from an advertisement in the Katano City magazine. Up until that time, I knew almost nothing about the Rotary or about the GSE program, so the first thing I did was contact the Katano Rotary Club. As I was reading the pamphlet they sent me, I learned that the Rotary has divided the world up into districts and assigned numbers to each one. When I saw that the scope and size of the Rotary organization and that the GSE program is set up so that people from these various districts can experience cultural exchange, I decided then and there that I would apply.
During the interview, I was surrounded by a large number of interviewers, and I was extremely nervous. The English speech I had prepared got all jumbled, and I remember going back to the waiting room having lost all confidence in myself and having no hope of being selected. I felt so strongly that I would not be chosen as a team member that when an envelope from the Rotary arrived a few days later, I didn't even open it for three days! (I never imagined that it contained an announcement that I had been chosen.)
Preparing to depart for Canada
1) Guidance
At our first GSE team meeting, Mr. Takashi Katoh, our team leader,
kindly and politely gave us guidance about the program, and I learned many
things about the Rotary International organization and the GSE program.
To be honest, however, I was thinking, "What have I gotten myself
into?!" As I heard about the program, I did not think I would be able
to do everything expected of me, and I was very uneasy about it.
But that feeling disappeared during the following six months as we met many times prior to our departure for Canada, and I slowly began to feel myself a part of the team and even began getting restless for the trip to begin!
2) Our presentation
The thing that took the most time during our preparations for the trip
was our GSE team presentation preparations. First we put together a video
that talked about Osaka in general, and then each of us was to give an
individual presentation that discussed the culture of Osaka in more detail.
We had to decide who would speak about what and then write these speeches.
We also had to scan photographs and put them into our personal computer
for use in our computer-generated program. We were quite worried that we
would not get the presentation done in time, but at the very last we just
managed to finish it before leaving for Canada.
Looking back on this time, our working together to prepare our presentation and having the opportunity to gain a fresh understanding about our own culture was a good experience, and the building of the most important aspect of our team, teamwork, made it an ideal time of preparation.
3) Japanese materials and souvenirs
Thanks to the materials about Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City provided
by two of our team members, Mr. Nakashima and Ms. Higuchi, and the materials
we gathered that were prepared for non-Japanese, we were able to help our
host families and those we met in Canada gain a fairly good understanding
of our life-style and culture. Also, we took along many souvenir gifts
to give to our host families and friends, such as pin badges, key holders,
origami, Japanese hand towels, Japanese paper postcards, tea cups, green
tea, Japanese fans, etc., and these were all very well received wherever
we went.
My hometown of Katano has a sister-city relationship with the Canadian city of Collingwood, so before we departed, I asked the city and the sister-city committee in Katano to provide me with some pamphlets about the city (in English). Also, I received a letter from the chairman of the Katano Rotary Club addressed to the chairman of the sister club in Collingwood. Unfortunately, the Collingwood R.C. was not located in the district we visited, and because it was so far away from where we were staying, I was unable to visit the Collingwood Rotary Club. With the help of the Canadian GSE team members, however, I was able to send the letter to Collingwood, and I am thankful for the help they gave me.
My impressions of District 7080
1) At the airport
After a long but comfortable flight, we arrived at the Toronto International
Airport. As soon as we exited, it was plain to see that we were expected,
as a large banner had been unfurled and the District governor along with
the Canadian GSE team members and others were all there to meet us.
The governor gave us all a memorial gift and shook our hands. I was a bit nervous at that time, but with his large hand around mine and with his gentle smile, I soon felt calm. And I felt, "Well, I'm finally in Canada, and the GSE program has begun!"
2) How the Canadians live
Canada is an extremely young nation, having had a constitutional government
for just about 50 years. It is a vast country with much natural beauty
and many natural resources, and I always felt the generosity and broad-mindedness
of those who live in such a country.
What particularly impressed me was how careful the Canadians are to preserve
the country's natural beauty. There were beautiful maple trees planted
along the roads, and their contrasting red and green leaves were absolutely
gorgeous. Also, those with their own homes have kept lots of trees in their
yard, and I could always see squirrels playing in the branches and bluebirds
were coming to eat the fruit. It was just like a beautiful painting, and
I felt like I could just stare at it forever.
