CCT Camp 2015
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平川 笑（Japan）
「クロスカルチャーと旅を通して得たもの」
私にとって、このキャンプは初の参加であり、また初の東南アジアの旅となりました。この旅を通して私自身が感じていることは、物事のとらえ方や周囲の見方が変わったこと、さらには積極的に取り組むことやチャレンジしてみたいという意思が強くなったということです。
まず私は、このキャンプがとても「自由」な形であることを感じました。何かの合宿やツアーのように、集団で行動を共にする場合には一日一日の予定というものが時間や行動、すべてが事細やかに決められています。しかし、このSing Out Asiaのキャンプにおいては大まかなプランだけはあり、あとはそのときの状況に応じて皆で意見を出し合いながら調整をしていく形でした。30人という人数で決め事をするということは、そこでもコミュニケーションが必要とされますし、さらには国によって文化や言語、考え方の異なるもの同士であれば、もっと難しいはずです。私は今回、このような些細なことにおいても、今まで経験したことのない新鮮みを感じました。
この旅の中で、最も印象に残っている時間は二つあります。ひとつはクロスカルチャートレーニングの時間、もうひとつは食事の時間です。
まず、一つ目のクロスカルチャーの中で得たものとは、言葉がなくてもコミュニケーションはできるということ、またそれぞれの性格や特徴がだんだんと見えてくることです。
私の中で、コミュニケーションと聞くとまず思い浮かぶのは「言語」という言葉でした。「語学力」、「英語力」などといったことは、たしかに今の世の中では社会において必要とされている時代です。けれども、それはコミュニケーションのうちの一つにすぎず、言葉がなければコミュニケーションはできないというわけではありません。コミュニケーションとは、気持ちや意見を相手に伝えること、通じ合うことであり、それは語源のラテン語で「分かち合う」という意味からも理解できます。このクロスカルチャートレーニングは、コミュニケーションということの根本的な意味を見直すきっかけを与えてくれました。そして、このトレーニングは、名前や年齢、どこの国の人さえ互いに知らない状態でスタートします。それも言葉を使わずにお互いの事を知る手がかりを掴もうとするので、言葉を使うときよりも『伝えよう』とする気持ちが増し、また相手の伝えようとしていることを『くみ取ろう』とするので、自分が相手に集中し、また注意深くなっていることを感じました。その後、いくつかのグループに分かれてゲームをする時間では、そのグループの中でリーダー的にその場を仕切る人、意見は言うが断言はしない人、皆の話にうなずいて特に考えは述べない人など、一対一で会話はせずともだいたいのその人の性格、そのひとはどのような人であるか、などが少しずつ分かっていきます。
クロスカルチャートレーニングは私たちに周りを良く見ること、良く思考すること、互いに理解をし合い、また互いの意見を尊重し合うことの大切さを教えてくれました。
そして、もう一つの食事での時間について。朝、昼、晩と、皆で囲んだ食事の時間というのは、合計するととても長い時間になるはずです。その日、そのときによって食事をともにするメンバーは違ったため、それまであまり会話をしていなかった人と関わりを持つことのできる、ひとつの「きっかけ」となった時間でもありました。様々な料理がテーブルいっぱいに並べられ、それらのお皿に腕をのばしてつつき合いながら、互いの国の食事や文化について多く話しをしました。『これはあなたの国では何と言うの？』、『この食材は私たちの国ではこんな風には食べないよ。』、そんなような会話を絶え間なく笑い合いながらした時間は、とても貴重なものだったと今は思います。また、その他のもバスでの移動中の時間、ルームメイトとの時間、タレントショー、マーケットの見物、それぞれ過ごした時間は今でも明確に思い出されます。
このSing Out Asiaでの旅は、多くの仲間、それまで知らなかった異国の文化、また今の自分に足りないことなど、本当にたくさんのものを得ることができました。この旅は、自分を見直し、自分を変えていくきっかけを与えてくれる、とても素敵な旅であると私は思います。
PictureNuttawat Polwan (Bank) (Thailand)
“The Lesson of Life is learned by Cross Culture”
“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” – Mahatma Gandhi. I totally agree that quote, as if you would like to learn about people’s mind, what they think, what they know or what they feel things, you can look through their culture. That quote is what I have heard about a year ago. I am truly inspired by its energy, and the passion it has, and I was so curious about how cross culture would teach me my “life lesson”.
According to the “life lesson” that I have learned by taking part of “Sing Out Asia – Cross Cultural Activity 2015” which is held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In first and second day, I was so impressive in activities that occurred in those day especially games which I have never known such as a card game, a weird language game or a Black Magic game etc. Those games are strange and have to take times for learning how to play, conversely, it challenged and practiced me to concentrate the games so much. Nevertheless, there was something hiding behind the games; that was learning people from different cultures and respecting their thought. Is it not a good idea to mingle the lessons in the games instead just communication? Of course, it is. In addition, it broke up my shyness to talk with other people and exchanged experiences each other.
As regards a suggestion about this activities, in my opinion, members (maybe head of each country) should have a part in planning the activities like looking for a place that the activities will be held, brainstorming to create activities or making a schedule for a whole program. I think that way would be advantages for members consist of; to learn how to work as a team, to anticipate problems and solutions in advance, to have capability to handle criticism and how to deal with further pressure. It also would be things that the members would like to be.
I am so truly thankful for this experience; it has changed me forever. Appreciate life, embrace what you have, and accept that this is your life, and you are the one to change it. Being an SOA member, and exploring in a different country for a while has opened my eyes. I learn a different language; I learn other traditions, and cultures. I learn to accept, and to be respected. I learn to be responsible, and to be careful. I learn to be friendly, and to be polite. Most of all, I learn how to live.
After this wonderful trip, I have found a hand full of go friends, who I can trust, and I have gotten to know even more people. I know now, that it is my job to talk to people, and to ask PictureDita Kirana (Indonesia)
I am sooo grateful to have family in other countries.
Become friends with people who aren't your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn't the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class. This is how we, SOA family 2015, see the World. I never thought that I’ll fly to South Vietnam and joined Sing Out Asia 2015. The first time I heard the name, Sing Out Asia, I thought it is somethimg related to singing activity. But I was wrong, Sing Out Asia is not only about singing but also Cross Culture Training. And I am proud being participant in CCT SOA 2015 in Ho Chi Min.
