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From Vietnam
Barrier was my fearPictureDear my teachers and my friends in the SOA trip; From Vietnam
I have ever read the book which talks about two of four Indaian spiritual rules. Firstly, whoever you meet in you life is a true person whom you need to meet. It means that when you meet a person, he/she becomes your good teacher whom you should learn one thing. Secondly, whatever happens is a true thing which needs to happen, even the smallest thing. All of these will help you become stronger and better than ever before.
Before I joined this trip, I cannot believe that I could change so much like that. I feel lucky to see a lot of new special friends, new special teachers - they made me change ever before.
My friends in the trip are the most patient people I have ever met. At first, I thought that all of people in the trip could speak Japanese. In the airport, when I met Japanese students first, I felt comfortable because we could talk “ Ohayo gozaimasu” with them. Everything was smooth until I met Thai students in the airport. Thailand student ‘s English was very very good but they do not know any Japanese. I was surprised and I just could understand a little English.“ Oh my God” I said to myself. I came to know on the next 10 days, language would become a frightful barrier of me.
In the first two days, I hardly used English. It means I didn’t talk any thing with Thai students. I think now they realized my English is very bad. The Vietnam participants are ten. So, if I don’t talk in English, my friend instead can speak to them. That would not cause any problem. Now, I feel shame of my thinking at the time. When we went out, we could play and talk with Japanese students so happily in Japanese. We sung songs, danced together but Thai students couldn’t understand us the same as I couldn’t understand their English. It made me so sad.
I now remember the one thing, in the first lunch time together. Vietnamese was only me alone in the table. I spoke a littele in Japanese and Shoko helped me translate it. Dee and Anny later became my special friends. At the time they saw me, they smiled at me friendly. But their questions for Viet Nam‘s traditional foods made me confused. I had got it but difficult to translate into English. Then, they started to talk to Thais and I ate a lot. That was the best way to help me say nothing more at that time.
Everything was so sad like that. When I joined in the seminar, I usually played with Japanese friends. I remember that I voted Dee and Fly - King and Queen of Thailand- to be the most impressive couple when they introduced themselves. They were so cute and very friendly. But I didn’t talk to them because I was afraid. The barrier was not only the language, but a culture.
My first roommate was Azusa, and she is a cute girl and she is a Japanese. We talked a lot and took photos together. The second roommate was Joy who was a very pretty Thai girl. We called her princess. But I felt so hard when I stood in the front of the princess and talked : “Sorry, my English very bad.” Maybe I made her surprised so much because I think this was the first time she heard my English. The fist sentence was not “ Hello” or “ Nice to meet you”. When I said “ Sory, my English very bad”. It means I talk to her: “ don’t talk to me, please.” She said: “ Ok, we can use a body-language.” And then, we could talk just three or four sentences together in the first night.
Everything have a litter positively changed when I talked to my new teacher. He knew that I couldn’t speak English well. But he recommended me that: “We have only way to avoid a war. That is to become friends together. Try to become friends with every people in the trip.” The reason a war had a strong impact on me from the following experience. When we went to the Ancient Temple Quang Tri where 30 years ago, there were 1.000.000 brave Vietnamese dead in 1972. And when I stood in the front of the monument of 7000 Vietnamese student volunteers depart at the time, I was very very shocked. I’m a student, and they also at the time were the same. But I can now go to school everyday, and I can call my phone to talk with my mother, and my father. But they can’t. They must die in the place where they couldn’t see their family.
After listening to the advice of the teacher, I wanted to change myself but I didn’t have any idea that I should do.
At that night, everybody went out and walked along the river. We sang Japanese songs which my teachers taught us in my class. We together danced in the Japanese style, Vietnam style, Thai style and Mr.Kota’s style. Suddenly, I wanted really to have happly with Thailand friends than evever before because I thought that we were not three groups, we were really one team. I realized that if we use only Japanese, we never became really friends. I knew the biggest barrier was not the language. Barrier was my fear.
On the following day, my room mate was Anne who has a strong personality. When I am back to my room in the hotel, I was afraid and I said to myself : “ Oh my God. What should I do now?” I hated repeating chorus “Sorry, my English very bad”, and I hated to keep silent and sleep just like the last times. After thinking a little, I stood up and gave her two pictures which I bought before the trip as smaill gifts for my roommates. In the back of the first picture, I wrote for her in my bad English. “Sorry, I can’t talk English but I want to talk with you.” and in the second picture, I wrote my name and my favorites. I am sure that there are many mistakes but she can get what I mean. Then she looked at me and smiled. That was the second smile since we met. ‘Do you want to talk with me? Don’t worry. You should relax when speaking English. Your letter is very good. I can talk Thai and English. So do you. You are very good, too” She tried to talk slowly and use simple words for encouraging me. I wish I could speak Japanese as good as her English. I really want to say “ Thank you” to your patience, my new friend.
After that, we talked for 2 hours about all things in this world. I don’t remember what we talked about but I will never forget the way we talked together at that time. I used my computer to translate, and painted pictures. Sometimes, we burst into laughter because my pronunciation does not seem like English. I’m sure that she does not know how it means to me. I had so much fun and if only I had one more picture, I would write ‘Thank you so much’ in the back and give it to her.
In the morning of the next day, I feel completely confident to say: “ good morning” with Annie and her friends. At breakfast, I got into conversation with another Thailand friend in English. He asked me about Vietnam’s capital. I explained it for him that before Ha Noi became the official capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu and Hue used to be the capital. Nowadays, 2 areas are known as “the ancient capitals”.
Mr.Gong – a Japanese friend looked at me with full of surprise and asked me in Japanese: “ Oh, good. You are speaking English’ I answered very slowly, in my bad English, “ Now, you do not talk to me in Japanese. I want to talk with Thailand friends. I will speak English.” When we went by boat in Hương river, I sat beside Dee and talked with him. It is so happy in that journey, I said to him: “I want to talk with you. But I’m afraid of my bad English. But I think people make language to connect people. Language is a bridge, not a barrier. If language is a barrier between us, help me break it.” He tried to understand what I was saying. Maybe my bad English made him feel that I was like an alien. But I don’t care. From later on, we talked each other so much.
I think maybe, for a good student to make a mistake is terrible. But for me, when my English is nearly zero, I made some mistakes with pronunciation and grammar. It was not too bad. Everyone tries to understand and talk together. They are the most patient friends in the world I have ever known. I feel myself so lucky and grateful for them.
