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| My Wonderful Friends!! |
At the end of October, We
extension students took a touching trip to South West America!!! Actually, I
am really satisfied with this life now because of American culture or
everything else here. However, from this trip, because of such big differences
between New Mexico or Arizona and Washington states we now realized how big
America is. Also, everywhere I visited on the trip made me feel wonderful and
global!! At the same time, I realized again that we all over the world are
connected even if we are different. There are the five wonderful reasons I felt
incredible global and profound connection.
First, the never-seen structures
and cities or nature and atmosphere in New Mexico and Arizona touched me. The
main structure there is called "adobe." I was really excited to only
see this rather because it is really different from structures in Japan. I felt
like the people there especially in the Plaza spent care-free time in wonderful
natural surroundings. Also there is another reason. It is attractive here. It is
because there were the hiking, rock climbing area and chances to play in the
river. If I lived there, my life would be more active and delightful because of
these wonderful areas. These grateful areas made me broaden my view and realized
what kind of never-seen structure like adobe there are all over the world.
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| At the International Folk Art Museum |
The second reason I felt
incredible global and profound connection was that there were two museum I
visited I was impressed in. There were Native American and International Folk
Art museums. As mention by Native American first, they are very important
tribes for this local area, for they are really historical people there. I was
sure as long as the native Americans continue to commit to keep their culture
and museums, their culture would be able to be maintained in the future. To my
surprise, the instructor at the museum spoke the native language. Of course I
couldn't understand what he said. However, when he sang a song in his language,
I was moved by his wonderful skill as a singer, at the same time, I am not sure
why, but I felt like I could see the daily living situations at that time.
Moreover at the museum of International Folk Art, there were a lot dolls from
all over the world. It was possible for me to guess which country those dolls came
from because they had their own evident character such as clothes and atmosphere.
Surprisingly, there were a lot of dolls from more than 100 countries!!!
Unfortunately, there were too many dolls to see all of them!! Because so many dolls
gather in one place, I felt global also there!!!
Third, there was an opportunity
to tell my culture, Japan, to the high school students in New Mexico. I really
enjoyed listening to a few topics such as their hometown, the class and people
at school with them. However, little by little while talking, I began to
realize one thing. It is that most students I talked with had no knowledge
about Japan. It would be no wonder there are people who don't know the name of
Osaka or Japanese food. However, it is not a few but a lot of people who don’t know
basic Japanese culture. I felt disappointed a little because I could not spread
the topic about Japan. However, there was a little formal experience, which was
to hand over a Japanese doll to students. I hope this will become the first
step to connect us. Then, I wish that when they learn about Japan someday, I
want them to remember this doll. The wish to tell a lot of people about Japan
appeared to my mind by this experience. I am looking forward to being able to
do this!!!!
Forth, I discovered everyone
has the same way to have sense of been moved even if we have different
languages. I learned this at the Grand Canyon, which we had longed to see. It
may be no exaggeration to say that this spot is the main event for this trip!!!
While I was viewing the really magnificent the Grand Canyon for a long time,
many kinds of language, most of them I never heard, happened to hear around me.
Of course I could not understand what they said. However, the moment the really
stunning sun went down, probably not only I but also everyone there was
enchanted by this. As has been described, I discovered that everyone is the
same even if we have our own different languages. At that time, I felt everyone
can connect by the wonderful view of the Grand Canyon!!!!
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| Fabulous View at the Grand Canyon!! |
Finally, the really magnificent
nature made me think more deeply about a lot of things. Also, it is about the
experience at the same area, Grand Canyon. Although I visited some fascinating
nature places such as Wupatki, sunset crater and Sedona, Arizona, the best
place for me was World Heritage Site, the Grand Canyon after all!!!! Perhaps,
it would be hard to describe it in words!!! This magnificent view made me
realize again how enormous nature is. Also, I thought that compared with the
immensity of nature, human are really insignificant, However, the meaning can
be taken a not only in a positive but also in a negative way, for Tohoku in
Japan has become the scene of a natural catastrophe and human tragedy. It is
also nature which caused this horrible catastrophe. When I was thinking about
Tohoku, the idea that what nature is came out naturally. It is very difficult
to think about it by just my brain. However, I felt like I could find this answer
by not my brain but by my body. Also, I discovered the profound connection
between insignificant humans and immense nature.
I felt really delightful
everyday because there was the realization I learned and discovered a lot of
things I have never experienced. This trip was the most incredible one of my
life!!! All things I experienced and felt should never be forgotten!!!!