This program maybe not the first time for to interact with people from another countries but this is actually my first aboard program. I decided to move out my comfort zone which can light the rest of our lives, elevating our ideals, deepening our tolerance, and sharpening our appetite for knowledge about the rest of the world through this program. In our very first meeting, I was so sorry to Mr. Hatano and our guide, Mr. Lock because I arrived in Ho Chi Min earlier than others that made them waiting for all the participants in a long time. One by one the participants from other countries arrived and we sat in a round-made table. We glance to each other and feel so happy to meet great people like them. We introduced ourself as like we’ve met before, thing I regret is I still can’t pronounce Vietnamese’s name until the end of program.
I was so nervous who is going to be my roommate, how she looks like, can we be friend, and so on. Thanksfully, I met an energetic Vietnamese from Hanoi, Vi. She likes to eat and so as me, we shared a lot of the same thing. I am so happy to meet her as my first roommate. In the first night, I was curious what kind of training we will have tomorrow since it’s my first time joining Cross-Culture Training.
During the training, I was so curious what is the purpose of this training, why we should doing this and that. All us are strangers to each other but because of the training and tha games, we become close to one and another. Using verbal instead of laguange is awesome, it needs creativity in communication with the other, we have to act what we should do to make the other understand. A little of misunderstanding created funny memories I can’t forget. There was a time that we have to write about our biggest achievements, our failed, our dreams and so on. From that I learn that it is necessary for us to know how we live our life, and what we should do in the future, that moment open my eyes. 3% success people write their dreams, and now I have write every single dreams I have to reminds me of the pursuit of life.
The training provides a perfect opportunity for us to be mature, making us more sensitive and wiser. In the end of training, we have to perform our culture. I am so excited to know the beauty of every country. I am proud of the only one representative from Malaysia, Xiao Ning. She is alone yet she made a persentation and touched us with her project which she made in a short time. She is so great. The most unforgettable moment is when we sing Sing Out Asia Song. The lyrics is so touching. “We’re one, we’re different, we’re from all around the world.... We shared the same sun, we shared the same ocean, we are unity...”
Through Cross-Culture Program, we gain a better understanding of the many similarities we shared and learn to respect our differences. The CCT can break down walls between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience. We are reminded that we're joined together by our pursuit of a life, and when that happens mistrust begins to fade and our smaller differences no longer overshadow the things that we share. And that's where progress begins.
I think one of the wonderful things about the program is its contribution to the barriers (of culture, events, religion, and ethics). Since all Indonesian are moslem, we can’t eat pork. They make a special table for us with no pork in the menu, actually I was so sad, I really want to be in the same table with the others too. But they respect us, thank you everyone.
After spending several days in Vung Tau, we began our tour to Nha Trang. It takes more than 10 hours by bus from Vung Tau. The next day we continue our journey to the city of flower, Da Lat. During the tour I gain so much knowledge about thebeauty of the city and its nature, culture, the history, real life of Vietnamese and how they proud of their country. I was surprised because Indonesia and Vietnam has a lot of similarity in culture, food, etc. Eventhough we share similarity but we’re still different. It deserves the respect and support of all.
Finally, We end our journey in Saigon, the place we see the heart of life in Mekong Delta, the place we did a “pim pom pim pom pili pili pom pili pom pili pili pom pim pom” and the place we finally know the secret of black magic. We’ve become more than friends towards the end of this program. But suddenly unexpected event appears, a lot of our friends got stomachache, so as my roommate, Emi. I was so sorry to her, I was her roommate but I didn’t know she throw up several times. I feel like such a fool sleeping so deep without recognizing what is going on with my own roommate. Thanksfully she recovers in the next day. Even until now, I still regret I can’t take care of her.
Goodbye and hello as always. After creating such a wonderful memories together we have to be part, back to our life. All of you are the best gift in my life. Big bunch of thanks to you all who arranged the surprised and the cake for my birthday. That’s the best moments I’ve ever had. We’ve just met for one day and you did a meaningful event for me. All of participants inspired me a lot. You all are amazing people. We’re family. 9 days is too short, if only we stay several days longer...
I am sooo grateful to have family in other countries. I’d like to see you in another chance maybe in Indonesia or in other parts of the world. I believe our path will come cross before long. I really want to shout out to the world that I LOVE ASIA. I AM PROUD TO BE ASIAN. I hope the future SOA will be held in Indonesia and I’ll help as much as I can do for SOA. Not only that, I hope more countries in Asia can join this program so we can learn a lot about Asia. We are unity.
Thank you Mr. Hatano, Mr. Daisuke, Mr. Yahiro, and all of you, for this program. I got a lot of knowledge and family as well. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. SOA gives me a new view of life. See you and Good Luck !
Sincerely,
PictureVi Tuong Hoang (Vi) (Viet Nam)
Sing Out Asia Cross-Culture Camp & Tour of 2015 in South Vietnam.
I do not know if what I am writing right now could be considered as a report of not, I just want to share some of my thoughts which I also told my friends as I came back home.
The fact is that I had about 3 days alone in Ho Chi Minh city before the program and I felt like this trip would take forever. However, 9 days with everyone in the trip just passed in a blink. When I was with my new friends from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan; when we shared about our lives, family, career, experiences, hobbies, even love life and belief; when I discovered my friends’ habits and thinking which were typical in their countries but totally different from mine, I had no idea about time.
That how I could make friends; how I could start the conversation was what I worried the most before the program. Would they be diplomatic with me and I could only share about general information of my country? It was all thank to training activities in our first 2 days in Vung Tau city which I did not understand. 555. I am just kidding. But it is the fact that I did not understand the meaning of some activities and I had to ask others who had no idea as well. We had to guess and discuss and guess and discuss again because we usually took it wrong. As we confronted the same things, we were placed in the same situation; there was no barrier between us. We addicted to each others’ jokes and silly ideas of which we always made fun. We came to each other naturally like that.
The interesting thing is that English is not as important as I thought I would be, to make friends and to understand their cultures, their lives. I think characteristic is the key element. I found it not the problem for me and others to wait for our friends looking up in the dictionary or trying to remember how to say in English. Actually, it is quite fun when I had to guess what my friends were talking about and tried to express what I wanted to say in different ways not only words. The thing decides if we could be friend or not is our expression, reaction, thinking, thing we want to say which reflect our characteristics. We are friends by our souls, not our English ability.
For bringing me the opportunity to join this trip as well as for always taking care of us through the Cross Culture Training program in South Vietnam, I want to once again, express my appreciation to Mr. Hatano, Mr. Yahiro and Mr.Daisuke. Arigatou gozaimasu!! And for all participants of this trip, I could not enjoy the trip to the fullest without you, you are everything I have found in this trip. See you next time!! A sport camp would be great!!