It is pity for us to have a farewell party so early. It is the fist time I was given hugs so much like that. Language is not still the most important. We embrace, smile and cry together. Everybody says: “See you again”, not saying “good-bye”. If I talked and shared together earlier, everything were much better. This is the most regrettable thing during the trip. In some way, this is also the motivation for me to change. Now I deeply understand that opportunities may be lost if I don’t say what I want to say. When I meet Anne, Pym, Gac, Dee… next time, I will no longer keep silent and talk to her in my better English.
When I am back to my home, I make a phone call and confide in my father for a long time. In the former days, he wants me to become a teacher. At that time, both of us decided to hang a world map beside the Japan map in my room.
Dear sir, what I want to say may not be a report. It is simply what I want to write to say thanks to Mr.Hatano, Mr.Yahiro and other members in the group, especially Annie, Dee, Gac, Pat, Pym, Shoko.
If from the beginning, my English was not so bad or I tried to talk to friends in English, this journey could not become unforgettable memories and benefit with me so much. Maybe my next report will regard another lesson with another experiences. It is the invaluable lesson I bring for reminding myself: to overcome afraid makes me stronger.
Ha Noi/ 20/03/2013
Nguyễn Thị Bích NgọcDifferent language is not a barrierPicture
Tran Thi Hong Nhung
Vietnam
Dear Mr. Hatano, Mr. Hirakawa and members of the Sing out Asia Organization!First, I would like to say thank you for all and wish you always healthy.My name is Tran Thi Hong Nhung. Now, I am studying at The University of the Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi, Vietnam.
I know the Sing out Asia is a program directed towards Asia. This program was founded on December 4, 2007. The purpose of “Sing out” is that we have a fundamental change in the consciousness of the people in Asia. Asia is becoming the center of the earth in terms of politics, economics, culture but perceptions of them as leaders responsible for the whole earth is still weak. So Sing out Asia – non-profit organization will foster young people from Asia to meet the needs of the times, consider the operation of the whole earth. This program was organized as a trip in the central region of Vietnam in March 2013.
I’m very happy that my country, Vietnam, chose for SOA tour this year. And I felt very fortunate to get the trust from my teacher; he recommended this program for me. This is the first time I had the opportunity to experience with this program. However, I have to say that I was really impressed.
I’m Vietnamese. But I ever never had the opportunity to learn about the central region of Vietnam before although my hometown is Nghe An – one of the provinces of it. So I was thrilled when this program towards the central region of Vietnam. Our trip began from Hanoi. Main destination of the trip included the provinces of Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Hue. We went by bus so when we go to any place with beautiful side and historic, we can stop to visit easily.
The first two days we stopped in Ninh Binh to take part in many activities. We have been visiting many places such as caves and temples, but I think main activities in two days to exchange. We had meeting to play the games but I know the purpose of these games is finding out about each other and enhancing intelligence, creativity. I knew about all information of all friends come from Japan and Thailand. Through this program, not only could we understand each culture but also our hobby, personality. Also this time we had performing show. It was a great program to introduce and share each country’s culture. Those games connected us from strangers become close friends. I saw the satisfaction on the face of teacher. The next days of our trip we constantly changed roommates. That is an interesting thing to show that we can adapt and can get along with anyone.
Different language is not a barrier for us because we have so many ways to understand each other. For example, we use body language, dictionary or any other way. I’d felt unbelievable that I had made a lot of friends with different nationalities and different cultures. It is interesting to learn each other way of living and find the similarity and different between cultures.
The next day, we have met so many amazing, interest and fantastic experience during this tour. I am very touched to see that my foreign friends are interested in learning about Vietnam. They had to try to understand, try to learn. It made me more proud of my country.
Especially, I’m honored to know you, Mr. Hatano, a great man. You are very kind and warm just like my father. You talked and shared with me a lot of things. You made me change the way of thinking for the better. Thank you so much.
SOA has changed my lifestyle, my way of thinking. It made me realize that I need to try harder in learning and in my life. I think every encounter is destiny but this encounter is the biggest turning-point of my life before. The biggest thing I got this trip is that I have built up a great friendship though SOA. Now we still contact each other every day. I think there is no other organization quite like this. These trips must be precious experiences for us. Thanks to SOA, my value changed drastically. I’ll be waiting for next SOA’s program.
I love Sing out Asia and the Japanese, Thailand. Everyone are so kind and intelligent. It is important thing between us is not different language, I think it is how we try to understand each other. I will always remember the song “We are one, we are unity” which two teachers taught us. Just eight days together, we are one!
Finally, I’d like to say thank you, Mr. Hatano, Mr. Hirakawa and you guys. I should thank my teacher who introduced me to SOA, Mr. Pham Hoang Hung. I really appreciate your kindness and support. I have no words to express my gratitude. Thank you for giving meaningful memories.
Thank you Sing out Asia! I hope we can all meet again on some day!
Best Regards,
Tran Thi Hong NhungThe amazing timePicture
Nguyen Hung Manh
Vietnam
Dear Teachers and all my friends in “Sing Out Asia”
My name is Nguyen Hung Manh. I am the second year student of University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
First of all, I want to thank for your appearance. I did have the amazing time in my own country with all of you- my new friends who come from various cultures.
Now my major in Faculty of Oriental Studies is Japanese Studies. I have learned Japanese language and culture. I have found out my passion for this major. Therefore, I was very happy when I knew there were some Japanese students in our journey. It was really a wonderful opportunity for me to interact to people who came from the country I like most. Friends who came from other countries also gave me a lot of memorable time.
I did countdown to the day we met. I prepared some small gifts for my new friends. I do not know how to say but it was difficult to express.
Before I met you at the airport, I had thought that Thai friends would speak in Japanese. In fact, they spoke English very well. I used to learn English but my English was terrible.
I felt very happy to have three Japanese roommates. So I do not need to speak in English to them. But in the end, I felt a bit regret, I told my teacher: “I have never lived in the same room with Thai friends”. I wish I had both Japanese and Thai roommates. We could share more meaningful things. I lost some opportunities to communicate in English because my terrible English was not enough to use. I was so sad because the different language barrier, I could not chat to Thai friends more. I understood what they said in English but I could not speak anymore. I told Dee: “I am sorry, I really want to talk to you but my English is so bad, I do not know how to say”. After sharing this thought, I think, I am a silly guy. Why won’t I try to lear English more? The next day, I told Dee one more time: “I think that what I said to you yesterday was very silly. Although my English is not good, I really want to talk to you. Can you help?” I know that practice makes perfect.