The Canadians' considerateness and politeness are reflected in how they
drive in Canada's automobile society. When driving along city streets,
the drivers almost always come to a complete stop, and proceed only after
making sure it is safe to drive. When they are in traffic jams, they don't
get irritable, but stay calm. I almost never heard anyone honking their
horn while I was in the city. Pedestrians don't ignore the traffic signals,
but wait for them to turn green, and it seemed to me that everyone felt
it was their responsibility to drive and walk in a safe manner.
Japan is so different, with car manufacturers putting out faster and faster cars, people getting upset in traffic jams and people driving quickly as they try to find a shortcut along back roads. We have many pedestrians dart across the street before the signal turns green. It is said that "Japanese (and especially Osakans) walk fast," but why is it that we Japanese, despite the fact that we live in such a small country, are always hoping to go one minute faster or even a few seconds faster? It took a trip outside of Japan for me to realize what things are like in Japan, and this fact, too, brought a little bit of doubt in me about our way of life.
Canada is known as a country made up of people of many different nationalities. It is made up of immigrants from all over the world, some who have come there for religious reasons and continue to practice their original customs. People of many different ethnic backgrounds are all living together freely and respecting each other, and I was able to see this with my own eyes. In particular, while we were there, one of the topics of conversation in the region was the fact that Canada was accepting, as part of a United Nations aid program, some refugees from Kosovo.
As I saw the way in which Canadians lived their lives respecting one another, it often caused me to think of the word "generosity." And at the same time, I saw how Canadians "play things by ear" and adjust their lives to the various situations in which they find themselves, and I often thought about this flexibility as well. I, too, want to always keep this feeling of mutual respect in my own heart as I live my life.
3) "Mosaics" and "quilts"
If one were to compare Canada to colors, the best comparison would
be a mosaic, because all the "colors" are found in Canada. The
word mosaic best reflects the characteristics and features of Canada, as
was evident in what I saw while there. Mosaics are art forms made up of
many small, colorful pieces that all fit together to form a large pattern.
And quilts are a representative handicraft of Canada. Quilts are made up of a variety of small pieces of beautifully colored cloth, all stitched together very carefully to form one large blanket. I saw hand-made quilts in many places while I was in Canada, and they are used as bed covers, table cloths, and other things. These beautiful quilts are created and formed in a way that the whole is the combination of the harmony found between the colors of each adjacent piece of cloth.
These two things, mosaics and quilts, are representative of Canada's culture, I think. Canada is a country that is composed of a variety of races with different cultures and value systems, and all of these are combined smoothly into one nation. This is in extreme contrast to Japanese culture, which has a long history that developed independently.
When Canadians loudly sing their national anthem, they do it with pride in their country and with as sense that they are still in the process of building their country at this moment. When I heard them sing it, I could sense that they enjoy singing their national anthem.
As you enter the Waterloo City Hall through the first floor entrance, there before you, hanging on the wall, is a huge quilt. The sight of it impressed me greatly. I saw that there existed, in the midst of the country of Canada, a small world of its own.
Vocational study
The most important purpose of the GSE program is vocational study for the team members. On the average of once a week, each team member is given the opportunity to do some research in the special field they desire to study. Since I am presently directing the music practicum in the children's education course at the junior college where I am employed, and also active as a pianist and pipe organist, I requested the following three things regarding my vocational study:
1) to see how music is taught in Canadian educational institutions,
2) to meet Canadian composers and talk about the condition of music in
Canada, and
3) to be able to see and play historic church pipe organs.
The arrangements made for my vocational study in regard to these requests were more wonderful than I had ever imagined! I would like to share about a few of those experiences.
1) Music education in Canada
I was able to visit one junior high school, two high schools, four
universities, two music schools and many other music-related facilities
during my time in Canada, and I was also able to learn about a variety
of educational systems that differ from what we have in Japan.
I visited music classes in public schools comparable to those in Japanese junior high and was able to sit in on the classes. There were musical instruments of all types provided for each student, and the class was able to play all together as a brass band. Most of the students had never played such instruments before, so the teacher showed them how to treat, hold and use the instruments. With the teacher's instruction, the students practiced how to produce a long, constant note and how to play the musical scale before they played all together.
Also, in a different class, they were having a lesson on playing drums (full set). There was only one set of drums for the whole class, so they took the following approach. First, the teacher played the drums for the students so they could see how it is done. Then all the students were instructed to practice the drumming action on their desks with their pencils. After practicing several drumming patterns, the students were each given a turn to play the real drum set.
