On Connections

Connections

There is a thing in Rotary, called connections.  I have to say, it is one of the best parts of being a Youth Rotarian. 

I have been in a whirl of connections over the past few days.  The moment I found out my leave date and time (Thursday August 15th, 7:30 am), I of course posted on facebook.  It's what anyone else would do.

The next morning I had more than a few messages, more than a few friend requests, and more than a few reassuring posts plastered over my facebook wall and messages.  My host sister, the one who is going on her own exchange through Rotary, told her friends who I am and where to find me.  My other host sister, a twin to the first one, also found me and invited her friends to find me.  Members of my hosting Rotary found me.

It was crazy.

I'm making friends without having to be there, and I'm learning so much about the town I will call home for a year.

Not only that, but I learned that my Host Club will be picking me up, with a rather big bus-  "Gabi-san! If you have so many baggage. it OK! Because we plan to go to Fukuoka Airport by big bus! Ha-haha! (b^ー°)／"  This is a message given to me directly from one of my main contacts that I have had with my Host District.

I had a good giggle, but it was reassuring.  I know that I won't have to worry if my luggage will fit into a smaller Japanese car, or if it will fit on a train.  Just a few pounds off my shoulders I guess~!

I also have classmates of both my host sisters find me, friend me, and talk to me.  Usually about anything; soccer, swimming, foreign affairs, how excited we all are, how none of us can wait to hang out, and what Kashima will be like.

These are connections, people who are willingly looking for me, talking to me.  I'm grateful for this, these connections.  These friends I am already making.  It's reassuring that there are people who are in town, a part of the schools, who are looking foreword to meeting me.

It helps with the stress about being a new kid.  I'm already finding people to sit with at lunch, who I may be in classes with.  As a new student, it helps cut down on the anxiety of it all.

My stress is down a lot more since I have my visa and itinerary in hand (it was fedex-ed, and my ticket had basically been purchased).

Everything helps at this point.

I'm grateful that these people are going out of their way to talk to me, to message me, to send me pictures of the festivals they are going to, to let me ask them questions about schooling and life and general.  These people don't know what they have done for me, I don't think they will ever understand, but I can try an express it.

So all of you out there, if you know of someone who is going to be an exchange student to your city, please contact them.  Talk to them.  Tell them about your town and what life is like.  Tell them what the weather is like.  Tell them what the food is like.  Anything, just talk to them.  They may not be able to tell you exactly what they are thinking, or you may not be able to understand their English, but still try.  Everything counts.

A lot of my conversations are a jumbled mix of broken English and Japanese, but we are still talking.  It's confusing, it's frustrating, it's hard, but it's more than worth it.

My written Japanese is crap!  Their written English is really interesting to read!

But both parties appreciate the work it takes to get the basic idea that I like to play soccer for fun and I like green tea ice-cream, or that they would like to hang out with me and would like to know where I would like to go.

I'm making connections to students and my host family.

I can't tell you how much it means to me to have the host sister who isn't going on an exchange ask me what I would like to eat.  She's an amazing cook, or so I hear from just about everyone I have talked to from Kashima.  She's.... she's being so kind, and amazing, by asking me this simple question.  It means more to me than I can explain.

I told her I would like miso soup, that's basically bread and butter to Japanese people.  Almost every meal I had when I was there the first time had miso as the appetizer or side dish.  I miss it.  It's the food I crave the most from my first trip.  It's a salty, fishy, soup.  It is made of fish stock, water, soy bean paste, tofu, and seaweed.  Sounds awesome right!?

She responded with- "I can make it so shall i make mlso soop for you (^O^)".

She also asked if there was any other food I would like to eat, and if any of you out there know my tastes in Japanese food, you know my answers.  GREEN TEA ICE-CREAM.  It is.... just amazing.  It's one of my favorite things to look for in the various Asian restaurants.

Both of my host sisters have both said that we are going out for ice-cream.  I can't tell you how excited I am!  It's their way of welcoming me, and it just means the world to me.

These are the people who will be my friends and family for a year.

I have also touched base with the people who hosted me the first time I was in Japan.  I miss them, more than I probably should since it was only a ten day trip, but I'm homesick for their house and company.

Both of my host parents from the original trip were so kind and generous, they made the trip more than worth it with their help and guidance.  They are the ones who showed me the side of Japan people rarely take the time to see.  A walk around the block, a trip to the next small city over to see a small art gallery where artwork from one of their workers was hosted, a visit to Tokyo and showing me the smaller side shops and stores, and above all else, passing on their appreciation for past arts and being balanced with everything that goes on in their life.

They are very happy to hear I am coming back, they are beyond sad they cannot see me at the airport when I land.  It's a long trip from their home, I don't blame them one bit.

But this is the classic Japanese duty towards welcoming people coming into play.  I feel like they believe it is their duty to make sure everything will be okay, that I am happy, and that they will do anything in their power to make it happen.  I appreciate this, but it's also a culture shock for me.

Their willingness to put themselves out there for my own sake.

Asking what food THEY should make.  Where I WOULD like to go.  Things that would make ME feel at home.  Make sure that I am HAPPY.

I'm just grateful to be going, I'm almost overwhelmed with everything else on top of that.  I want to be the perfect guest, I know I will screw up every now and then, but my focus is on learning where I belong in the family and school, and getting a grip on everything that is going to be going on!

I don't need fancy welcomes (though I am grateful because I am a bit wary of landing by myself), I don't need fancy restaurants or high stake shopping trips, I don't need any of the pomp.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, I feel special because of it, and I feel truly welcomed because of it.  I'm just used to small town living, basic life, nothing truly special as I see it.

I guess I'm just repeating myself by saying that I am grateful, but there's no other way to word it.  There are no synonyms for how I feel about how their welcoming me fully makes me feel.

So here's to Rotary, helping me make connections to the family I will become a part of and the students I will study with and hopefully become friends with!  AND here's to the people who go out of their way to help students like me come to terms with the worlds we will be entering.

Help your local exchange students too!

See You Soon
Mata chikaiuchini
また近いうちに