In our journey, you and I had a good time together. But I have got expressive of some of you.
Kana is an optimistic girl.
Whenever she said: “Oigioioi”(the same meaning to Oh my God), I could not help laughing. Her voice is so cute. I recorded her voice and set as my ringtone. My parents and my friends are both love it.
Dee: a gentle guy.
He was very patient to listen to me, helped me speak in English more confidently. I felt very easy whenever talking to him. Thank you so much, Dee!
Mary: This is my special friend
Like a soul mate, I shared her a lot of things, my dream, my plan…I hope that if I get a scholarship to study in Japan, the first person I want to meet is you.
My roommate: Gongon, Kota and Koki
It was an unforgettable time together time, right?
To Koki, You will be a best brother because you know how to care to your friends.
At this moment, I think “Can I see you again?” I believe that the second opportunity will come because I have something that has not done yet. I need to buy some ice cream for Kana; I have been not in Japan to be with Mary and Koki. Teacher has not foretold for me yet…I believe we will meet some day.
I will try to improve my Japanese and English for communicating to you more fluently.
At the end, I want to say thank you to “Sing out Asia”. I have experienced a lot of meaningful things when I was part of “Sing out Asia”.
Thank you, our two teachers who always stand by us.
Living in an atmosphere like “Sing out Asia”, students like you and me have a chance to be united. We are really proud to be Asian people.
The time you spent in Vietnam had been recorded in my memories. Vietnam has stored your images in each placed you had visited.
Good luck and see you again!
I was very worriedPictureTo Sing Out Asia
Everyone knows that, each trip will bring some useful experiences. To me, Sing Out Asia in Viet Nam in 8 days left me unforgettable memories in Viet Nam students.
A month before this trip, my teacher said that in March, we will have short trip in Viet Nam with Japanese and Thailand’s students so we must choice about 10 persons who will take part in this program. From when I was in university, this was first time I heard an organization named Sing Out Asia. That day, when I went home, immediately I searched this name on internet and I learned more about it and started interested in this trip.
In the words my teacher said, our class will have 10 persons but there are many students who want to participate and the number up to 20 people. So we had to do a game as the lottery, in that, if anyone picking word “go”, she or he will be. But unfortunately, then my teacher said that our class can have just 5 persons and the remainder reserved for the class below us. We had to do this game again. So I think I’m very very lucky because I could join the trip.
I was reassured when our teacher told me that Thai students are also learning Japanese. But when I went to Airport to welcome everyone, I knew that we have to use English for the trip. I was very worried. And as we started the tour, my anxiety was evident. I was Viet Nam group’s leader so I knew about English skills of members. We could speak in Japanese well but only can use a little English. In fact, all of the members have studied English since a secondary school but when we were in university, we absolutely have no opportunity to learn or use English.
As a leader I did not know what should I do. We weren’t confident enough to speak in English. We can used Japanese to talk, to joke and understand a lot about Japanese guys but we can’t do that with Thai guys. I felt that the Vietnamese and the Japanese are a family while the Thais are outside. My mind was actually worse!
When we went out or had a meal, Vietnamese’s students always went with Japanese’s, Thais always segregated together. And then have one day in Hue, a Japanese friend Gon talked to me a lot about the relationship between three student’s groups on the trip. A day before, Gon also talked to Dee about this for 2 hours. So I though I and everyone need to do something to change the situation. I sent a message to Vietnamese students that we have to try to use English to make friend with Thai guys, lets create memories. In the following days, we tried to speak English a lot. We smiled and found pleasure in each other more.
The trip has come to an end. The last day, we went to sightseeing around Ha Noi and in the evening, we had small party in hotel. We had fun dining with each other, given some gifts and talked a lot. When the Vietnamese prepared to back home, suddenly tears falling, we hugged each other and crying out loud. We promised that we will try to go to Japan to study, will save money to travel to Thailand and we will definitely meet again.
From that trip, I know that the most important thing is friendship. This trip give me chance to make some friends and I also understood that language is not everything. Language is a means to convey idea but if you can’t use language well, we still understand each other completely.
To me, this was my first long travel with international friends and I learned a lot of things. I feel more mature and my thoughts have also changed about relationship between people, about my future career and now I know my place. This trip make me want to inplove my English. I want that, for when we have the chance to see each other again, we’ll talk a lot more and understand eachother more than now.
Everyday I miss everyone very much. I sincerely thank you Mr. Hatano and Mr. Yahiro, who sent invitation to us, so we have opportunity to experience, to live a life of community and help understand about heartfelt friendship. I also want to say thank you all of guys because they came to Vietnam and enjoyed each other. This trip also makes me love my country more. I will be hard-learning, hard-working and try my best to make my dream come true.
My friends said that I am lucky, and I think that’s true. After this trip, I had big family. I am proud of them. Just as the words of a song, “we are one but we are different, we from all around the world. We share the same sun, we share the same oceans, we are every boy and gilr, come together and share our dreams. We’ll be among the stars, and WE KNOW THAT IT’S DESTINY, AND WE ARE UNITY, WE ARE UNITY, THAT WE ARE UNITY…”
From Vietnamese girl
Mai Thi Khanh Huyen I have broken the high wall in my mindPicture
Tran Dieu Anh
Vietnam
After the trip organised by SOA, I have penetrated deeply the ancient Vietnamese idiom meaning “travel broadens mind”. This trip indeed brought me many exciting experiences as well as plentiful knowledge not only about my country (history, traditional culture or something like this) but also the value of the friendship.