The wind instruments and drums are not the kind of instruments that one can play just one time and become skilled at it, but the students grappled intently with their technique and it was a pleasing sight to see. Many students looked forward to getting to play the instruments, and some even ran into the classroom before class started.
At Japanese junior high schools, it is very rare for students to get to play as a brass band. It is very difficult for the schools both economically and from a maintenance standpoint to purchase a large number of instruments. But I very much would like to see this approach of allowing students to become familiar with various instruments, and getting the experience of playing them from their childhood, adopted by some schools.
I observed a keyboard class for beginners at a high school. This class was a 6-month elective course, and the number of students was small (about 10). Since they practiced their keyboards with headphones on, each student was able to practice while listening only to the music he/she was playing. There was just one teacher, but the teacher was able to listen in on each of the keyboards (with a separate set of headphones) as the students played and then give them individual advice and guidance. Of course, the teacher also played the keyboard while all the students listened together. It was something like English conversations listening labs, and I thought that it was a very good method of allowing students to learn at their own pace and concentrate on improving their technique and knowledge in a short period of time. The students are graded not on how well they play (meaning irrespective of their musical experience), but rather mostly on their attitude in class and their degree of understanding.
I also visited the music departments of four universities, and each of them had their own unique method of instruction, and each provided a good environment for learning about music and practicing instruments. One of the schools I visited was Western Ontario University, and there they also have a scientific and technical department that teaches about the construction of instruments. I was also able to see students learning how to tune a grand piano. They had special technicians working in the music recording and editing rooms who were operating computerized equipment. Also, in their music library, which is one of the leading music libraries in North America, they have a special Gustaf Mahler museum where they are carefully preserving many precious materials related to him.
Mohawk College was not initially slated to be one of my study stops, but during my fourth week, my host family was able to arrange for me to make a sudden visit. There they use their own music theory curriculum (it was confidential and I was unable to see it), and they have a very original and creative education philosophy and approach. One example is how, in each of the various fields, they have musicians, who are actually actively performing in their specialty, come in to teach the classes. This is a very unique approach. Those classes enable those who graduate from Mohawk College to learn about the real problems they will face outside the school, and they are aimed at helping the students to think clearly about their own musical future.
2) Music in Canada
Since there is very little known about Canadian music here in Japan,
it was my main hope in this GSE program to learn about Canadian folk music,
composers, and performers.
I had the opportunity to talk with John Barnum, conductor of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and hear what he thinks, as a leader in the music field, about music in Canada. Through talking to him, I learned that we are both desiring to bring about the same things in our respective countries to provide everyone with the chance to become familiar with music, to provide the basic guidance necessary for people to enjoy music, and to strive to bring about the popularization and spread of musical activities in the general population.
I also had the privilege of hearing David Greenslade, organist at New St. Paul's Anglican Church in Woodstock, play several pieces for me by the Canadian composer Healey Willan. He also let me see the sheet music and taught me many things. The things I learned are unknown in Japan today, and it is very precious information. I plan to continue studying about Healey Willan and introduce his music to Japan in one way or another.
I also received a variety of music from a number of Rotarians during my visit. For example, I received with gratitude some precious CD's, including a pop music CD (the Rotarian's son's CD!), children's cartoon TV show theme songs, and Rotary songs.
3) Seeing church organs and learning about their construction
During my trips, I was able to visit four churches. In addition to
St. Paul's Church, I visited St. John's Church in Elora, which is the church
my host family attended. I was very impressed by the music I heard there.
The choir's hymn that morning is still ringing freshly in my ears.
I was also given the unexpected privilege of playing the church organ at Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton. I played Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor." What a precious opportunity it was for me to have the privilege of actually playing that historic organ! If I had not been a part of the Rotary's GSE program, I never would have been able to do this. I will never forget, as long as I live, the sound of that organ resonating throughout the sanctuary as I played.
I was also able to hear a wonderful organ concert at the Cathedral of St. James in Toronto. It was there that I was unexpectedly able to get my hands on a copy of a magazine about Canadian organ-related information, which is being sent all over the world. As a result, I am now able, here in Japan, to get on the Internet and communicate with organ makers and organists all over the world!
It is difficult to learn much about the music world in such a short time as a day or a month, but still, I was able to discover many different things. I cannot begin to say just how valuable this experience has been for me as I set about to continue studying about Canadian music. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone who had a part in the various vocational study trips I was able to enjoy.
