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| Report／Nara Group （Teacher ） |
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World Youth Meeting at Graz 2003
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| Misa SOCHI |
From the very beginning, this UNESCO
event at Graz 2003 was a completely different and unknown world
to typical Japanese who tend to calculate things in advance to see
if it is possible or impossible to achieve.
Before the departure, I didn't know any exact schedule of the program.
No detail was given at all. The brief schedule only said "workshop",
but who were expected to give the workshop at where to whom? Questions
kept coming up to my mind: Are all the participants to give the
presentation?" Do we need to apply for the chance to give a
speech? What do you mean by "exhibition"? Where are we
going to have exhibition? Or are we not? A host family for the students
was not found till the very last moment, either.
My email messages sent to the coordinator at the school in Graz
never received an answer till the very last few days. All I was
able to do was to just keep sending what we were planning, preparing
and bringing to Graz, hoping that the messages had reached the partner
teacher. I repeatedly mentioned that we would really wish to give
speech, presentation and workshops. Just a couple of days before
the departure, I was given the phone number to the teacher, resulting
in my calling to leave a message on the machine. The next day I
finally received her reply, saying she was looking forward to our
presentation and that she had a room reserved for us to give presentation.
Great! So my email had reached her!
Upon arrival to Graz, I came to see all those little anxieties I
had in Japan before the departure were insignificant things after
all.
One of the things that I gained in Graz on this visit was the spiritually
luxurious time. When you say luxury, you might imagine MATERIAL
THINGS, but in Graz, I was able to experience spending LUXURIOUS
TIME in spiritual and mental way.
On the first day I found the meeting somewhat different from what
I had expected. But soon I found it comfortable to play it by ear.
"Let one supervisor take initiative, and we shall all be equal
to the occasion." You might not be fully informed in advance;
therefore you could not plan much. It was often right before the
event that you found out the exact schedule of the next event. But
everyone was filled with good will as if they were saying "Don't
be irritated. Let us enjoy. Everyone wishes to make this event successful."
Also, the staff at UNESCO and at the participating schools devoted
themselves and their heart to this event, and all the participants
felt their love and devotion. For that reason, I was able to spend
very comfortable, peaceful one week in Graz.
Let us be peaceful. Let us not be irritated.
Let us be resourceful.
Let us enjoy.
A very comfortable luxurious time was passing by in Graz… Maybe
it was one of the reasons why all the people we encountered there
were very kind and warmhearted. Something was definitely there in
Graz that makes our human relations really warm, cozy and comfortable.
The experience of communication with people from Europe was meaningful
to us, and we were impressed by many things from it. However, this
precious experience did not just start when we arrived in Graz.
It had already started in Japan long before our departure.
The second rich harvest we reaped would be the chance to realize
things we unconsciously had been taking for granted. In preparation
for this visit, we realized the beauty of Nara, where the ancient
and the modern coexists. And in this realization we also came to
notice the efforts and love that people in Nara have been putting
into to preserve and treasure all these beauty of Nara. The students
wished to tell people in Europe about this beloved ancient capital
of Japan, supported by many people's affection and devotion.
We read materials and studied a lot about Nara once again. But we
felt we must visit all those places in order to give a heartfelt
introduction of the places. In the short preparation period, the
students often paid visits to the world heritage sites in Nara.
As a result, their presentation contained something that you don't
find in any regular guide book. As I read their script, I felt the
student's peaceful mind, standing in the Horyuji-temple yard. My
heart was warmed as I red her wonderful explanation of the penetrating
quietness, with faint scent of incense drifting, and the occasional
very low peal of belfry…
Attending World Youth Meeting allowed me to feel the gentle and
peaceful love from all the people I met in Graz and from all the
people who love Nara, too. While I was in Graz, I've learned that
the attitude we take toward things really makes difference. And
that attitude is
what makes things possible. And I don't want to make this precious
experience just a transient stir. I strongly wish to treasure it
and turn it into a sort of power inside of me, with which I will
inspire and motivate myself and people I shall encounter in my life.
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| Report／Nara Group （Student ） |
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| Maiko KANCHIKU |
I really enjoyed my stay in Austria.
It was so long and was full of new experiences everyday. Because
it was my first visit to Europe, everything I saw there was impressive.
I liked the atmosphere of Graz. There were many factors making a
wonderful mood in this city. The Mur river went through in the middle
of the city and a hill containing many trees stood there. Great
nature completely coexisted with the city. There were also a lot
of old and beautiful buildings and places I had never seen anywhere
else.
And then, I think this is the most important factor, people tended
to spend much of their time outside. There were many people talking
over a cup of coffee at the cafe along the streets and I often saw
people playing music around there.
They seemed to enjoy their own time. I felt as if time was passing
more slowly in Austria than that of Japan. I was shocked that there
was another life I had never expected. So I am very glad that Iwas
in a part of their life and spent the same time with them.
It was a good opportunity to talk with people from many other contries
and to know what they think about Japan by introducing our country
to them.
When I wrote their names in Japanese with a brush and ink, they
seemed to be very interested in it. Japanese letters might be strange
fro them. They were wondering whe we wrote it and looked very happy
when I gave it to them.
I was curious to know what they say about Japanese food. We offered
green tea and some sweets. Some adults liked green tea, but students
didn't. Candies and chewing gums were favored but tradisional Japnese
sweets like Okaki or Mochi were not. I found that everyone was very
kind and friendly. And wer were trying to get to know each other.
I enjoyed answering and also asking questions. It pleased mw when
people were interested in something about Japan. And it is very
fun to know about foreign countries by talking with people of the
same age because we are looking at our own countries from same point
of view.
So I was very lucky to participate this meeting and it will be a
wonderful memory in my life.
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| Report／Nara Group （Student ） |
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| Tomoko YAMAGUCHI |
By the grace of everyone who took
part in this summit, now I realize the following three things.
First, I understood the importance of talking to others actively.
This is what I felt at the first workshop on the second day. On
the first day, I could hardly make friends with students from foreign
countries. Actually, I was not so good at making friends. I am not
so a positive person. But on second day at the workshop, I managed
to talk to a student who was looking at our materials. At first,
I worried about what he would answer to me, but he was very friendly.
After this, I could talk to many students in the room. This experience
taught me how fun it is to talk to foreign people.
Second, I could have self-confidence. Yes, in fact, I like talking,
expressing my mind and something new. I had something cheerful in
myself.
Third, I found English really useful. Because I had never been abroad
before, I had not understood the real importance of speaking English.
But to communicate with people from various countries, English is
certainly the best language. I really saw it in this summit.
In this way, I enjoyed my stay in Graz.
When I got home, I felt really sad seeing my room. My wonderful
trip was over! I would like to see the world more. I don't want
to stay only in Japan as I used to be what we Japanese call "a frog
in the well." I was the frog. I didn't try to see more than my life.
I had not believed in my ability. But now I want to be a woman of
vitality who can meet and talk with many people abroad in the future.
To realize this dream, I have decided to study English much harder,
not only at School, but also at home. I also want to study German
and the international relation.
Influenced by this summit, I have changed my philosophy. I will
do it. Thank you everyone.
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