Actually, this trip came to me by accident. In that time, I just thought that I would join in a travel through my country and it would be a chance for me to relax, hang out with friends…. I had no idea that the journey would have such a huge meaning for me. In the first night at Ninh Binh prefecture, I was worrying about my English because my first roommate was Thai person, Annie. I thought that there was something which was preventing me from talking openly to her as well as the others. I had just learnt some Thai words for greeting and that’s all, our story was just like this. But in the next seminar day, I understood thoroughly about communication between the alien cultures: There are many ways to communicate with the others without a word, such as body language, drawing, observing… and so on. On the other hand, the seminar let me know that when we are in an alien cultural, there is a lot of strange things but we need to try our best to adapt to the new one. I suddenly remembered my teacher said that: “In students’ life, it’s better if you do something which you are considering it ashamed”. Because of that, I talked confidently with my roommate and the remaining people. The result was over my expectation. It was like I have broken the high wall in my mind to connect with the others. After the seminar, I really had got some foreign new friends. In the remaining days, I had got more friends and more fun. Although travelling by bus was very tired, I think we still be cheerful. I found some interesting things like the Thai way and Japanese way to have meal and it was just different from Vietnamese a little bit. Of course, I still had to notice the others during the meal in order to not be rude and I realised that if I want to adapt to new environment, I have to observe zealously. It was a big fun for me.
The trip would be the most exciting if in the free-day in Hue, my roommate, Azusa had not got some problems. She could not eat almost Vietnamese food and got sick as well as could not go anywhere. At that time, I thought I really worried about her and wanted to do something for her. So it was the reason why I bought her some local food for gift with the wish she would be alright. Besides, the interest of Kota and Chien and the others for Azusa made me very happy and I figured out that “give to get back more”. Friendship is the cord connecting everyone despite the distance in language and culture.
Moreover, the most impressive person to me is Ply. We had just stayed together for 1 night but her fervour made us closer and I really really like her. In addition, in my opinion, the most interesting person is Kana. We had always called her “Omoshiroi-san” because she was very cute when she said: “Oi zoi oi” (Oh my god in Vietnamese). Azusa is the cutest girl, she talked to me a lot about Jpop and something like this. The prettiest one is Haruna, I called her “Kirei-san” and she called me “Kawaii-san”, what a cute conversation! The most beautiful smile belongs to Piim, she is also a good hairdresser and I had chance to see she make the hair for Ply (It’s awesome!). Besides, another Pim is the most spry girl, she was good at drawing, you should see her pictures, it was so amazing. The kindest one is Gags, she helped me find my hat eventhough it was gone. The most admirable person is Dee, he has a very profound thinking. The most beautiful women is Shoko, she always smile and it made me feel comfortable. Annie is the most fashionable girl, she always suprised me. And Mari is the most friendly girl, Joy is the sweetiest, Pear is the most gentle, Tata is really an out-going girl. Phat is the cutest boy, Gon is the most interesting boy and Koki is the manliest. Everybody is the apple of my eye. ^^
The last day in Hanoi, the tears fell down. I had just thinking about the lyrics: “We are one but we are different, we from all around the world. We share the same sun, we share the same ocean... We are unity”
The SOA journey is so meaningful for me. I really want to take part in it one more time. I hope SOA will develop further.
Thank you very much Mr.Hatano and Mr.Hirakawa!
Thank you everyone! We are friends forever!
I love you guys so much and all the Vietnameses do, too.A very important journeyPicture
Do Huyen Trang (Yuki)
Vietnam
In opinion, SOA was a very important journey that helped me change my point of view on many things.
To Sing Out Asia
SOA was an very interesting experience in my student life. Before the trip, I merely expected to improve my communication skills in foreign languages; but in the end, clearly, it wasn’t the only thing that I have learnt.
To be honest, in the beginning I was at a loss. As a student in the field of Japanese studies, I very much appreciated this chance to improve my poor Japanese skills – I could barely catch their words. I had taken for granted that everyone in the trip could speak both English and Japanese as well. However, on the day I first met my companions at the airport, it had dawned onto me that my Thai friends couldn’t speak any Japanese. But their English was simply excellent. I was not entirely shocked by the realisation, just a sense of slight discomfort for I could only communicate with them in only 1 language; while as for the Japanese, if they didn’t what I said in one, I could just switch to the other. Surprisingly, from the very first day, I turned out to be much better with English rather than Japanese. Perhaps it was my 12 years of basic English study before university that came to my rescue, even though here in Vietnam, we only study for written tests, without much chance of verbal practicing.
It would not be entirely true if I were to say the whole trip went without a hitch. Actually, there was quite a few problems that had surfaced. I quickly noticed that Vietnamese students easily got along very well with the Japanese students. Maybe the main thing here was the language barrier. Some people in the Vietnamese group almost could not speak any English, so they were very reluctant to use it. My English was not stellar either. But I also wished that my stories would come through to everybody, so despite knowing the embarrassing trails of mistakes I made, I tried my best to use English most of the time.
Other than language, there was also a problem with cultural difference. Vietnamese are in fact quite prudent and shy. I’m quite an introvert, even amongst my fellow Vietnamese. So when I had to share the room with a foreigner, I couldn’t think of anything to say, save for the common etiquette. And my passive mindset also had led me ignore the situation. And that was which that I most regret.
Everything changed in the night of the meeting. After the meeting, my roommate – Small Pim and I had an exchange of words. She boldly asked me whether Vietnamese students prefered Japanese students to the Thai, for she saw that Vietnamese students and Thai students were quite distant. I was truly shocked by what Pim said, and profoundly sad as well, for this was only a misunderstanding. I tried to explain to Pim that it was untrue, for I was very fond of Thai students, and honestly informed her of the language barrier that Vietnamese students were facing. And she said something that I could never forget : “This is just a conversation, not an examination. You don’t have to worry if you make a mistake.”
We then conversed for quite a while, about both the language and cultural barrier between the two countries. I was very touched by Small Pim for giving it to me straight away.
The following day, I told the leaders and the other students of my conversation with Pim. They were as surprised as I had been. And we were all very regretful for the unfortunate misunderstanding. We didn’t wish for our shyness or inactivity to cost us the chance of making new friends. So we decided that we had to change. I encouraged the ones with little English skills to communicate with the Thai in English, and helped out if there were any difficulty.
Everything changed so much for the better after our decision. I was very glad to see all of us students from 3 different countries could get closer and more open towards each other. And our new foreign friends were truly wonderful.
Now that the trip was over, I really really miss them. There is a saying, “People often regret the things they didn’t do rather than the things that they did”. I regret that we didn’t talk more and how I should have told them how much I liked them.
I also dedicate my most sincere gratitude to Mr. Hatano and Mr. Hirakawa – the people who gave me a chance to become part of this experience and meeting all these fantastic people. I leant a lot about interaction, communication as well as honing my lingual skills, and realised the importance of them all. I thank you, all of you, and hope we will soon meet again.