Picture黒澤伸吾 (Japan)
自分を変えることができた
私は、SOAのメンバーとして、９日間ベトナムに行きました。私がSOAのキャンプに参加するのは今回が初めてでした。SOAのキャンプのメンバーには、日本人のほか、タイ人、マレーシア人、インドネシア人、ベトナム人が参加していました。
キャンプの１日目と２日目Lang Haiのホテルに宿泊し、クロスカルチュラルトレーニングをしました。私は、クロスカルチュラルトレーニングとは何を行うものなのか、全く見当がつかなかったこともあり少し不安でした。しかし、最初にみんなで集まって始まったのが、non verbalでコミュニケーションをとるゲームが中心でした。このnon verbalでゲームを始めることによって、初めのうちは、あまり打ち解けることができなかった私も、徐々に他の国のメンバーと打ち解けることができるようになりました。２日目になってある程度、メンバーが打ち解けてきたら、カードゲームや言葉を必要とするゲームを行いました。このゲームの一つとして、グループに分かれて、お互い異なるゲームをし、数人が他のチームに偵察に行き、そのゲームの内容を自分のチームに知らせるというゲームをやりました。そのゲームはとても面白かったのですが、私は英語を話すのが得意ではなかったので、他のチームのルールを自分のチームに英語でうまく説明することができませんでした。私が今回のクロスカルチュラルトレーニングを体験して思ったことは、たとえ言語や文化などが違う人が集まっても、方法を考えればすぐに仲良くなることができるし、友情には言語の壁はないと実感しました。
今回の９日間のキャンプで特に印象に残ったのが、自分の意見を他人に伝える力の必要性と自分の国の文化を知っていることの重要性でした。たとえば、クロスカルチュラルトークの中で先生方が私たちに意見を求めることが多くあったのですが、意見を進んで発表していたのが、ほとんど日本人以外のメンバーでした。これからの時代は、グローバル化が進み日本人も国際社会に進出していくと考えられるので、やはり自分の意見をしっかり持っていて、恥ずかしがらずに他人に伝えることが必要だと改めて思いました。自分の文化を知っていることの重要性が印象に残った理由は、知らないと国際人として恥ずかしいことだけではなく、文化を理解していると話の輪も広げることができると今回気づいたからでした。やはり日本は、海外と比較すると独特の文化を保持しており、日本の文化に興味を持っている子が多いのが事実でした。なかには難しいことを質問してくる子もいて、私の英語力では答えることができないことも多くあったのですが、説明できればより会話が弾むと思ったし、他の国と自国の文化を比較するのは非常に面白いことであると感じました。
私がSOAのプログラムをよりよくするためには、もっと滞在日数を増やす必要があるのではないかと思いました。それには莫大なお金が必要であり、簡単なことではないとわかっているのですが、滞在日数を増やすことでより多くの人と仲良くなれるし、より他の国の文化を理解できるはずだと思います。
私は今回のキャンプで自分を変えることができたと断言できます。今までの自分は、海外に行きたいけど、英語が話せないので海外に行くのが怖いと考えていました。しかし、いまでは、もっと英語を話せるようになりたいとも思っているし、様々な国に訪れてその国の文化を深く知りたいとも思っています。英語は話そうとしないと上達しないし、今のまま下手くそだから、という理由で話さないで萎縮していたら何も得られないと思うので、これからは様々なことにチャレンジして英語力を磨きたいと思います。Picture(Center)
Lê Ngô Ý Nhi (Nhi) (Viet Nam)
SOA2015 WILL BE ALWAYS IN MY HEART.
Hello!
I’m Le Ngo Y Nhi. I come from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I joined Sing Out Asia in March 2015 in South Vietnam. This was the first time I joined this program and I have to say that it was really my wonderful ‘first time’ and an unforgettable memory of mine.
I had not met many foreign friends like that before. During the program, I had to speak English to communicate with friends from other countries. I used English from morning when I get up to night when I go to bed. Because I had not used so much English before, I was trouble in speaking, expressing my ideas. Other friends often did not get what I said and I did not understand fully what they told me. This shortage, at first, make me afraid of sharing and talking although I really wanted to make friends and know more about different countries. In the first 2 days, I felt lonely and isolated a bit. However, I integrated with everyone the days later, especially after the talent show. I could see and feel the characteristics of each country from songs, dances, musical instruments, costumes, caligraphy and so on, which I had not seen before.
One of the thing that can make me smile but can make me cry in SOA tour is the farewell party. 7 days is quite short but I had many memories with all. That is the reason why I cried at the party. At this time, deep in my heart, I wish I could have had much time with them. It connected all of us, from unacquaintance to good friendship. That is a wonderful thing of SOA tour, I think.
For me, SOA 2015 is not a trip to the South of Vietnam but also a trip to unity, a trip to friendship. I had more good friends after SOA. They are very awesome to me. They had taught me a lot about English skill, life skills. I could learn many meaningful things from them. Their fluency in English, their achievements and expericences had encouraged me so much.
I really want to send my deep thank to Mr.Hatano, Mr.Yahiro, Mr.Daisuke for giving me a chance to join such a meaningful trip like SOA.
Hope that I can join this tour once more, even twice, third.. Sing Out Asia! Hope to see you again!! ^^.
