Volunteering and Myself

We Joined "Spokane River Clearn Up"

My image of “volunteer” was absolutely changed through the LCD discussion in the conversation class last Tuesday. People who experienced many kinds of volunteer work came to MFWI, and we asked them lots of questions. Their opinions and minds were new and interesting to me. Thanks to this wonderful opportunity, I got used to be interested in volunteering more than before.

At first, I thought volunteers helped only poor people. However, I found my idea was not correct at all. Not only to help people who do not have enough money; I learned there are many kinds of volunteers in the U.S: for example, to take part in Blooms day and Spokane River Clean Up is also volunteering. Volunteers help other people, but beneficiaries are not always poor. It was a new idea to me.

I thought that a view of volunteers is also another different point from mine. A man said, “To Volunteer is a duty as an American.” I was really impressed by what he said. I have never taken part in volunteering, so I did not come up with such a great idea. In Japan, the number of volunteers is not so often. On the other hand, there are lots of people who join volunteering in this country. Japanese, including me, have to volunteer positively and need more responsibility as Japanese.

Another surprising system was a free restaurant. I talked with two people who had worked there. According to them, women’s rights have improved so much compared to before; however, they said some women still have problems like domestic violence. If women and their children do not have enough money to buy food under such a serious situation, they can get and eat food without paying at the free restaurant. In Japan, there are no free restaurants, so I never heard the system before. At first, I was surprised the idea, but I think it is really helpful for women who have a difficulty.

Before talking with the guests, I was not interested in volunteering so much. However, my image about volunteers changed a lot by understanding some differences such as kinds of, views, and systems between the U.S. and Japan. Actually, I will join Spokane River Clean Up next month. I am really looking forward to it, and I want to learn something new through the experience.