Sincerely
Do Huyen Trang (Yuki)
From Thailand
The power of open mindPictureHathai Sukmoung (Annie)From Thailand
Thailand
SOA trip was one of the most exceptional experiences for me. I learned a lot from this trip. I get to experience situation that I never thought I would have to before. I get to visit my neighbor country, Vietnam, which amazed me by all the culture and nature. For me I think Vietnam is different from Thailand in many aspects and to be able to experience new culture new environment is really the reason why this trip was such a good experience.
Before I came to Vietnam I had study a little about its history about the war and political side of Vietnam but as I had a chance to visit the country I get to know about the culture and reality of Vietnam in present day. Vietnam has preserved its beautiful nature and their traditional lifestyle so when I was there I feel totally different vibe from when I was in Thailand. It was a perfect get away trip for big city like Bangkok.
On the first day we went on a bamboo boat which paddle by Vietnamese lady, the scenery was gorgeous, the weather was so nice and the Vietnamese lady was nice to us even she barely speak English. But that was just before I realize that it was not just that Vietnamese lady that cannot speak English. I think on the first day we become to realize that three groups of student were not speaking the same language. The communication problem start to get in the way of getting to know each other since the first day and that concerned me of how are we going to do for the rest of the trip.
The activities on the second day were really useful for this trip. It taught us how to communicate with out the language. It brings out the ability that we don’t even know we have. It is to use hand gesture, picture, acting; anything but words. And from that we can apply things we learned to our daily life for the rest of the trip. I think those activities were great and they help broke the ice between students and learned about one another.
At first I thought the communication problem will cause the whole trip but in contrast it brings us together even more. We learned that we had problems so we try even harder to get along and eventually we all became friend. I was not the kind of person who talks a lot to stranger and with the different language made it harder for me to break the ice with someone.
Vietnamese students showed me that language was not the problem. I admire them for their effort. My first roommate was Anh, she can speak English very well and very nice girl. I was so lucky to have her as my first roommate. But Ngoc was the girl that impressed me the most. She has trouble speaking English but she never stops trying, she uses all the help from Google and turns the situation all around.
From then, language was not the problem between us anymore. With Japanese students, I have less communication problem with them than Vietnamese so we can get along faster. During 9 days trip I eventually get to know more about both Japanese and Vietnamese students. Time went so fast when we started to get so close. When the last day comes, I almost cannot believe that I have to say good bye to all my new friends so soon and I wish there will be a chance for us to meet again.
What I learned most about this trip is the power of open mind. If we have open mind we can do anything, it is all about our attitude toward the situation. There is no bad situation, it is just only different. We can overcome any different situation with our open mind. To become friend, we don’t need to speak same language or come from same culture; all we need is our heart and our hand. If we can’t speak, use our body to explain it. In the end we all became good friend, we had fun trip together. We share the same experience that we will cherish it forever.
None of these experiences would never happened without Mr. Hatano and Mr. Yahiro so thanks to you both that put together this trip and give me the opportunity to be apart in this special trip and take care all of us for the whole trip. I learned a lot, I had so much fun and the most precious thing is friendship, all of these are what I got from this trip. Thank you. <3 I think listening is the most important part.Picture
(On the left)
Parysa Khunwuthikorn (Pim)
Thailand
SOA trip has always impressed me since the first time I joined 2 years ago. This year I was very glad to have the chance again. Trip in Vietnam was a very good trip. It was great that we had a tour guide who knew the history quite well and could explain to us very clear.
As a political science student, I am very interested in history and Vietnam is a country that has a very interesting history. It is impressive how fast Vietnam can recover and develop after decades devastated by so many wars. Also, it was the first time I had a chance to visit a socialist country, so I learned many things that I haven't known before. What I feel about Vietnam is that it is a very calm country and has very beautiful nature. People still live very simply, unlike Thailand which is a very materialistic society.
For 9 days, I think it was a really good trip. It was enough time for students to get to know each other and gain a lot of precious experiences. I think some students already attached to one another a lot. We can see it evidently from those tears at the last day of saying goodbye.
About the trip participants, I'm very impressed with both Japanese and Vietnamese. Japanese friends are very outgoing. I feel so happy when talking to them. They try to make friends with both Thai and Vietnamese. Vietnamese, personally I feel that they like to talk with Japanese more than Thai. But I understand that they can not communicate with English very well and they are more comfortable speaking Japanese. So I try to speak slowly and try to use body languages to help sometimes. I know it is difficult to communicate with people who speak different languages than us but I don't think that it is too difficult if we have an open mind and open heart that ready to listen and ready to understand.
Anyway Vietnamese are very nice, I really like them, they look so young and very sincere. And this is the first time I have friends from Vietnam. By the end of the trip Vietnamese gained more confidence and came to talk more to Thai students. I was very impressed how hard they try to communicate with Thai students. Some could not speak English very well but they used computer to translate and write it in letter for Thai students.
What I like about this trip is that we have to switch room mate every time we move to the new hotel. It is a very good way for students to meet and talk more with new friends. I also like the seminar that we played many of the cross culture training games. Last time in Thailand I already knew how to play those games but when I had a chance to play it again, I understood the games more clearly. It was a very clever way of ice breaking, break up groups students or separate students. It was very fun and also each game gave us lessons.
What I learned from SOA trip, both Thailand and Vietnam, is that being with people from different culture and speak different languages is not easy, especially this trip that language is the biggest obstacle. This barrier would not be disappear if all of us didn't make a hard effort to break it. So I learned that if we have an open mind, ready to understand, ready to listen, ready to look over bad feelings and keep only good ones, we can get over whatever we think that it is impossible.
I think listening is the most important part. Listen without criticizing, listen with an open mind, listen from whoever is talking to us with respect is very important. I know everybody love to talk, love to share what they have been through or what they have experience in their lives, but if nobody listen that means nothing. As I say at the beginning that speaking different languages is an important obstacle for us to become friends and understand each other, but if we all listen very carefully and listen with respect, I believe that we can understand each other very well. We might not be able to understand every words, but the expression on their faces and some body languages will make it easier if we listen to our friends earnestly. Therefore speaking different languages is not that big of a problem.
