そんなときに、私の大学の教授から持ちかけられたのが、Sing Out Asiaのクロスカルチャーの旅への参加であった。私としょうちゃんは、「まぁ勉強の息抜きに海外には行こうと思っていたし、参加しようか」と、軽い気持ちで参加を決めた。この時私たちは、この旅が私たちの人生や価値観を変える旅になることをまだ知らない。
ウボンのホテルで2日間にわたり行った「クロスカルチュラル・トレーニング」も、私にとってはとても意味あるものだった。教育の分野に「構成的グループエンカウンター(Structured Group Encounter; SGE)」というものがあるが、クロスカルチュラル・トレーニングはそれとよく似ている。他者との交流を促進し異なる文化を受け入れるために、既存の人間関係をいい意味で壊し、どんどん新たな人間関係を築くクロスカルチュラル・トレーニングは、入学したての新入生たちの新たな友好関係の構築を促進するSGEと目的が同じである。教師になってからは、SGEと並行してクロスカルチュラル・トレーニングを活用し、子どもたちが言語の壁などを気にすることなく文化交流をするための足掛かりとしたいと考えている。
私には今、目標が2つある。1つは、自らがアジアの国々をつなぐ架け橋として活躍し、アジアと世界を結ぶことができる国際人になること。そしてもう1つは、教育を通じて、日本人であるとともに「アジア人」であるという意識を持ち、アジアの多様性を理解し受け入れる人材を育てること、である。夢が大きすぎる、と笑われるかもしれない。しかし、私は現に、こんなにもアジアの仲間たちと深い友情を築くことができた。この、言葉では言い表せないほどの嬉しさ、そしてかけがえのない体験を、もっと多くの人たちに味わってもらいたい。私は、小さな力かもしれないが、持てる力のすべてを、この2つの目標に注いでいきたいと思う。また、このような素晴らしい機会を提供しているSing Out Asiaにこれからも協力していきたい。
最後に、かけがえのない機会を与えてくださったSing Out Asiaの波多野さん、メンバーの皆さん、そして旅で出会ったアジアの家族たちへ、感謝をこめて。
It was nice to see you all, my SOA big family.
I miss you all and hope to see you soon again!
Best wishes,
AKIO
from JAPAN
Valuable Experience
Naridtiphol
Chulalongkorn University
First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Naridtiphol from Thailand. I had a chance to attend this program by invitation from one of this group member. At that time, it was my long vacation. Honestly, I attended this program because I just want to travel. But this program had given me not only my expectation.
As first time I saw my Japanese and Indonesian friends, I thought it will be hard to me to be their friends because my English is not good and my appearance not look friendly. Moreover, my view towards them was not good due to past experience and lack of information. By playing activities together, I absorbed and accepted their identities even they are Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, or Taiwanese. My pessimistic and past experience which built a barrier was collapsed.
One day to three days and a week, we got more tied in relationship. English was not important anymore; we ordinary started conversation by smile and ended with laugh. We stayed together not only in program activities but we also hang out all the time. At that time, I didn’t think we were different or came from different countries but I realized that we are friends like friends who known each other since high school.
However the time flies, every place we visited have our good memory, every route we passed have laugh steam flood in the air. Our friends had to go back to their home countries. I can see the tear of love and feel how beautiful and meaningful of each drop. So that why we still keep in touch because we are friend forever.
Lastly, this program is real cross culture program. Everything is perfect and suitable. I got something more than my expectation as I mention above. So I hope other people can get a valuable experience like I can.
"An Honest Story"
Sena Nakamura
Dokyyo University
I never thought I might cry on the way back to Japan.
My plan was to get back home with very slim body for I thought I could not stomach Thai food.
My motive for joining the trip was simple. Of course Cross-Culture Exchange is what I learn at my University. However, I was not that pure-hearted.
This was my first oversea trip without parents. Travel expenses are supported and can meet students from other countries. Duration of the trip was good and traveling by bus. (Good news for I am lazy) .....What impure motives...sorry.......
However, I came back with the same body shape. Only my face was squashy because of tears.
I do not know what to say but a word "Warm" may narrates the trip well.
We had a friendly atmosphere that different from the West. Humors without sarcasm.
We enjoyed a lot but somehow serious and kept calmness. This family like atmosphere may be produced because we are Asians. Our society and young generation have been Americanized. This program was a great shock to me.
I felt acutely that I am like a frog in a small well and do not know the big ocean. I think Japan is a safe place and wealthy and ranked high in Asia.
We have no big rebellion and can live comfortably. Most of our citizen can get higher education. Thinking of this, not prejudice but I somehow had a superior feeling, I think. However, now, I have to take off my hat to students from other countries for their excellence and enthusiasm.