What I learned during non-vocational study trips
The five of us also were taken out on other study trips by the local Rotarians. During the first week, we were in Kitchener and Waterloo, and we had the chance to experience the simple life-style of some of the residents of this area. In St. Jacobs, a community of Mennonites who are descended from German immigrants, we got to visit a sausage maker, wagon maker and harness shop, and we were able to learn about their simple, self-sufficient life-style. Also, at the local farmers' market, we saw an array of Mennonite-produced goods such as fresh vegetables, sausage, cheese, and maple syrup, and it was a very exciting place as people came from all over to shop there.
During our second week, in Mississauga, we spent a very active week there in the center of the large metropolis of Toronto. We saw the SkyDome (a retractable-roof sports dome), CN Tower (the world's tallest tower), Northern Networks (a broadcasting company), the Living Art Center, etc. and we saw many high-class buildings and information-related operations. At the McMichael Art Gallery, we saw an exhibit entitled "The Group of Seven," which consists of the works of seven Canadian modern art painters, and exhibits of Inuit artwork.
During our third week, in Woodstock, we saw vast expanses of land dedicated to agriculture and dairy farming. We were able to visit a tobacco farm, a dairy farm, a cattle, horse and hog breeding facility, a paper box manufacturing company, the Thomas Buss factory, a maple syrup farm, a chocolate factory, gardening shop and a people care center (nursing home).
We spent our fourth week in Burlington, which is a beautiful city located on the shore of Lake Ontario and is conveniently located near Toronto and Niagara Falls. The highlight of this week was probably getting to see Niagara Falls. We went on the "Maid of the Mist" (a sight-seeing boat), and it was an unbelievable experience to hear the roar of the falls from right below the falls and to get showered in the spray of the cascading waterfall. In addition, we visited a winery, butterfly museum, a nature interpretive center, the Warplane Heritage Museum, a safari park and more, enjoying a very varied program. It was also a wonderful experience getting to serve as volunteers at the water tables during a Rotary-sponsored charity marathon.
Also, thanks to the kindness of the Rotarians we met, I was able to play golf three times during my time in Canada. We all enjoyed playing in the midst of the wonderful Canadian nature, with horses running nearby and flocks of Canada geese flying overhead as we played. During our time at the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club, we played in a competition sponsored by the Rotary in which we played in various teams following Rotarian rules.
Besides all the things I have mentioned, wherever we went during our trip, we experienced wonderful things (such as going to the theater, etc.), and the things we experienced were all valuable experiences that we would never have been able to enjoy had we gone to Canada as typical tourists. In the vast circle of the GSE program and especially the Canadian GSE team members, we were touched by the kindness and hospitality of so many people, just as we sing in a Japanese Rotary song, "Hand in Hand."
Interacting with the Canadian GSE team
The Canadian GSE team visited Japan when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom at the end of March. Under the leadership of our team leader, Mr. Katoh, we had several opportunities to do things together with them while they were here. As a result, we were able to get an idea beforehand of the joys and hardships of going to a foreign country and studying the culture and other things, and we were also able to get a better understanding of what the GSE program is.
During our four weeks in Canada, Kathi Smith (the Canadian team leader) and the other members of the Canadian team were always close by, and they were so considerate and thoughtful. Of course, it was clear that such kindness was the result of the good friendship that existed between Ms. Smith and our team leader, Takashi Katoh.
In the middle of our 4-week program, we were able to spend two nights and three days with the Canadian team members at a cottage on a small island in the middle of a lake. We were able to refresh ourselves, and it was a wonderful memory for me. We all had the common experience of going to a foreign country, and we grew closer as friends then. Of course, our cultural exchange was all due to the fact that the GSE program is so great.
Studying English conversation
The thing that worried me the most before my departure was whether I would
be able to speak and understand English in Canada. For about six months
prior to my departure, I tried to imagine what I would encounter during
my homestays and vocational study trips, and I listened to English conversation
programs on the radio. I practiced my pronunciation by repeating after
the teacher on the radio, and worked hard at listening to English news
to improve my listening comprehension.
Also, I attended a Berlitz language program where I was able to learn from
a teacher who knew Canada well and was able to instruct me about the Canadian
life-style and give me instruction that would be immediately useful upon
my arrival in Canada. It was also very meaningful for me that I could get
some help on my English presentation speech during this time as well.