Finally, I would like thank you Mr. Hatano and Mr. Yahiro who always take a good care of us. Thank you for the most memorable trip. Thank you for giving us all a chance to meet each other so we can become very good friends. I love Mr. Hatono's words that “ Friendship is really important, it can help your life.” I believe that it's true. Friendship is very important. Friends will be the one who walk beside you in the road of your life no matter how rough that road is. They will always be there to help and support you. At least, they are the most important laughter in your life.
Many good experiencesPicture
Sirin CHuencharoen
Ply
Thailand
SOA Tour to Vietnam is the great program. I am so glad that i have a chance to be apart of this program. Nine days in Vietnam give me a lot.
Many good experiences happen in there. Culture , History, Famous Places ,Different Food, Friendship, Great People. etw.
It's good to have new friends with other people from other countries. Its good to share the moment together.
Even if we dont speak the same langauge. It is very impressed that we all can help eachother to go over the language obstacle. This trip teach me many things to adjust my attitude in a better way. It makes me know that we can be happy together within the differences of our own. It is very important in the social nowadays. We all have to be open minded open for new different things, new people,new culture. In oder to understand eachother and be happy in every way.All of this couldn't bought by moneyPicture
Jednapis Sethwattanakul (Pear)
Thailand
To Sing Out Asia
I have to thank you for a great opportunity from Mr.Hatano and Mr.Yahiro to join Sing Out Asia Trip 2013 in Vietnam. It was a great trip with lots of good memories in Vietnam and it brings me a great relationship with new friends both with Japanese and Vietnamese students. The time, the memories and the friendship is the most value I've got from this trip, which all of this couldn't bought by money.
This trip would have been my last chance to join Sing Out Asia Trip around Asia, before I have to go back to my real life and I have to pursue on my future career. I have a good time with all my new friends in this trip and I will keep our friendship forever. I wish to see them all again in the future, may be in Vietnam or Japan or Thailand.
From Thai Girl
Jednapis Sethwattanakul (Pear)A great impact in my lifePicture
Piim Sripathom
Thailand
To Sing Out Asia
My name is Pronprom Sripathom, a student from Thailand. I’m studying in Chulalongkorn Universty, faculty of Political Science, major in International Relations.
Sing Out Asia cross cultural training camp in 2013 in Vietnam was a second time for me in being a participant of this program. From the first time in Thailand in 2011, I had joined this trip just because I want to travel around. But after few days spending time with many friends from Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia, I had learnt many things from them. I knew more about other counties, about their cultures, histories, foods and I learned some words from them. In 2011, I just finished the first year in university, and SOA had opened my eyes to see the world and people outside my country, to learn and to care more about others. SOA trip completely changed my life, my thought and my attitude. I had learnt more about how to blend in with other people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. So, this camp gave me a remarkable experience. On the last day of 2011 camp, I was crying a lot because I had to say goodbye to my friends, I never thought that 9-day camp will let me feel so close to them this much. Personally, I don’t like saying goodbye because I think that it’s not easy to see them again, I thought this goodbye means forever. I tried to keep in touch with them on Facebook and Skype which make me feel so close with them. And some of my friends came to visit me in Thailand which made me feel so happy to see them again. I learn that goodbye doesn’t mean that we will never see each other ever again but it’s just only a moment. Even I didn’t meet everyone after the camp but two things remained which are friendship and memories that keep us together.
After the camp in 2011, I tried to improve my English and I really want to join the SOA trip again in 2012, unfortunately, Thailand was faced a big flooding, my school had to be postponed and not finished in time when the trip began. So, in 2013, I heard that this year will have SOA trip in Vietnam, I was really interesting because I was impressed from the first trip in 2011 and another reason was I just studied about Vietnam history. Thus, I decided to join the trip again. In this trip, I got new friends from Vietnam, Japan and even Thailand. We were having fun together, knowing about each other through many games which gave very useful lesson in living with other people. There were many games, for example one game, we were told to find a partner and after that we have to learn about each other without talking or writing, we can use only body language. This game taught me that even we are using languages but it doesn’t mean that we can’t know more about each other by only using speaking language; we can use other means in communicating. Another game I like name ‘Beta and Alpha ’, all students were dived into 2 groups, one belong to Beta and another one belong to Alpha village. Both villages have their own characteristics, languages, with completely difference norms and values but they don’t know about each other before. Beta and Alpha have to send their people to visit another village to observe what people in another village are doing, how they greeting, how they living. After the game, we had a discussion about what we think or learn when visit another village. Lessons learnt in this game were very useful. Things I learned from this game is when we go to other countries/places, we have to observe and learn about other societies, we can’t act like we are being center of the world but sometimes we have to follow others, follow their rules and their cultures. To sum up about SOA cross cultural training program, this program taught me lots of things, shaped my attitude toward others. The trip gave way of thinking in term of international dimension which really important to me as an international relations student.
In this trip, I had a little bit worried about relationship between Thai and Vietnamese students. Because many times I tried to make friend with some Vietnamese students, I talked with them but many of them didn’t talk back and they just walked away without saying anything with me and they always stick together with the Japanese students, talking in Japanese a lot which I don’t understand. I started to worry and I think that maybe the Vietnamese students wanted to speak Japanese and talk with the Japanese more because they are major in Japan Study. They like Japanese comics, foods and cultures. So, I think they have no idea about what to talk with Thai students. After few days, I decided to talk with my Vietnamese roommate about what I worried. I talked with her because she had been so nice to me and talked with me a lot when we stayed together and I don’t want to keep my worries for any longer. We were talking about what I worried. I asked my roommate that if any Thai students did anything they don’t like or they just want to practice their Japanese. The answer I got from my roommate is completely different from what I think at first. She said that actually Vietnamese students really want to talk with Thai students but they have no confidence to speak English because they studied English just to pass exam but they never have a chance to use it. They thought that they will say something wrong and Thai students might not understand it. Then they just avoid speaking English and just ignore when someone talked with them in English. So, I told my roommate to tell their friends that they don’t have to care about grammar or whatever, just say it, I don’t care if it right or wrong. We are all friends, not teacher and students. So, we have no need to say everything grammatically corrected. We were talking for an hour. The next day, I think my roommate had already told their friends about our conversation. In the afternoon, I noticed that many Vietnamese students came to me and tried to talk with me and other Thai Students more than few days ago. I was very happy to talk with them , I asked them a lot about their politics and history that I’m interested. Because before I went to Vietnam, I had studied about Vietnam history. So, I took this chance to visit and learn more about the history, politics and social directly from the Vietnamese.