SOA activities may give a chance to Japanese, young and old, to realize that we are not facing a reality. This is a big punch in a positive sense. At least for me it was.
I want to support this activity. I feel this from bottom of my heart. Thank you for giving me such a big shock, Hatano-san.
Love you all, and thank you so much for everything.
Sena Nakamura from Japan
Really eyes opening
Ong Chen Fei
Malaysia
Firstly I want to thanks SOA that providing such great opportunity for youth like us to participate in this wonderful and fun program. My understanding of SOA during the whole trip, it is a program that wants to bring everyone together and to make each other to know people from different nation to work together. Cross cultural understanding and knowledge sharing among Asia people is quite an interesting thing to do so. In Malaysia, we had different races and culture lying all around and great to share what we know to other Asian countries.
When I first touched down at Bangkok airport, I really not sure what it is going to be happen for the whole 9 days. I was wondering what kind of people and what kind of activities that we are going to do. During the trip, we landed at ‘ubon’ for our first day cross culturing program in the hotel. The games are interesting where to tell you the truth; it is my first time playing and experiences it. All the games come with special meaning and it is trying to make us understand how other countries culture, rules and regulation works. We cannot judge the country at first impression and we need to blend and learn why this happening is and it is definitely a reason behind it. I personally love the “Ba-fa” game. “Ba-Fa” game is a game that thought us to actually understand the other culture before making any judgement. No countries that are perfect and definitely all countries have their own ways of operating it. it is really eyes opening for me. A simple game can make such an impact.
Everyone are very friendly and start open up especially after some activities that hatano san arranged. It forces us to mix around with other nation and start working together where I think it is really great moves that actually break the barrier of shyness and the mentality of clicking to own group. It makes us to start communication and understand each nation cultures, likes, dislikes, language and many other interesting sharing. The touring makes a lot more impact too where we have to travel on bus with each other for few hours. It actually given us the opportunity to start communicating with each other. We able to learn the game call Killer game from the Thai’s and Japanese where actually in Malaysia we call it ‘Mafia’. So we able to add in something that we have in our ‘Mafia’ game into the ‘Killer’ game. We had so much fun thanks to hatano san for His room. I’d learned a new game which I cannot remember the game called. It is requiring counting with our finger and calling our own names where the Thai’s doing it maximum 4 times but the Japanese doing it maximum 8 times.
What I can say is that SOA given us the opportunity and gateway to connect different Asia countries together to break the old traditional mentality. Friendships are build among the group and we had a lot of fun together and we are actually learning from each other our daily lifestyle and culture. We had sports together, throwing each other into the seas, playing cards, telling jokes, dancing together, photo sessions, sightseeing, shopping and visitation in Bangkok famous tourism areas. This we cannot get from just going alone. I’m really blessed to be able to join this and really wanted to be a part of it. I will definitely provide my helps to Hatano san to help SOA to grow to another level and to bring more youth into this movement to build another great generation together in future. No barrier, no grudge and work together as ONE.
Hopefully it's helps ya... Keep me inform of activities too...
Want to join and be a part of this family..
Thanks Hatano san!!!! Thanks SOA!!!!
Best Regards
It's so fun and made me think a lot
Kwang
Chulalongkorn University
For 1week that I and our friends travel together, I think this program is fun and can help us close very quickly.
I like the activities in Ubon but I think it's not enough. I realy like the game that we played. It's so fun and made me think a lot about the difference of culture. I think we should do activities at the early of the trip and at late of the trip again but it must be different. At the early we had activities in Ubon I think it's like the activities for ice breaking ,break our wall and make us be closer and have a strong bond. And I think in the late of the trip should have more activities that everybody can do together. I like the evening in Rayong that we played volleyball together(but not all of us). It's very nice game and I had so much fun. I can't forget that day. Furthermore, about presentation I think we should add more content of the presentation and should let member present their culture more. I learn the different culture from talking to friends but I can't talk to everyone and ask them about their culture much. Anyway, I really appreciate this trip very much. I love to meet new friends and the member of this trip is very nice^^
I think that I'm so lucky to join this program because I met many good friends and can be one member this lovely SOA family.
Thank you very much for holding this program.