I will never forget the song that all of us sang in the talent show:
"We are one but we are difference
...we are unity"
-- Picture池田恵子, Japan
Sing Out Asia Cross Culture Training 2015 に参加して
「アジアに友人を作ること。」これが、Sing Out Asia CCTの大きな目的の一つです。これに加えて、私は今回の旅を通して成長するということを目標に参加しました。３月のベトナムで、アジアの５カ国３１人の学生たちと共に過ごしたことは、私にとって非常に貴重な体験となりました。
今回の旅を終えて、私は主に３つのSOAの魅力を挙げられると思います。１つは、1対1の個人として、学生同士が親密な友情を築くことが可能であるということです。当初、私はこの旅が人生初の海外旅行だったことに加え、全く知らないアジアの学生たちと果たして９日間も行動を共にすることができるのだろうかと、不安だらけでホーチミン空港に降り立ちました。しかし、すでに到着して日本のメンバーを待っていた他の学生に出迎えられたとき、そのような心配は無用であったと気づきました。彼らは笑顔で駆け寄ってきてくれ、初対面であるにもかかわらず、最初のホテルに移動するバスに乗っている間もずっと、たくさんのことを話しました。Cross Culture Trainingとして様々なアクティビティを行いましたが、言葉を使わず意思疎通をしたり、仮想の文化に対して見よう見まねで適応したりするようなゲームを通して、お互いに同じような感情やもどかしさなどを共有することができ、会ったばかりでもすぐに打ち解けて、とても仲良くなることができました。これは一口に国際交流と言っても、国家間の問題解決のための意見交換会や異文化体験などを目的とした国際交流とは一線を画した試みであると思います。というのもそのような国際交流は、お互いが異なる立場の存在、あるいは未知の存在であるということを前提として行われるはずだからです。SOAではもちろん参加者はそれぞれ国籍も年齢も経験も異なりますが、全員が初めて取り組む活動を通して、試行錯誤しながらも同じ気持ちを共有して協力していくことで、他の活動では得られない一体感が生まれるのではないかと思います。その他にも、空いた時間にはマーケットやビーチに出かけたり、部屋で話したりゲームをしたりなど、毎日とても充実していました。早朝に、ルームメイトの子に誘われて、3人でサドルが３つ付いている自転車を２時間以上漕いで冒険をしに行ったことも良い思い出です。
二つ目は、未知の世界に飛び込む少しばかりの度胸をつけられたことです。出発前の不安だらけで緊張していたときとは打って変わって、気が付けば周りの人たちと自然と楽しく会話ができている自分がいました。理解してもらおうと話していたのはもちろんですが、自分が分からなければ聞き返せば良いし、何よりも会話そのものを楽しんでいたので、とにかく自分も進んで話してみようという気持ちでいました。私の中のこの変化はこれから先何か新しいことに挑戦するようなときも、SOAで変われたから大丈夫、そういった自信につながるような気がします。実際に、４月から始まった大学の少人数のクラスでは、英語での発表や発言が求められることが頻繁にありますが、以前よりも英語で話すことや自分の意見を述べることに対してのハードルが低くなったように感じます。また、興味を持った授業やプログラムなどにも積極的に参加したいと思うようになりました。
三つ目の魅力は、このプログラムを通して、自分自身のこと、また自国のことについてより深く考え直すきっかけを得られたことです。SOAのメンバーと関わる中で、育ってきた環境の違い、価値観の相違、異文化に触れること、全てが新鮮でした。それは、他の学生にとっても同じだったようで、日本の話をすると興味深そうに様々な質問をしてきて、それに対して彼らの国では日本とはどのように違っているのかなどを熱心に聞かせてくれました。彼らは自分の国を客観的に見ていて、私も見習わなければと思いました。私は彼らと一緒に過ごす中でたくさんの刺激を受けましたが、最も印象深かったことは、彼らの学習に対する姿勢や向き合い方です。一度、大学で学んでいる内容について話す機会があり、共通の分野の話になったとき、自分はこのように考えているといった意見を堂々と話していて、あまり深く考えていなかった私は、ただただ驚くばかりでした。また、私の学科の名前がそれほど主流ではないために、何人かにどのような内容なのかと聞かれることがありましたが、とても興味を持っていて私のほんのちょっとした答えからも吸収しようとする意欲がひしひしと感じられました。
今回のプログラムを通して、私は確実に自分の視野を広げることができました。SOAは何年も前から知っていて興味を持っていた活動だったので、今回このような形で参加できて本当に良かったです。この旅で得た素敵な友人や思い出は、私にとってきっと一生の宝物になると思います。ありがとうございました。PictureVũ Tô Hà Phuong (Phuong) (Viet Nam)
One of the most miraculous experiences
My name is Ha-Phuong To Vu, one of the luckiest people who were chosen to be the participants of Sing Out Asia Cross-culture Camp 2015 in South Vietnam. I can say without any hesitation that, this trip is definitely one of the most miraculous experiences that happened to my life.
Although the camp only lasted for nine days, but the things I received from it are priceless. It might have taken me much more time than this just to learn those few things instead of the duration which is honestly just like a short holiday to me. This is the reason why I appreciate this experience a lot.
The first thing that I learned, which is also the main purpose of the camp, is the diversity of cultures in the world we live in. Our camp has only participants from five countries: they are Japanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai people and Vietnamese; but the interesting uniques that I discovered from those cultures have already blown up my mind. In a mixed cultural environment, I found myself not only have to quickly spot the differences, adapt to them and learn to behave like an international citizen but also be able to show my own identity. In the trainings that I went through, I was taught that despite of not sharing the same cultural backgrounds or languages, people can still understand and make friend with each other by the willing to put effort on it. It is true, because when I left the camp, I had a whole new family with all wonderful members.
The second thing, although it is not something intellectual, it is one of the most important things in my life: friendship. On the first day I joined the camp, I barely know anyone. It even took me a while to remember all those names. I would never expect that things could change that much in only nine days. I did not have the chance to get to know thoroughly everybody, but I know they always consider me as a friend. For some friends I was able to share a quality time with, we really have deep connections with each other. Our talks were not only limited in introducing ourselves or our cultures or so on. I feel I can truly open myself up and share many personal stories. Not for a single moment that I thought I came from a different place with them. I guess this is the wonderful thing of friendship and I am so thankful for that.
Last but not least, I am so delighted that I met three great people who are my teachers. They have warm hearts; have great knowledge of the world that they always ready to share with everybody. What they do brings benefits to the youth, which includes me. Having the chance to meet them and friends from other countries, I realize where I am standing; and it definately motivates me to learn more, and do more things for the society that I live in.Picture
(Far Left)
Pheerawat Jiwatanangkornkul (Boat) (Thailand)
CCT Trip Report
Actually I knew SOA from my friends since I was a second year student. Since then I really wanted to join this kind of program so much. Then the chance has come to me this year. In CCT Saigon program I met many friends from Asian countries which are Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and learnt about each other.
Let me tell about the Cross Culture Training program which is in the first and second day of this program. Before I join this program I was a bit eager to know the way this program is going to make me blend with other people. Then I knew that every session in CCT program did make me blend with other participants and also expanded my vision about living with the others. As we can see since the card games that each table has their own rules and in order to play or live with them we should take some time and notice them how to do it. In the real life we also need some time to adapt ourselves into a new environment sometimes our first priority may be the least priority in other communities. In first two days there were many games and activities that provided to us but my most favorite one was “The talent show”. I really like every performance from all countries. Things that I like from the performances were not only observing other countries’ performance but also the way we (Thais) practice and perform. Let me tell you one more thing, I joined an exchange program for one year and that also made me graduate late for one year. I am the eldest in Thai participants and everyone in my year already graduated from university so the other Thais are my junior that I never know them before. The start of this program I found that it’s quite hard to find a place that I fit. But after we spend some time in the activities especially the practice of the performance, it made me know more about the others and merge with them easily and after that we are friends not senior and junior anymore. I can say that CCT program gave me priceless experience, knowledge and also made me get along with the other very well, not only foreign participants but also Thai ones.