The trip nearly came to the end, we had farewell party before went back to Hanoi. Almost everyone said about the trip, about what they got or what they learn from the trip. Many people were crying a lot when we knew that we about to say goodbye. Finally the last day came, we have to say goodbye, we were crying a lot again and even more than in farewell party. We promise to each other that we will keep in touch and we would find every possible chance to meet again. Some of my Japanese friends said they will save money and come to Thailand on this coming August. I felt so glad to hear that. And I started to miss them every time I saw our pictures that keep all good memories inside. I’m counting days to meet them again, I think it will be awesome as it was. I know how good it will be when you meet people you hardly meet. It will be like when I went to Japan on 2012 to meet my SOA friends in 2011, we were talking about good old days and having fun together. So, I think that if I meet my SOA friends in 2013 again, it will be so nice too. As I mentioned that this trip gave lots of experience and have a great impact in my life. And this trip made me realize that one of the most important things in my life is friendship.
I deeply appreciated to Mr.Hatano who always give me good opportunities, good experiences. I feel so thankful for everything and everyone that brings me here to meet them.
Piim Sripathom
Thai Student My most memorable tripPicture
Kawita Niwatananun ( Thai student )
I have been to on many trips and have travel to many places but there is not any trip that can compare to Sing Out Asia Vietnam. The memories and friendships that I have made here will last for a lifetime. It is definitely my most memorable trip.
I learned about Sing Out Asia Vietnam through a friend of mine. He invited me to come and after thinking about it I decided it would be a great idea to come because I have never been to Vietnam before. When I first arrived at the airport in Hanoi I was quite anxious because I did not know what to expect. We all met at the airport (Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese) but we started getting to know each other on the bus. Before arriving in Vietnam, I thought that we might have some trouble communicating because we spoke different languages but after I got to talk to some of the Japanese I felt that we would have no trouble communicating in English. I did not know that the majority of the Vietnamese could not really speak English until I got to room with one of the Vietnamese girls.
When she told me that she could not really understand English, I was quite worried because I had no idea how we would talk to each other and I really wanted to get to know her. First, I thought if I spoke really slow she might understand me but she still could not but after trying we found out that we could communicate by our body language and by drawing. This was the first time that I was in a situation that I almost could not communicate with somebody because I always thought that everybody could understand English. Everybody might not have great English skills but we could still communicate by using English. So I was quite shocked when I found out that the Vietnamese could speak Japanese so fluently but could not speak English. Being put into this kind of situation taught me that sometime you do not need to use language to communicate with somebody. You could use drawings, body language and you will be able to communicate just fine.
This trip taught me a lot of things. I learned that there are many ways to communicate other than using language. I also learned that even though we come from different places and use different languages, we all have similar interest in a lot of things such as music, hobbies and our goals in life. Now the trip is over but those 10 amazing and wonderful days will always live on in my memory.
I am very grateful that I got this opportunity to go to Vietnam. I definitely want to come back to Vietnam someday and I am finding an opportunity to go to Japan!
I really want to thanks Mr.Hatano and Mr.Yahiro for giving me this opportunity to broaden my horizon, to meet new people and to gain many new experiences.
The friendships that have been built on this trip will last forever and I believe that we will all have the chance to meet up again. This trip did not only give me great memories but I gained a family out of it. Now I have two families, one family is blood related and the other is international.
I believe that we were destined to meet so that we could share this 10 day journey together. I feel very blessed. Wonderful tripPicture
Phat Ratanawilaiwan
Thailand
Dear Sing Out Asia 2013,
As a senior student at Chulalongkorn University, I looked for a chance to have a rest before getting into the job market. By destiny, my friend (Pear) invited me to join Sing Out Asia 2013 which held from 10-19 of March 2013 in Vietnam. This is one of the most memorable experiences and I am very happy that I was a part of this wonderful trip.
In this trip, there are students from three difference nations; namely, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. Once I was there I faced the problem of communication in English. At first, I really panic of how to do with this problem. My first friend is a Japanese guy, name Koki. He is not that talkative, but after chatting with him for a while I found that he is very nice and have many experiences. I am very excited when I heard that he was just back from Fiji. We also have a chance to do group activities together and I have more opportunities to make more friends from this. Every activity was very creative and allowed me to develop my mind-set. One of the most memorable ones was the game that there are a large number of tasks and the one who could finish it first will get the prizes. Actually, there is nothing to do with this game if you read carefully. I was pretty shock when I figured out the problem, may be the last one, but this teaches me not to do everything in order by not check the overall method.
Along the trip, I got in touch with more and more friends. Starting with Japanese friends, I get to know Haruna and really feel that she is very smart and very friendly. Shoko looks very eligant. For me she is a real model of Japanese girl. Her English is very good and I am pretty sure that she will be one of the best cabin crew for Japan Airlines. Marie is the cutest girl for this trip. Her gesture when she speaking is amazing. Kana is very talkative and funny girl. Actually, I really like the way she shows up as it’s really like Thai people. Kota is also very funny guy. With him and Kana, I laughed and laughed many times. I also like his passion and vision about his career path as a teacher. Kong is also very friendly and I am really impressed when he tries to communicate with me. He even used a dictionary and for me I am very appreciates with this.
Move to Vietnamese friends, to be truthful, I haven't talk much in detail with them at first. May be this was because of language barrier. However, every times I chatted with them, I was attract by their smile which similar to Thai people. I would love to say more about Moss, as she was the first one I have a chance to chat with her for a long time. She is a novel and have her own web blog which she translate the novel into Vietnam language. She is also able to perform Japanese style dance. Yuki is the one who I can feel that she really try hard to communicate in English. Nguyen is very friendly and she is the leader of Vietnam group. She can speak English quite well. Bin is only Vietnamese guy in this trip, he is very nice too.
Lastly are Thai friends, as we come from two difference faculties. I am very happy when we worked as a group for talent show and for me it is very lucky to be friends with them.