I hope that I can join this program next time ^^
An intimate big family
Ruby Yang
Taiwan
It's my great honor to participate in this special program. Meeting people overseas and finally recongnized we can be such a intimate big family. We Asians are very optimistic to cooperate and accept other cultures' differences s' in a sensitive way. Frankly there aren't many opportunities like this for colleges s' students in Taiwan or even in other countries. When I told my friends about this awesame news, they are mostly jealous :D The culture training part let me know each other more and meet new friends. My favorite part was the last game (Alpha & Beta), That makes me really think about the culture differences because we really simulated the situation and try to break ice enthusiastically. In addition, visiting tourist spots are very inspiring to me bacause I love traveling soooo much. The perception of affinity brought us together, and it will never disappear.
After coming back from Thailand I've been thinking about this program a lot. Well, actually I have been discussing with Jessica and Marie about how we can improve this trip into a better situation occationally. We all anticipate SOA to be a very magnificent program for young generation in Asia. in this case, I have some suggestions for Mr.Hatano, sponsors and all the participants. Hope you like it because that's why we need opinions overseas. :-D
First of all, Here are some important elements of helding an activity: people, issue, time, location, content. These suggestions will be proposed to you guys gradully.
1.People(hosts and visitors) *Host: Are there any detail plans that can we arranged by hosts? Do responsible person from other countries need to cooperate or help? Can any group activities or guiding projects be planed first? Perhaps a big flag from this trip especially for taking photos is necessary? *Visitors: Do we have any standard of selecting and gathering people? Is English speaking ability claimed? What should they prepare first? (tipical snacks, national flags, pins, traditional costumes, things to share?) If we need to talk about Asia status and how to make it better, is it necessary for them to do some researh first at home?
2.Issue: Does everyone know our main goals and missions? What can we do on our journey or on the bus? (Ex:killer game is a good one) Can we share one special thing from our own country? Are there any small performances that we can prepare for the last evening? Even if it's just a small joke or sing:-)
3.Time & Location:
Time is money. Perhaps we can emphasize the trip into a smaller region, so that we can buy more time on culture training and visiting scenic spots because this trip can be unforgettable for some people once in a life time. Sparing some time for a real formal meeting to discuess about the recent changes and challenges in Asia.
4. Content:
In order to reveal efficiency and obvious effects, the whole schedule probably should be planed 2 months before setting out on a journey. The schedule need to be fixed and conformed by the reponsible person from each country. Also I assume a small journal is useful for everyone.
What can be inclouded into a journal:
l A list and some inf from all participants. l Introduction about SOA. (history, mission, goal, expectation) l A tight schedule written. l Easy map in Bangkok. l Brief introduction about Thailand and Loas. (location deta, legends, specialities, must buy items) l Some useful words or sentences in Thai. l Some interesting phrases compared with each countries. l Several cool puzzle games or songs from SOA. l A few pages to write journal or feelings anytime or anywhere. l A page for actual feedback and must be submitted the night before leaving. (Ex: What do you learn? Anything important? Anything to be improved? What kind of help can you offer?)
If my suggestion can be taken into reality, I assume this trip will make progresses sooner or later. And I strong recommend this is not only Mr. Hatano, Bank, Mai Mai's responsibility, it about how to cooperate with each Asia country and how to develop leadership direct or indirectly. Actually every enthusiastic person can try to help a bit, that makes things work easier. Love you guys so much and I hope my suggeations is practical in some ways.
Sharing this meaningful poetry for everyone:
RABINDRANATH TAGORE -- Stray Birds
Tiny grass, your steps are small, but you possess the earth under your tread.
I learnd a lot !!!!
Dwitya Aziza ( ICHA )
Indonesia
First of all it was an amazing training tour that I ever had explored, compared to other similar program that I attended. What a tremendous gift that SOA provides me and I am certainly and willingly to return it in whatever way adjusted to my knowledge and capability. Mr, Hatano and Ms Rosemarie, please note this, I really want to pay back all your kindness and therefore give me a chance to contribute whenever SOA conduct any activity any where in the world………………please stress this out in your up coming program…………….ehm …… Love you both full
My heartfelt express strongly that the journey was so cool and totally 100% I am so happy for the whole activity which packed in a youngster model and mood. I experience a new think being nomadic traveler jump into and out from the luxury buss, check in and out from the selected prestigious hotels, go in and out from a good restaurant, which for sure I will never had it if I didn’t join this current SOA program. Saying always thank you to SOA is not enough even I don’t know how I can return it as I mentioned earlier.
During this leadership training journey, I learn a lot !!!! I learn how to be my self, how to accept diversity of another cultures, how to understand people and the most important thing is how to be punctual, which is a bit different in my country. I could assume that diversity that appeared amongst participant was fantastic and drive us to become more attached one and another.