I don't really know if all my preparations were successful or not, but I was happy that I was at least able to always enjoy talking to people in Canada. Of course, I understand that those who talked with me kindly spoke slowly and chose easy-to-understand words.
Sometimes, I had no idea what the other person was saying, and I was unable to express my own opinions and feelings, and I often got irritated and upset by this. But the people always listened intently and strove to understand what I was trying to say in my poor English, and in the end, they were able to understand completely what I wanted to say. There were times when people chose easy words, repeated things so many times for me and were so kind and gentle with me that it brought tears to my eyes.
My host families
During my time in Canada, I stayed with four different host families for one week each. In such homestay situations, people from different cultures who do not know each other until the day the homestay begins suddenly become like family, and it was an amazing experience for me to live in such homes and be treated as I was.
When my host families handed me the key to their house, and said, "This is your home, so feel free to use anything here anytime you wish," I was so happy. I always called my host family "Mom" and "Dad," and we quickly developed strong bonds between each other. When it was time to move on to my next homestay or to leave Canada at the end of the trip, it was a very difficult and sad time for me.
My first homestay, which started the night we arrived in Canada, was with Wilf and Cathie Jenkins in Kitchener. When I got to their home, I saw that they had hung up a Japanese flag for me, and I was so moved by their thoughtfulness.
The first morning there, I went jogging with both of them in Waterloo Park. The next morning we got up early to go to church. Wilf was always full of good humor, and he helped me with my English. Cathie always looked at me with such kind eyes, and their two cats were also a great comfort to me. Almost every night, I played their piano, and I have such fond memories of my homestay at their home.
My second week was spent with Pat Gomes, who works as a manager at a bank in downtown Toronto. She is a very fashionable career woman. During my time with her, she got up early every morning, and, on her way to work, dropped me off at the home where our team leader was staying. I am sure this was a great inconvenience for her. Even though she was so busy, she skillfully cooked homemade meals for me, and enjoyed taking care of her plants in her garden. When she took me along to a Caribbean dance party, I got to see her dance, and I can still see her rhythmical form dancing in my mind. On my last day, she gave me some forget-me-not seeds as a farewell gift.
I stayed with Gord and Gloria Martin during my third week. Gord was in charge of putting together our program for that week, so he was with us all day, every day. Thanks to his calls to the local newspapers, we were written up two times in the newspaper. Also, since we were being hosted by four different Rotary Clubs at the same time that week, we had to get up very early every morning to begin our busy schedules, which were packed from morning to night. Despite this, Gloria got up early every morning to prepare breakfast, using both her range and oven to prepare a wonderful feast. My only regret for this week was that we were unable to eat any evening meals together because I got home so late every night from the events planned for our GSE team.
My fourth week homestay was with David and Marg Dean. David, who used to work as the president of a university and was used to taking care of students from start to finish, took care of me in just the same way. When I got home at night, Marg was always waiting with a home-cooked meal and some guests. These guests were waiting because almost every night, we had a little home concert there. They had a grand piano in their living room, and I was so envious of them having such an environment in which they could play the piano late into the night without disturbing anyone. (Just as an aside, after returning to Japan, I had to endure the painful reality of having to practice my piano in my small room which had undergone some soundproofing renovation with the windows closed and the curtains drawn.) It seems only like last night that our team members and several other Rotarians were gathered around the piano singing on our last night in Canada.
Our host families played a very important part in the GSE program. I often came home from my vocational study trips having understood almost nothing and feeling very down, but when I got home, my host families always talked kindly to me and encouraged me. "Are you upset about something? What happened today?" What a happy experience this was for me. Our host families always adjusted their schedules to ours, waking us up in the morning, feeding us, taking us to our meeting place, etc., and we caused them so much inconvenience. I am so grateful for all they did for me. Thank you!
Attending Rotary meetings
The main responsibility we have during the GSE program is visiting various local Rotary Clubs. In all, we visited eight clubs, and gave our presentation at five of them. Before leaving for Canada, I had doubts about whether I would be able to stand before a large number of Rotarians and give my speech in English. I was very nervous the first time and perspired profusely, but with each speech, I grew accustomed to the atmosphere and even came to feel the freedom to add to and change my speech as I was standing there giving it. When our last presentation was over, I even thought to myself, "Five times isn't enough. I want to do my speech again."