All in all, I would like to say sorry that I cannot mention everyone here, but I really member everyone. I would like to say “Thank you so much” to Mr.Hatano and Mr.Yahiro for organized this wonderful trip, which allow me to exchange and share my vision, experiences and learn both Japanese and Vietnamese culture and lifestyle. Everything including food, transportation, activity, accommodation, and travel plan is fantastic. Once before I was a part of Sing Out Asia, I feel that when communicate in English I have to pronounce the best accent and use some technical words to look clever. After this trip, I realize that when communicate with friends, there is no need to do that because you really need to let them understand what you talking about. It is like talking through your heart not that special thing that created from your brain. I hope that this program will continue forever, to give a chance for more and more students from around the world to enjoy this great experience like me.
Sincerely,
from Japan
The most important thing is an attitudePicturefrom Japan
Shimizu Haruna
Japan
I This trip to Vietnam gave me a lot of experience and friends. I spent the time with my friends for only 9 or 10days. However I 'm convinced that I won't be able to forget the time. I knew nothing about Vietnam and TaiIand except that they lay in Asia but I began to be interested in histories, politics or cultures of them more and more. Because talking with my friends about their own countries taught me various new points of view. And through the trip I learned one thing : The most important thing for communicating foreign people is attitude to try to understand, not language. I know this sentens looks very ordinary, but we tend to forget it on communicating people from another countries. In the trip, we might be worried about the diffirence of languages more or less. However an attitude that you want to know about somebody surely moves their hearts without language. The SOA's trip reminds me the usual and important thing.
Thank you so much Mr. Hatano, Mr. Hirakawa and my friends‼
I want to meet all of you again! Picture
Kana Hirose
Japan
When I heard about this trip first time in my university, I had interested in about that. I want to make many friends all over the world! I thought simply like that. And at the same time, I heard that Vietnamese students and Thai students study Japanese. So I was not worried about language.
When we arrive at the airport in Vietnam, both of students were waiting for us. And all of Vietnamese students help us to exchange money. At that time, they talked us in Japanese with smiling. I felt relief they can speak Japanese very well. While getting on bus with them, we talked about favorite Japanese movies, anime, comics, songs and so on. Both of countries’ students know about Japanese well, but I didn’t know their countries so much. I wish I had studied about that. Anyway, we could enjoy talking in Japanese. Then, I used only Japanese to talk with Vietnamese students.
Few hours later, I realized that Thai students cannot speak Japanese. My major in my university is English education. In the future, I want to be an English teacher. So I study English, BUT I couldn’t have confidence to communicate in English. In the beginning of this trip, I tried to speak English but I couldn’t. I was unwilling to make mistakes speaking my English. In fact, I am so shy! But everyone didn’t believe me. After much consideration what I want to say in English, I spoke to them every time. I couldn’t have confidence as much. Thai students can speak English very well. I felt frustrated. I wish I had studied English harder in Japan. However, I can notice that the most important thing is not only English ability through Vietnamese students and Thai students’ behavior. Vietnamese students also heard that Thai students study Japanese. They can speak Japanese very well, but some of them were not good at speaking English. However, I saw a situation that they tried to speak to Thai students in English. It was not perfect English, but I think it is real good communication. Because, they used body languages and made eye contact each other, and Thai students tried to understand their words. When I saw that situation, I was so embarrassed. What a fool I am!!! I felt like that I waste much time until then. From then on, I also tried to speak English as much as possible with also Vietnamese students. I think I could communicate better. I could enjoy talking in English. I could be laughing with then. Sometime, I took pictures with crazy face with my friends. I could enjoy everything with them.
The last day, I don’t want to say good-bye. I couldn’t help stop crying. I didn’t know when we can meet again. But I promised them. We will meet again!
In this trip, we did many things together. We shared only the 10 days. But we could be good friends. We could enjoy everything. I can’t forget this trip and my friends. I’ll never forget. Thank you, Mr. Hatano, Mr.Hirakawa and Mrs.Hirakawa.
I want to meet all of you again! My friends! Thank you.
The situation has changed graduallyPicture
Takayuki Nakayama (GON)
Japan
I was worried about this trip because I had never been to Vietnam. But, my thinking had changed soon. Trip in Vietnam was good for me.
First day, Japanese students went to Taipei to eat dinner and put up a hotel. Some of Japanese talked about SOA when we played cards. Next day, we met Thailand and Vietnamese. At first we were very nervous but we opened out as we got to know each other. We got on a bus and we had a tour guide who knew the history well and tell us it clearly. He was cheerful and kind to us. We went to the river and got on a cockboat with a Vietnamese friend Bin who was my first roommate. I was glad to get on it and see a beautiful view. After that time we went to a temple and ate dinner.
I came into contact with a different culture in the temple. A boy in the temple tried to sell souvenirs to us but there must not market. I don’t know that things. Buddhist monk came closer the boy and she beat and shout at him. He went down stairs without crying. However he still waited us and tried to sell them. If I was the boy, I cried and forgot about trying to sell them. The boy’s heart is very strong. I need to practice mentally. Vietnamese food is quite different from Japanese food. I was surprised but I tried to eat. I feel fat because they were delicious.
I was very impressed by talent show because Thai and Vietnamese show was interesting. Their show expressed their national cultures. Vietnamese show were singing a song whose name was “The Only Flower in the World.” and dancing Yosakoi. Thai show were playing a game which is famous for Thai and singing a song whose name was “Call me maybe.” This song expressed alternative lifestyles. Their show made me amusing.
When we were in my university, we have no opportunity to speak English. So I was not confident enough to speak English. The first of the trip, I tended to talk with Vietnamese.
When we had meal, half of Japanese and Vietnamese went out together, other half of Japanese and Thai did. I did not know definite reason. I thought Japanese and Vietnamese could speak Japanese. Japanese and Thai could speak English. In Hue, my roommate was a Thai student, Dee. I talked to him about this for 2 hours. I asked him what you thought this. He answered it intensely. The following day, I talked to a Vietnamese friend Huyen about yesterday things. Mr. Dee talked to Vietnamese actively. Ms. Huyen sent a message to Vietnamese students that they have to try to speak in English with Thai. The situation has changed gradually. I appreciate them doing that.
Finally, I would like to thank you, Mr. Hatano , Mr. Hirakawa and Mrs. Hirakawa. Mrs. Hirakawa who told me SOA is my teacher. Thank you for giving us a chance to make friends. Mr. Hatano told us about friendship and communication. I also think they are very important in our life. They can help our life.
I hope we can meet again!!!!! Thank you!!!!!
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