And what happened to me? I just realized that I could mingle in a very easy break through with no hindrance which I thought before I joined this leadership training program would became my handicapped. And the fact it was not…….I am so proud with my self even until I am writing this notes I am still can’t find which one of the activity that modify me to become like this. Any SOA friends can help me? Or may be Aunty Rosemarie or Uncle Hatano could do so? Please let me know once you could found it, all rights?!
I could see the minimum facilitator involved, but compare to the result shown, it was a very hard work. All package of accommodation, traveling schedule, content of training, culinary trip, culture awareness program are wrapped in a modest way, easy to follow, relax and away from stressing. Even for Indonesian delegation were facilitated with a free entrance visa to Laos. This is again part of culture awareness that Indonesian very rare traveling in bordering countries in which we were not prepared for some amount. Although we could manage to pay it, but at the end the Santa Clause Mr Hatano returned it to us. Thank youuuuuuuuuuu we have some more pocket money….
The most thing that I like, the program just run as it flows but very impressive. It is not that serious like a class training, but I felt that I got all the impact morally such as being attached and understand the diversity one into other in a short time. I felt the true respect and friendship amongst us although we just met and been together along the trip. I cant imagine if we are all gathered in a longer camp with all the skill and talent that everybody has it, I am pretty sure we could move the image of Asia Youth to become a generation that should be considered.
Back from the journey, I feel like I need more such wonderful regional trip and meaningful leadership youth training. It’s drive me to seek more actively a challenges opportunity similar with SOA. Also I learn a lot of other regions culture and behavior by practice not only theoretically through reading a book or see the film as I did previously.
Although I am satisfy with all the program, still there are loops to be improved. In my opinion it would be better if we are not that much traveling, because there were lot of time that participants sleep during traveling and when its arrived at one place they felt tired because too much sleep. The program may also set up like one week in the base camp, take 2 days for culture excursion, some night time for regional discussion and some more night time for youth enjoying the group with free activity.
I felt sorry to Mr Hatano that he runs all the program solely. There were a lot of reliable regional facilitator that could assist him, like during the program there was Aunty Rosemarie who accompany the group with her energetic movement and big smile. So invite some facilitator also to conduct such a prestigious program.
To all my SOA friends – how are you all baby??? I am pretty sure that all of us back to our busy normal activity? Do you agree with me, that we are all missing each others. Its hard time to separate and back to normal routine life. At the time we said good bye it’s a big urge in my heart beat a strong feeling to see you all again one day in the same or different program. I do hope that SOA c/- Mr Hatano acknowledge this situation and encourage us to be together again.
BRAVO SOA – BRAVO young generation of Asia – BRAVO Mt Hatano for becoming our Santa Clause from Japan. Last but not least as I am from Indonesian delegation, I felt so grateful for Aunty Rosemarie’s kindness, the one who pioneering Indonesian delegation and chosen four of us as the dedicated delegation.
LETS KEEP THIS REAL FRIENDSHIP WITH NO ENDING JJJJJ
im soooo verrrry happy
Dhira
Indonesia
At first i didn’t want to joined the SOA trip because of my tight schedule. I felt worried that if I left country for about 10 days, there are lots of things that I need to caught up after I got back. I also felt that if I joined I would feel a little bit uncomfortable because I had to face a lot of new people and environment. Then, my mother insisted me to join the program, she said that it’s a life opportunity, and it wouldn’t come to me twice.
So I decided to join the program, and I felt big differences within me after I joined the SOA. Meet lots of new people is always a fun things to do. Even though the introduction part is a quite hard, but after that everything feels easier. By joining SOA trip not only I got a chance to visited Bangkok, I also learned about culture differences, and the most important thing is I have lots of new friends from a different countries.
I felt very grateful and those 10 days were the best days that I had in this year so far. I definitely enjoyed every second of it. The cultural differences activities, the trip, the killer game, and also the food J . Especially all of the birthday surprises, it touched me when I received the gifts and also when you guys sang to me. It’s a very happy moment to be remembered, every second that i spent with all of you and the experienced that i have after, are worth every penny.
Loads of lovessss,
お元気ですか? i want to write about my feeling towards this trip, im soooo verrrry happy joined the trip, thanks to my mother who forced me to go joined the SOA. i've had the best 10 days so far in this year, i learned so many things, about how differences can make us as one. the activity told me that no matter how much the differences exist, it could be the main reason to build the foundation for our unity. and it doesn't matter as long as we face it with happiness and joy. during this trip, i've met another person from different part of the world, at first we're strangers, but then, we became friends. i love them so much and i'm sooo glad i've had a chance to met all of them and you also. you're such a role model, a very generous person. we should to this frequently, so we won't lose contact, and we can be friends for a long time. just like you, david, and hiro-sensei. maybe we should add more time for the activity and the brainstorming, and we should think about our vision and mission, or maybe we can do a charity event or a fundraising to help people. or hold an event for youth accross the country. i thank you so much for this opportunity. i had a great time, and experience. i hope we'll meet soon someday, and please inform us if you come to jakarta.
