(team member: violinist)
I'd like to talk about 5 weeks in North Carolina, including the time preceding and following the stay there. Before setting out for the U.S., I studied English conversation, but I did not study about the host district on my own. Once every two month or so, an orientation sessions were held at which I received materials and information about North Carolina. Several bits of information stood out. One was that the tobacco industry was quite active in the area, and the other was that North Carolina was one of the sites of the American Civil War. The team members also had the opportunity to lodge together once, and I think this was a great way to allow them to get to know one another and to become friends.
At Berlitz, we studied English intensively for 2 days, 8 hours each day. This was physically exhausting. Course content was, of course, high-level. On the other hand, everyone could study such general everyday situations as ordering in restaurants, etc. on his or her own. We also asked questions concerning North Carolina, but, thinking back on it now, the information we received was not very accurate.
The itinerary sent from North Carolina was especially helpful. The G.S.E. Team Leader translated this into Japanese for us so that we could understand the complete schedule before departure. Some precautions we should take while in the U.S. and our introductions were also put together into a pamphlet and this was useful throughout the stay. I'm a musician, so when I visited school facilities, I was able to devote special attention to school music classes. What particularly struck me in these classes was that American teachers often praised their students. I observed three violin lessons in three locations. The teacher highly praised the students and so students vied with one another in playing their instruments.
The School of the Arts I visited in my final week in North Carolina trains art specialists. Even at this very high-level fine arts university, professors unstintingly applauded their students' playing. There is some resistance to this approach in Japan, but I'd very much like to take up this method of training.
I also observed a variety of plants and public facilities. When we visited Richmond Senior High School, the students respectfully stood and formed a proper line to greet us. These students were studying military discipline as a club activity. But even at other schools I found pictures posted of the students' family members who had fought in wars and what I suddenly realized was that it was all so unlike Japan, that, "This is America. People may have to fight in a war at any time."
We spent the entire 5 weeks in North Carolina on homestays, and it is this that made the trip so meaningful.
By spending time everyday as a member of a host family, we could actually experience real, everyday American life and culture. From this more than anything, I really felt that international friendship and peace begin by being thoughtful to others of different customs and by living together in harmony in these small groups we call families. Of course, all other aspects of the G.S.E. were wonderful as well, but if the homestays had not been a part of it all, I believe the entire stay would have been very different. This, I believe, is the key point. The result of the program is affected by how we experience life's essential elements such as eating and lodging.
Since returning to Japan, I have only submitted a report to the recommended Rotary Club and have not yet spoken about the trip at the club. I would certainly like to make the opportunity of having many others listen to our experiences in the future. Entirely contingent upon everyone's feelings concerning the program, I think that there is absolutely no limit to how wonderful and successful this G.S.E. Program can be. If the team members' thirst for learning is high, and if we feel respect for the host country, everyone in that host country will feel that and they will take us to heart and receive us warmly. If all parties concerned behave thoughtfully, there is no doubt but that subsequent G.S.E. Programs will be extremely meaningful and wonderful.
I cannot adequately express in words my feelings of gratitude towards the Americans and Japanese through whose generous help we were able to have this experience. I am determined to cooperate by exerting all my powers for subsequent G.S.E. Programs and for international friendship.
