We extension students went to Portland from November 13 to 16 last week. I was looking forward to this trip because I had heard that Portland is very famous city for American people. Actually, this trip was awesome and we made a wonderful memory there. I was attracted by the Japanese American memorial, the Columbia, and Columbia Basin College, especially.
Primarily, I had a priceless experience at the Japanese American memorial and I was pierced by a melancholy feeling. There are many poems written by Japanese American people on each stones. I found a poem which made me speechless there. The poem said, "Our young men and women joined the army, too. They are proud to be American." Following my interpretation, this poem was written by issei (1st generation of a Japanese American). "Our young men and women" represents their children and grand children. I learned that issei people had often said "shikataga-nai (it cannot be help)"and they had accepted that hard treatment from American government. I think this poem shows " We (issei) are fine. We don't complain about your decision. But, please consider our children to be American at least because they joined army with pride as American." On this poem, I saw a compassion on their children and a resignation to their future there. The existence of Japanese American interment camp is the doleful fact on our history. However, this memorial is a valuable place for us not to make the same mistake again.
Secondly, I totally took delight in the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center visit. A guide of the center gave us a demonstration of gun shooting. The gun was the replica of a rifle which leaders of the Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark, had used. It was very first time to see real gun shooting with short distance. The sound made by the demonstration was much louder than I expected. I was tremendously astonished. I learned about the Corps of Discovery and I was really interested in barter (trading) of that time. People mainly used animal furs, beads, cookware such as knifes, and blankets. Above all, beaver fur was very common. I've never seen beaver directly; however, during this trip, I saw many beaver fur. Interestingly, in those days, blankets had had some lines as a design. The number of lines show how many beaver fur the blanket need when they are traded. Then, one hut was made from their 50 beaver fur and the value was decided with variable rate on each day. Today, people’s mind about fur was changed and people who against making fur is increasing. Through this trip, I leaned that fur trading was a vital tool to get something they needed.
Lastly, I had a splendid time at Columbia Basin College with students who study Japanese and students who are interested in Japanese culture. My partner was Spanish man and he was bilingual of Spanish and English. Surprisingly, he speaks Spanish only in his home and it is family rule from his grandmother, 1st generation. In Japan, I rarely think about immigrants or people's background especially religion. I reconfirmed that when I go out of Japan, I need to care about these things and understand their culture. We also talk about my presentation topic. Fortunately, he was interested in my topic and gave me some helpful opinions. The talk took me confidence about my presentation topic. Through this college community, I realized that trying to understand cultural differences help having a good conversation more than trying to make completely correct sentences. I fully enjoyed the conversation there.
In conclusion, finally, all trips are done though last semester and this semester with MFWI members. Now, I extremely thank for everyone who was related to their trips. During this trip, I didn't have any stress about my presentation and homework by virtue of friends and teachers. I refreshed my mind and got tons of energies from them. All trips were entirely fabulous!
Lastly, I had a splendid time at Columbia Basin College with students who study Japanese and students who are interested in Japanese culture. My partner was Spanish man and he was bilingual of Spanish and English. Surprisingly, he speaks Spanish only in his home and it is family rule from his grandmother, 1st generation. In Japan, I rarely think about immigrants or people's background especially religion. I reconfirmed that when I go out of Japan, I need to care about these things and understand their culture. We also talk about my presentation topic. Fortunately, he was interested in my topic and gave me some helpful opinions. The talk took me confidence about my presentation topic. Through this college community, I realized that trying to understand cultural differences help having a good conversation more than trying to make completely correct sentences. I fully enjoyed the conversation there.
In conclusion, finally, all trips are done though last semester and this semester with MFWI members. Now, I extremely thank for everyone who was related to their trips. During this trip, I didn't have any stress about my presentation and homework by virtue of friends and teachers. I refreshed my mind and got tons of energies from them. All trips were entirely fabulous!