Then, I would like to say a big thanks to Mr. Hatano and 2 sensei which are Hirakawa and Daisuke sensei that provided and gave us a wonderful experience. I think having foreign roommates also make me know more about other countries. My roommates were Indonesian and Japanese and I learnt a lot from them in many aspects such as thinking values, beliefs, and especially games. (My Japanese roommate taught me how to play monster strike: モンスト and until today we still playing this game even we stay in different countries.) After spending time, chatting and playing with my roommates I found that Adam loves diving and drinking, Yuta loves Japanese singers and reading books and Shingo loves to play badminton like me.
This trip is also my first time in Vietnam and especially with SOA family. I know that my English isn’t perfect but I really appreciate that everyone still be patient and listen to me. Vietnamese participants which are the host country are so kind, they didn’t hesitate to explain me everything I want to know. During shopping time I enjoyed watching our friends bargaining the price of stuffs and eating something in the market.
Before I joined this program I keep thinking that 9 days in Vietnam is quite long. Then I joined it, and 9 days of this program was just a blink of the eyes or 「あっという間に終わってしまった。」in Japanese. The last night of the program I tried to stay with everyone as long as possible. We play Killer, Takenoko and card games in the room together. Even Japanese who supposed to wake up early in the next morning still played the game until 3AM. In that time I realized that 9 days are freaking short. The next morning Japanese, Malay, Indonesian and Thai went back home sequentially.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to Koon, Yelly, Bank, Fai, Noonut, Non, Shingo, Tomoya, Yuta, Riko, Okky, Ning and other participants for being there and sharing the good memories together and especially Vietnamese students who are the warm, friendly host and teach me many words. I believe that we departed in order to reunion. Let’s meet up somewhere.
Keep In Touch
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(Left)
Riko Iizumi (Japan)
The most important thing of this trip is knowing each other
It’s second time for me to participate in SOA CCT trip. At first I want to thank Saburou-san for allowing me to participate in this trip again. When I decided to join this trip it was last December, while Japan Visit was held. Japan Visit was so hard for me, because during that time had classes and examinations. However, inviting and guiding friends into japan was so enjoyable and unforgettable. At that time, I reconfirmed that having friends around the world is a wonderful experience. That’s why I want to take part in SOA trip again.
The Cross Culture Training was second time for me, but it was like first time. Actually I don’t remember well about last year, but I remember that we did some same activity like this year. However, since members are different, I felt like this was my first time again. I think some people felt strange and funny, because in some activities we couldn’t speak and also couldn’t see. I felt this strange feeling in this and last trip also. That is a interesting point of CCT.
After CCT, we traveled to Dalat and Saigon. Our bus trip was too long, so that made us feel tired and bored, but I think in bus we could talk a lot with our new friends about our country, language, culture and so on. Usually long bus trip is boring or just for sleeping, but for me it was not only for sleeping, it was also for knowing each other. Of course, the places we visited were very good, like markets, temples, beach, Mekong river and specially riding the motorbike was so exciting.
Finally, I want to recommend the people who will join next SOA trip: Don’t stick together with people who are from same country as yours. If you do that, you will talk in your own language and I think it means that you are closing yourself to the other people. Don’t forget that the most important thing of this trip is knowing each other. Even if you don’t have confidence of your English skill, don’t worry and just try. I want next members to be out going and challenger.
Riko Iizumi
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(Left)
Mutiarani Zahara (Tara) (Indonesia)
Memorable 9 Days with SOA Family
Firstly, let me introduce my self. My name is Mutiarani Zahara and my nick name is Tara. I am one of five Indonesian Students who joined Cross Culture Training Camp and Study Tour in Vietnam 2015. I Study at Islamic State University of Jakarta, majoring in International Relations. This is my report of my memorable 9 days with SOA family.
I joined this program is for the first time and also at the first time, i was feeling very greatful for this. A lot of reasons that made me feeling so blessed being one of participant of CCT this year. First, about the training. I am feeling so blessed because I got a lot of knowledgement in the training. I learned how to understand people who had differences from me. I learned how to adapt my self to the new environment, new situation, and new condition. And also I learned how to bring my self to communicate and socialize with new friends. In the first day of training, i felt so excited because i was curious how the training would be. And i got the answer of mine. The training was very funny and interesting. We did many games, like game which teamwork needed, game which to understand ourselves personality, game which to understand new places and cultures, etc. Games that i remembered the most are card game and alpha and beta culture game. In card game, we divided into some groups. Every group has a paper where the rules written inside. We have to understand the rule and play the game. In the end of game, the one who win and lose the game should move to the other group and play the game again. I won the game once and move to other group. I played the game with different group from the first and I shocked. Why? Because i faced some different rule of game. But what I did just keep silent, observe how the game should be and continued the game. Here i found the purpose of this game. It was to showed us that every place has their own rules and me (as the person who moved) have to observe that new place and be able to adapt in order to continue my life. In Alpha and Beta Culture game we played the game longer, but i also found a value of the game and the purpose of the game is to understand and observe other culture. It showed us that outside our own country, there are many different cultures and it is important for us to realize and understand of that. The point is all of games that played in training have their own purpose and i felt the purpose or meaning of game well received on us. Because it delivered in easy and funny ways. Very interesting.
Second, about the tour. The tour was really really awesome and interesting. I felt so blessed because i had a chance to go to various places in South Vietnam. I saw many differences and also similarities between Vietnam and Indonesia. Beside that, i felt this tour has so much deeper meaning, because beside got experiences in visiting many places, this tour also made relationship between each other participant tighter and closer. We spent so much time on our journey in one bus, and it made us communicate each other, asking and anwering each other, event for laughing. When we saw an unique thing or place, it would be our topic of conversation and i thought it was so much interesting.
Last but not least, i felt extremely blessed because I have not only friends but also family. I have new family! SOA 2015 Family! all member of SOA 2015 were very kind, humble, friendly, and funny. I am feeling very glad to meet you all. Thank you guys for making those 9 days be a memorable days for me ;D. And also I would like to say many thanks for Hatano Sensei, Daisuke Sensei, and Hirakawa Sensei who had organized and allowed me to join this awesome program. It was a honor to me can meet and know you, sirs.
