Finally, my presentation has finished! In the end of last semester, we decided our presentation topic: Haiku. We have worked on this topic nearly half a year, and on the process, we have faced some difficulties that we didn’t expect to meet; however, we cooperated and worked together as a group, we could get these difficulties over. From the beginning to the end of this preparation, I have experienced a lot such as the purpose of the presentation, hardness of delivering and the feeling of excitement and relief.
Six months’ working has finally finished! Since I have decided the topic; Haiku, I have started to do research and interview in Japan during summer break. Fortunately, there are some people I know Haiku experts, so I was able to correct enough information. However, I was not sure whether this topic would be interesting for Americans because for me, if I heard the lecture of Shakespeare, that would not be attractive because I am not familiar with that kind of literature. Above all, it was hard for us to decide the presentation goal or conclusion because in my opinion, literature doesn’t have answers; as a result, we came up with this idea; what Haiku is for us? We have discussed about it and also interviewed people as much as we could, and then we found out our own answer; Haiku is our self-expression poetic tool! It was hard for us to conclude on this presentation but as we thought it day by day, we were able to reach our answer. I was so glad to have this thinking process.
Not only deciding our conclusion but also thinking the way of delivering was hard for us. Before I have worked on power point, I didn’t face many problems because what I had to do is write what we researched. However, the time I should deliver the information, for the first time, I have faced some difficulties. My part was introducing how to write Haiku. It is difficult for even Japanese how to write Haiku; as a result, I had some problems to deliver the content of my topic. Especially, Kireji: cutting words and Toriawase: internal comparison were my weak points. I have practiced my presentation to many Americans but I wasn’t sure whether they understood completely. I have worked on many times and improved that part, and finally the night before the presentation, I was able to complete the part. I was so happy to make the power point because that part was the most important when writing Haiku, and thanks to these techniques, we still enjoy making Haiku. I learned the hardness of delivering through preparing my topic.
On the day of the presentation, I felt excitement and relief. I was not worried about giving my presentation like other students were because I knew I understood my content and what I need to do is present it to the audience. The hardest part was controlling my mental, which is because last Friday night, I heard my homeroom teacher at high school suddenly passed away. Mr.Nishitani was my homeroom teacher for three years during my high school life. Thanks to him, I was able to have a significant time. Since last fall, he had been in and out hospitals many times and I went to see him there before the Spring Semester. Fortunately, he recovered from his illness and he went back his job in this summer. While I am in MFWI, I heard he went back to hospital again from my mother because his body condition got worse. I just send him an e-mail how I was doing at MFWI. The farewell with him suddenly came. I couldn’t accept the situation and stop crying all the night on Friday. Even now, when I’m alone, I recalled my memories with him and started to cry again. I know I shouldn’t cry and need to focus on what I have to do now but it was too hard for me. Because my presenters understood my feelings, I was able to get it over, and on the day of presentation, I promised myself I will do this presentation to my homeroom teacher in the heaven. Since I have made up my mind, I felt excitement to give my presentation and during it, I really enjoyed. Some of my friends were surprised because I was able to make smile during my presentation. Moreover, after the presentation, I was so relief that I could get the grief over. It was difficult for me to face the reality because of the farewell with my dearest teacher; however, I was able to finish my presentation with confident and satisfaction.
It was my first time to research about something that long time and before I did that, I was not sure whether I could do but now, I can say I can do anything because I know what I have faced for six months cannot replace with anything else. During this project, I learned the importance of setting goal, hardness of delivering and the feeling of excitement and relief. I couldn’t complete this presentation without others’ supports, so I really thank people who supported me for six months.
“As the trees lose their leaves
We find our precious treasure
Thank you, Extension!”
I am really glad I came back to the Extension and complete my presentation!
