On Tuesday afternoon, we had an amazing opportunity to talk with 9 guests. What in common do they all have? It is the volunteer work. We prepared some questions to ask them, but they not only answered our questions, they also impressed us a lot.
First, I was fascinated by a woman whom I talked with. She looked very kind and she smiled at me so sweetly, so I could relax. Her volunteer work is mainly the fundraising and also she meets children who live in the shelters because of no houses, no parents a one time a week. They go shopping together, play games. She administers to donations poor children enjoyably. I was so surprised because I had never imagined that such a sorrowful situation is here, Spokane, close to me. She said that since when she was a little, she has been interested with volunteer work. She often saw the people who needed help and it made her so sad. She called this feeling is "empathy," or a kind of guilty feeling. In fact, there are many the poor in Spokane and this woman said that we should give them help as much as we can. If our few minutes and items can help them, we should act to help them, I found out it. I thought I want to be a person who is filled with warmth like this woman.
Next, I talked with a man who amazed me so much. I had thought the volunteer work was just for helping people who need it. However he said "Yes, it is true, but... that's a selfish reason." WHAT? It was a new idea and impossible for me to believe such a thing. He meant that he participate in volunteer work to help people, and it is natural reason for people to do volunteer work, but he also participate in it because he wants to grow as a person; in short, he benefits himself. I thought an idea that we participate in some volunteers to achieve my own interest, not for other people is haughty. I didn't know it is okay that the primary goal through volunteer is also for myself!!! Moreover, he told us that there is not difference at all between Japanese and American in how much they want to help people who need it. However, it is clear that Americans are opened to do volunteer and Japanese are closed to do it. It means that many Japanese are shamed and embarrassed to help people. It can be said to people who need the help in Japan. On the other hand, American think helping people is their pride. Therefore, I think we should change the Japanese thinking.
Through all this discussion, I recognized that there is the interaction between people who help someone and people who are helped or among people who corporate to help someone. We can get some benefits when we help someone. Even although I clean up the city, I think I can say the same meaning to it because it is pleasure for the city to be cleaned up and it's also enjoyable to clean up and meet with many new friends. We always support each other. In the process of it, we must be happy, sad and we must appreciate someone, observe our personalities and characters. How wonderful it is to help each other.
First, I was fascinated by a woman whom I talked with. She looked very kind and she smiled at me so sweetly, so I could relax. Her volunteer work is mainly the fundraising and also she meets children who live in the shelters because of no houses, no parents a one time a week. They go shopping together, play games. She administers to donations poor children enjoyably. I was so surprised because I had never imagined that such a sorrowful situation is here, Spokane, close to me. She said that since when she was a little, she has been interested with volunteer work. She often saw the people who needed help and it made her so sad. She called this feeling is "empathy," or a kind of guilty feeling. In fact, there are many the poor in Spokane and this woman said that we should give them help as much as we can. If our few minutes and items can help them, we should act to help them, I found out it. I thought I want to be a person who is filled with warmth like this woman.
Next, I talked with a man who amazed me so much. I had thought the volunteer work was just for helping people who need it. However he said "Yes, it is true, but... that's a selfish reason." WHAT? It was a new idea and impossible for me to believe such a thing. He meant that he participate in volunteer work to help people, and it is natural reason for people to do volunteer work, but he also participate in it because he wants to grow as a person; in short, he benefits himself. I thought an idea that we participate in some volunteers to achieve my own interest, not for other people is haughty. I didn't know it is okay that the primary goal through volunteer is also for myself!!! Moreover, he told us that there is not difference at all between Japanese and American in how much they want to help people who need it. However, it is clear that Americans are opened to do volunteer and Japanese are closed to do it. It means that many Japanese are shamed and embarrassed to help people. It can be said to people who need the help in Japan. On the other hand, American think helping people is their pride. Therefore, I think we should change the Japanese thinking.
Through all this discussion, I recognized that there is the interaction between people who help someone and people who are helped or among people who corporate to help someone. We can get some benefits when we help someone. Even although I clean up the city, I think I can say the same meaning to it because it is pleasure for the city to be cleaned up and it's also enjoyable to clean up and meet with many new friends. We always support each other. In the process of it, we must be happy, sad and we must appreciate someone, observe our personalities and characters. How wonderful it is to help each other.