In conlusion, this program gave me a lot, teached me a lot and i was very blessed could join this program. I hope, this program will sustain and gives this kind of chance to more youth arround the world to shared the value of unity. And I hope, CCT next year has much more participant that comes from more various countries. So we can make a bigger unity :D
PictureDam Thi Thao (Thao) (Viet Nam)
Unforgettable Memory!
The last year of student life, I had an opportunity to join in an amazing cultural exchange program named Sign-Out Asia, which is one of my most wonderful experiences in my entire life!
The two-first day of journey, we participated in Cross-Culture Training in a very beautiful sea city-Vung Tau city. Thank to Cross-Culture Training, I have learnt how to understand people of diverse cultural backgrounds. l know that the cultural values of Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other areas are very different. As to Asians, we may look the same, but in reality our cultural values are quite different. However, after joining in a lot of enjoyable games, we not only grasp the essence of different cultures but enrich newly-built trust and friendship as well. At the night of talent show, when we all forgot where we come from to express our custom and tradition and immerse ourselves in interesting traditional performances, it is true to say that “we are one and we are unity”.
This journey also brought to me valuable experience that I will never forget. It was great to meet and become friends with so many professional and interesting people from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. During 8 days in South Vietnam, we shared joys and sorrows with others. We laugh so hard, took so many pictures and left one another with great memories. Seeing my friends enjoying their time in Vietnam, I felt really happy. Besides, we had a wonderful sharing time together in such a place possessing passionate beauty of nature. We were extremely stunned by fantastic beaches, the glory of mountains, skies, fogs and thousands of elements found only in the south of Vietnam. I still remember exactly the excited feeling when we played volleyball together on Nha Trang beach, or when we went to night market and bought a lot of souvenirs in Dalat or the first time I sit on a boat visiting floating market on Mekong River in Cai Be town, Tien Giang province. I got strong impression when enjoying folk music of South Vietnam among a leaf house with a lot of fruit trees. All of those have formed such a bright memory that I have never forgotten in my life.
Time did fly fast like an arrow. At the time we had to say goodbye, I had so many different feelings: a little bit happy because the trip had finally gone to the end successfully, but sad a lot because I did know exactly when we could meet again. We talking like as this was the last time we saw and chatted each other. Hugs became so tightly. However, I strongly believe that good-bye does not mean an end, but a beginning. Grasping opportunity of joining in the next SOA programs in Thailand and Japan or other programs, we enable to sit side by side again. I did do my best to bring us closer and overcome all the obstacles, cultural and language barriers.
On the other hand, I also have two small comments about Cross-Cultural Training program. Firstly, about the structure of CCT, it is more effective if CCT can be hold on different times during that trip such as the first day, the middle day and the last day of journey, but not on some first days of journey. For instance, in Vung Tau city, we should have one day for CCT and one day for visiting tourism place; the next CCT day will be hold in other city such as Nha Trang or Saigon; then we end program with a talent show. Because, when we finished all training activities and celebrated talent show at night of the 3rd-day of the trip, I felt a little bit that this was the end of program and the left part was simply traveling. Secondly, about the content of CCT, you would require each team to prepare at least typical game in their country for CCT and submit idea to you before beginning program (you can check whether it is appropriate with your criteria or not). It is way to encourage your international participants to share their customs and traditions with you and others. I am sorry if my comment is so impolite and it makes you fed up with. Honestly, it does not mean that your program was not interesting or exciting because I appreciate highly your ideas. For example, you mixed people come from different countries in a room, which is a smart way to help us make friend easier.
Once again, I want to give a sincere thank to Mr.Hatano, Mr.Daisuke, Mr.Yahiro and other organizers of SOA program for all of happiness, amazing experience and sweet memories you bring us.
SOA - Thank to become a part of my life!Picture(Far Left)
Ratchanon Wongapichat (Non) (Thailand)
Thank you everyone for such a memorable time
I am passionate about travelling, learning new things and getting to know new friends. At first, I had never known about SOA program before, but after seeing photos and hearing about this program from my friends who have joined the program last year, I found it really interesting that the participants can have a chance to do activities with new friends and have an excursion at the same time. Before, I had only few friends from Southeast Asian countries and had never had any friends from Japan. So when the program was announced to be held in Vietnam, I didn’t hesitate to apply and was always counting down to the travel date.
We spent 2 days in Vung Tau to do the cross-culture training. We got to know each other much more through the games and activities. Everyone was so energetic .Nobody was shy to answer the questions and express their opinions towards many different topics we talked about. The activities we did were mostly related to social and cultural issues. I’ve got many ideas from these activities and discussions. As we all are Asian and share some same cultures, traditions and lifestyles, we could get along with the others very easily no matter where we are from.
After the training, we started our journey to many different cities in South Vietnam. Although sometimes we had to take a long bus journey and the traffic and road condition weren’t that good, but the places we went were worth visiting. South Vietnam offers all kinds of experiences from breathtaking mountainous area, beautiful beaches to chaotic cities.
As we know, now is the age of Asia. Japan is one of the major powers while Southeast Asia has become an emerging region. Understanding between each other is so important and youth are the ones who will shape this region in the future. SOA program has given us an opportunity to learn more about other cultures and understand the differences. We have gained the experience that we couldn’t find anywhere else.
Time flew so fast when we were in South Vietnam. One of the best journeys I have ever taken was about to end. It’s always hard to say “Good bye” because we can’t know when we’ll be back and have this kind of moment again, but I always believe that the world isn’t that big. We meet to depart and depart to meet again. Thank you everyone for such a memorable time and hope to see you all again someday.
Suggestions
The length of the program is appropriate, not too long and not too short.
But it would be great that we could have a chance to visit some more important places. Some of them, we may have to pay ( such as Unification Palace, Cu Chi tunnel and War Remnants Museum ) and the cost of the tour can be more expensive, but is it possible to reduce the cost by using lower grade hotels? Base on my experience, 2-3 star hotels in Southeast Asia are acceptable. They are cheaper, the rooms aren’t too small and all the necessary things are provided.
The other suggestion is that sometimes the bus ride took too long. Everyone also mentioned about this problem, it may not be enough to see all the things within 9 days. It would be better to reduce some cities that are quite far away from the others out in order to reduce the traveling time and we can spend more time on visiting places.
The last suggestion is that it would be nice that we could have more interactions with local people like visiting local schools and government places and sharing ideas and cultures with them.