本当にありがとうございます Hatano-San. i won't forget this trip for sure.
Simply magical
Jessica low
Malaysia
There is something simply magical about the singout's mission. it's goal is bold and ambitious but truly dignified. Singout Asia to me is about setting the pace. A Music space. Somewhere simple where people gather and tune in to one another to listen to the voice from within. Maybe then, we may find that one voice that unites us all. Maybe then lies the answer to our constant worldly problems. After all, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes (in this case; ears)" Marcel Proust.
And there is my first meeting in Thailand 2010, where like-minded people from 5 different countries; Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia meet to exchange thoughts and ideas. It was clear that we had to agree to disagree in many games that was played during the cross-culture leadership game. Hatano's co-ordination promotes a very liberal style of movement that encourages thinking but more importantly, feeling. He wanted us to feel things and be intuitive. He wanted us to use our senses more . Although it could have been confusing for some, the sub-conscious effect had a strong lasting effect for most of them.
Sub-conscious learning methods are rarely used in any sort of leadership camp. However it was good, it encouraged intuitive thinking and it does broaden the mind's way of seeing things. In the future, I hope that SOA would receive more sponsorship in order to extend the leadership training part of the programme. It is marvelous! Effectively run.
I love the fact that sight-seeing was included into the program. The living experience was interesting. The itinerary could have been improved to lessen bus-travel time and increase walking/exploring time as that was one thing we had to rush more off on the last day itself.
I also love to listen to people speak about dreams. Exchanging thoughts about careers and life missions in a ever changing economy. Everyone had different ambitions but also different worries about the future. But such a programe like SOA would help to narrow that worry-gap between aspirations and problems by seeking support in one another.
A few notes to encourage SOA growth is to increase support in participant sponsorship. More participants means more ideas!
Also, increase sponsorship would help to add to the scope of activities that such a remarkable organization like SOA is capable of doing such as organised summer camps and asian youth conferences, music and travel programes, home-stay and intensive english courses. Language, of all barriers, is one thing evidently slowing down our asian economies. How can we overcome it?
Directly or indirectly, SOA provides a platform of change for asian youth and it must be continued on. I wish SOA a great future for the growth of performing arts and cultural leadership among youth in Asia.
You and Me sharing the world.
Ever Evolving Tour
Marie Kondo
青山学院大学
進化し続けるSing Out Asia友好の旅。通算3度目となった今回の旅は、2010年3月15日から25日までの日程でタイとラオスを訪れた。インドネシア、台湾、マレーシア、タイ、日本から参加者がおり、前回よりもさらに密度の濃い異文化間トレーニングが企画されていた。SOAを理解し、支えてくださっているSOA理事の方々、そして波多野三郎さんと一恵さんに対する感謝の念を抱きながら、このSOA友好の旅の魅力について述べていきたい。
I'm honored to be one of the participants in SOA trip. Within 7 days wonderful trip, we can make the unbreakable friendship surrounded the beautiful scenery we went. I’m so proud to hear SOA family. It means the friendship forever last though the geographic problem, we willingly share the happiness from now on.
However, I’m afraid the seminar breaking the ice in the personal heart seems too long. The seminar all day made me tired. Anyway, I appreciated the activities in the seminar. I can learn the difference of the culture, the amusement and I can know the personality of each person from the activities, too.
The next thing I want to comment is the sightseeing place. All the places we went are very beautiful. That makes the atmosphere along the trip brighter. Although I’m Thai, I’ve never seen the places before. The category is historical and natural, very smoothly. I’m sure we’ve gone to the real South East Asia!
My last happiest scene is some friends were thrown in the Rayong’s sea after the volleyball game ended, so refreshening!~~ LOL Hope we will have a good time like this once again!~
Best regards,
we can become one
Kaew
Chulalongkorn University
At first, I would like to participate in SOA program because I love traveling but, after I came back from the trip I know that I learn so many things. I learn to understand othrer asian culture from friends who participated in this program and, I learn that even though Asian people looked the same but, we're different in many aspects such as thoughts and ideas. However, we can become one by sharing that thoughts and ideas and finally, we became family.
I would like to thank you all of friends and everyone who associate in this program. I think I got very precious experience and friendship. Now, I belived that Asia can become one and we can keep on moving forward together.