At the meetings, we sang both the Canadian and Japanese national anthems, and it was a bit emotional singing my national anthem in a foreign country. It was also a moment when I remembered that we Japanese were there in Canada as goodwill ambassadors.
Also, since they had pianos at some of the meeting halls, I had the opportunity to talk a bit about Japanese music, and, with the cooperation of the other team members, we sang "Sakura, Sakura" and "Furusato." Even though the people could not understand the words, the atmosphere would always change and become peaceful after we sang because of music's amazing ability to communicate to the heart. There were even times when people were moved to tears by our singing, and it warmed my heart to see this. I am happy to say that I think we succeeded in helping the people to more or less learn something about Japanese culture.
My first ever standing ovation
It was at the joint Rotary Club meeting in Woodstock. They had a piano there for me, and I was given the opportunity to play. After our team sang the Japanese songs, I played Chopin's "Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2" for everyone. I was then requested to play another song, and I quickly decided it should be something Japanese. So, I played an on-the-spot improvisation of the traditional Japanese song "Sakura, Sakura."
When I finished playing and took a bow, I saw an unbelievable sight. Everyone in the hall was standing and applauding. I was kind of embarrassed and perplexed, and without thinking I just looked around the room. The next thing I saw was the Rotary governor with tears in his eyes! At that time, the sound of the applause died in my ears, time seemed to stop, and I was in a world of complete silence in which it seemed that even my heartbeat had stopped. Afterwards, when I gained my composure and was shaking hands with many of the people, it was almost as if I didn't know exactly what I was doing, possibly because of the excitement and depth of emotion I was feeling.
Music is a momentary, intangible asset. How precious and valuable it is when you can be somewhere at that precious moment when this music passes by. The first time I ever experienced emotions so strong it shook my soul was in a far away land across the sea. Never before had I thought, as strongly as I did that night, that it was a good thing I had chosen to make music my career.
Living as a "Human Being"
I was asked the following question by one of the Rotarians I met. "When
you think about your future, the future of your children, and the future
of the world, what do you think is significant about the fact that you
live in Japan? What dreams do you have?"
I couldn't even have answered this question in Japanese, and so I couldn't
say anything in English. The person who asked me the question said to me,
"In Canada, we have a huge country and many natural resources. We
need to share these things more and more with the people of the world.
We, as human beings, must treat all people equally and work hard to help
improve the lives of everyone."
I realized that even though we Japanese and Canadians live on the opposite sides of the world, we are striving to reach the same goals: peace in the world, a healthy life, and cultural and social improvement. I also came to understand very clearly the aims of the Rotary and its activities. I realized that we need to think more closely about the things we tend to take for granted in our daily lives, evaluating them carefully and not slacking off in our efforts to improve all that we can.
At the end of the trip
After leaving behind my cherished Canada, we went to New York as a bonus trip. We went suddenly from peaceful Canada to the bustling, crowded and busy streets of New York City. It was quite difficult for me when I felt the gap between Canada and New York City, but it was just what we needed to help "rehabilitate" ourselves in preparation for our return to Japan, which is just like New York. We went to several of the main tourist spots, but I think our trip to the United Nations was a fitting event with which to end our trip. I realized that one of the aims of the GSE program, "international understanding," is the same aim held by the U. N., as it works bring unity to the world.
In closing
My pleasurable time passed by quickly, and before I knew it, the trip was over and we were back in Japan. Even though I am busy every day now, there not a day goes by without my thinking back on the things I experienced during my four weeks in Canada. Even now, my heart is warmed when I think about the people I met there.
Fortunately, we now have a wonderfully convenient means of communication in e-mail, and it isn't so difficult to keep in contact with the many Rotarians, host families and people who helped us during our stay in Canada. Thanks to this, it is amazing to see that the vast distance that now separates us (a 10-hour airplane flight) does not seem so great.
The GSE program is now over, but in actuality, I feel like the "second movement" is only just starting, and there is much more to the "concert." I want to take all the things I learned in Canada and apply them to my daily life, never let the friendships I made in Canada die, and work together with my Canadian friends to improve our lives.
Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to Mr. Katoh, Mr. Nakashima, Ms. Kashima and Ms. Higuchi for all the help they gave me. I also want to take this opportunity to once again thank all the Rotarians I met in D-7080 and D-2660, and everyone at the Katano R.C. who sponsored me. Thank you so much!