By the way, I was impressed and did enjoy the trip. Thank you once again JPicture平川 知弥 (Japan)
気持ちの持ち方次第でもコミュニケーションは成り立つ
１1日目のプログラムでは、目的を考えながらトレーニングに取り組んでいました。しかし、趣旨について特に説明もなかったことなどから、各トレーニングにおける目的などを理解することができませんでした。そのため、その後のトレーニングにおいて趣旨などを考えずにただ楽しむだけという形で取り組んでしまいました。これは自分の考える力などが足りなかったのが、原因の一つと考えられますが、トレーニング後のまとめで先生方から趣旨や目的を言ってもらえるとより理解が深まりやすくなると思いました。自分で考えてほしいという意図があるとは思いますが、ある程度の説明はあっても良いと思います。
プログラム全体の始めにこのトレーニングを行うことで、他国の生徒との距離が近づくきっかけとなったのはとても良かったです。
2 まず今回の旅はとても楽しかったです。行く前までは正直あまり気のりせず、不安も多くありました。しかし、同世代の学生と交流する中でその不安はいつの間にかなくなり、もっと長く一緒にいたいと感じるようになりました。それは他国の学生も日本の学生と大した差がなかったことが一番大きな要因だと思います。
言葉が通じないこともたまにあり、コミュニケーションを取ることが難しかったです。しかし、相手が話す時はこちらが理解しようとし、逆にこちらが話すときは相手が理解しようとしたことでそれほど不便さは感じませんでした。このことから、言葉（英語）が話せれば一番容易に意志疎通ができますが、たとえあまり話せなくても、相手を理解しようとする気持ちの持ち方次第でもコミュニケーションは成り立つのではないかと思いました。
そして自分の英語スキルのレベルを把握するいい機会になりました。ある程度は通じるものの、語彙の少なさから伝えたいことが伝えられないもどかしさを覚えました。
また、他国の学生と交流することで価値観の違いや他国の生活について知ることができ、関心を持つことができました。
知り合った人たちとは今後も連絡を取り合う関係を続けていきたいと思いました。
3
・学生がツアーガイド
プログラム中、すべての予定を組むのは難しいと思うので、2日か3日は現地の学生が予定を組んでツアーガイドを行う。あらかじめ、行きたい場所を各国の学生に聞き取り調査を行い、それを元にツアーを組む。この際に複数のグループに分け、移動しやすい人数にする。ツアーガイドによって、英語力の向上に加えて自国の理解にもつながると思う。Picture(Right)
Natnicha Surasit (Noonut) (Thailand)
Report on the Sing Out Asia 2015 trip in Vietnam
When I first heard about this program, I was very interested and thought that it would be fun to be go to Vietnam and meet new friends from foreign countries. Then on the first day I got there, I thought it was going to be a little difficult for us all to communicate and comprehend other kids from different countries and cultures but we tried our best to open our minds and learn about new and different cultures. When it came to the first day of activities, the ice-breaking, we really enjoyed the activities and games all together. I think that was great fun and made us all feel more comfortable in getting to make new friends very quickly. The activities later on were not only fun but also stimulative, interesting and knowledgable. They gave us realization regards being a part of diverse the community and society in which we have to learn and adapt ourselves in order to survive.
I found myself and others enjoying them so much. The culture night that we had to make shows of our own cultures was fun and full of joy. We could learn a lot more about others' cultures from that night.
After those cultural activity days, we got to travel around several cities in South Vietnam which was another best part of this cultural program. I really love spending times with all foreigner and Thai friends I made. The food in every meal was awesome. The tour made great choices of restaurants for us and I thought I did gain weight. The only obstacle of the trip was that so many people got a diarrhea and some were so sick that they couldn't come visit some places with the rest of us. After all, I had learned so much that there's nothing right, nothing wrong, it is just different. This trip was very remarkable and was one of the best memories of mine.
「クロスカルチャーと旅を通して得たもの」
私にとって、このキャンプは初の参加であり、また初の東南アジアの旅となりました。この旅を通して私自身が感じていることは、物事のとらえ方や周囲の見方が変わったこと、さらには積極的に取り組むことやチャレンジしてみたいという意思が強くなったということです。
まず私は、このキャンプがとても「自由」な形であることを感じました。何かの合宿やツアーのように、集団で行動を共にする場合には一日一日の予定というものが時間や行動、すべてが事細やかに決められています。しかし、このSing Out Asiaのキャンプにおいては大まかなプランだけはあり、あとはそのときの状況に応じて皆で意見を出し合いながら調整をしていく形でした。30人という人数で決め事をするということは、そこでもコミュニケーションが必要とされますし、さらには国によって文化や言語、考え方の異なるもの同士であれば、もっと難しいはずです。私は今回、このような些細なことにおいても、今まで経験したことのない新鮮みを感じました。
この旅の中で、最も印象に残っている時間は二つあります。ひとつはクロスカルチャートレーニングの時間、もうひとつは食事の時間です。
まず、一つ目のクロスカルチャーの中で得たものとは、言葉がなくてもコミュニケーションはできるということ、またそれぞれの性格や特徴がだんだんと見えてくることです。
私の中で、コミュニケーションと聞くとまず思い浮かぶのは「言語」という言葉でした。「語学力」、「英語力」などといったことは、たしかに今の世の中では社会において必要とされている時代です。けれども、それはコミュニケーションのうちの一つにすぎず、言葉がなければコミュニケーションはできないというわけではありません。コミュニケーションとは、気持ちや意見を相手に伝えること、通じ合うことであり、それは語源のラテン語で「分かち合う」という意味からも理解できます。このクロスカルチャートレーニングは、コミュニケーションということの根本的な意味を見直すきっかけを与えてくれました。そして、このトレーニングは、名前や年齢、どこの国の人さえ互いに知らない状態でスタートします。それも言葉を使わずにお互いの事を知る手がかりを掴もうとするので、言葉を使うときよりも『伝えよう』とする気持ちが増し、また相手の伝えようとしていることを『くみ取ろう』とするので、自分が相手に集中し、また注意深くなっていることを感じました。その後、いくつかのグループに分かれてゲームをする時間では、そのグループの中でリーダー的にその場を仕切る人、意見は言うが断言はしない人、皆の話にうなずいて特に考えは述べない人など、一対一で会話はせずともだいたいのその人の性格、そのひとはどのような人であるか、などが少しずつ分かっていきます。
クロスカルチャートレーニングは私たちに周りを良く見ること、良く思考すること、互いに理解をし合い、また互いの意見を尊重し合うことの大切さを教えてくれました。
そして、もう一つの食事での時間について。朝、昼、晩と、皆で囲んだ食事の時間というのは、合計するととても長い時間になるはずです。その日、そのときによって食事をともにするメンバーは違ったため、それまであまり会話をしていなかった人と関わりを持つことのできる、ひとつの「きっかけ」となった時間でもありました。様々な料理がテーブルいっぱいに並べられ、それらのお皿に腕をのばしてつつき合いながら、互いの国の食事や文化について多く話しをしました。『これはあなたの国では何と言うの？』、『この食材は私たちの国ではこんな風には食べないよ。』、そんなような会話を絶え間なく笑い合いながらした時間は、とても貴重なものだったと今は思います。また、その他のもバスでの移動中の時間、ルームメイトとの時間、タレントショー、マーケットの見物、それぞれ過ごした時間は今でも明確に思い出されます。
このSing Out Asiaでの旅は、多くの仲間、それまで知らなかった異国の文化、また今の自分に足りないことなど、本当にたくさんのものを得ることができました。この旅は、自分を見直し、自分を変えていくきっかけを与えてくれる、とても素敵な旅であると私は思います。
PictureNuttawat Polwan (Bank) (Thailand)
“The Lesson of Life is learned by Cross Culture”
“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” – Mahatma Gandhi. I totally agree that quote, as if you would like to learn about people’s mind, what they think, what they know or what they feel things, you can look through their culture. That quote is what I have heard about a year ago. I am truly inspired by its energy, and the passion it has, and I was so curious about how cross culture would teach me my “life lesson”.
According to the “life lesson” that I have learned by taking part of “Sing Out Asia – Cross Cultural Activity 2015” which is held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In first and second day, I was so impressive in activities that occurred in those day especially games which I have never known such as a card game, a weird language game or a Black Magic game etc. Those games are strange and have to take times for learning how to play, conversely, it challenged and practiced me to concentrate the games so much. Nevertheless, there was something hiding behind the games; that was learning people from different cultures and respecting their thought. Is it not a good idea to mingle the lessons in the games instead just communication? Of course, it is. In addition, it broke up my shyness to talk with other people and exchanged experiences each other.
As regards a suggestion about this activities, in my opinion, members (maybe head of each country) should have a part in planning the activities like looking for a place that the activities will be held, brainstorming to create activities or making a schedule for a whole program. I think that way would be advantages for members consist of; to learn how to work as a team, to anticipate problems and solutions in advance, to have capability to handle criticism and how to deal with further pressure. It also would be things that the members would like to be.
I am so truly thankful for this experience; it has changed me forever. Appreciate life, embrace what you have, and accept that this is your life, and you are the one to change it. Being an SOA member, and exploring in a different country for a while has opened my eyes. I learn a different language; I learn other traditions, and cultures. I learn to accept, and to be respected. I learn to be responsible, and to be careful. I learn to be friendly, and to be polite. Most of all, I learn how to live.
After this wonderful trip, I have found a hand full of go friends, who I can trust, and I have gotten to know even more people. I know now, that it is my job to talk to people, and to ask PictureDita Kirana (Indonesia)
I am sooo grateful to have family in other countries.
Become friends with people who aren't your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn't the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class. This is how we, SOA family 2015, see the World. I never thought that I’ll fly to South Vietnam and joined Sing Out Asia 2015. The first time I heard the name, Sing Out Asia, I thought it is somethimg related to singing activity. But I was wrong, Sing Out Asia is not only about singing but also Cross Culture Training. And I am proud being participant in CCT SOA 2015 in Ho Chi Min.
This program maybe not the first time for to interact with people from another countries but this is actually my first aboard program. I decided to move out my comfort zone which can light the rest of our lives, elevating our ideals, deepening our tolerance, and sharpening our appetite for knowledge about the rest of the world through this program. In our very first meeting, I was so sorry to Mr. Hatano and our guide, Mr. Lock because I arrived in Ho Chi Min earlier than others that made them waiting for all the participants in a long time. One by one the participants from other countries arrived and we sat in a round-made table. We glance to each other and feel so happy to meet great people like them. We introduced ourself as like we’ve met before, thing I regret is I still can’t pronounce Vietnamese’s name until the end of program.
I was so nervous who is going to be my roommate, how she looks like, can we be friend, and so on. Thanksfully, I met an energetic Vietnamese from Hanoi, Vi. She likes to eat and so as me, we shared a lot of the same thing. I am so happy to meet her as my first roommate. In the first night, I was curious what kind of training we will have tomorrow since it’s my first time joining Cross-Culture Training.
During the training, I was so curious what is the purpose of this training, why we should doing this and that. All us are strangers to each other but because of the training and tha games, we become close to one and another. Using verbal instead of laguange is awesome, it needs creativity in communication with the other, we have to act what we should do to make the other understand. A little of misunderstanding created funny memories I can’t forget. There was a time that we have to write about our biggest achievements, our failed, our dreams and so on. From that I learn that it is necessary for us to know how we live our life, and what we should do in the future, that moment open my eyes. 3% success people write their dreams, and now I have write every single dreams I have to reminds me of the pursuit of life.
The training provides a perfect opportunity for us to be mature, making us more sensitive and wiser. In the end of training, we have to perform our culture. I am so excited to know the beauty of every country. I am proud of the only one representative from Malaysia, Xiao Ning. She is alone yet she made a persentation and touched us with her project which she made in a short time. She is so great. The most unforgettable moment is when we sing Sing Out Asia Song. The lyrics is so touching. “We’re one, we’re different, we’re from all around the world.... We shared the same sun, we shared the same ocean, we are unity...”
Through Cross-Culture Program, we gain a better understanding of the many similarities we shared and learn to respect our differences. The CCT can break down walls between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience. We are reminded that we're joined together by our pursuit of a life, and when that happens mistrust begins to fade and our smaller differences no longer overshadow the things that we share. And that's where progress begins.
I think one of the wonderful things about the program is its contribution to the barriers (of culture, events, religion, and ethics). Since all Indonesian are moslem, we can’t eat pork. They make a special table for us with no pork in the menu, actually I was so sad, I really want to be in the same table with the others too. But they respect us, thank you everyone.
After spending several days in Vung Tau, we began our tour to Nha Trang. It takes more than 10 hours by bus from Vung Tau. The next day we continue our journey to the city of flower, Da Lat. During the tour I gain so much knowledge about thebeauty of the city and its nature, culture, the history, real life of Vietnamese and how they proud of their country. I was surprised because Indonesia and Vietnam has a lot of similarity in culture, food, etc. Eventhough we share similarity but we’re still different. It deserves the respect and support of all.
Finally, We end our journey in Saigon, the place we see the heart of life in Mekong Delta, the place we did a “pim pom pim pom pili pili pom pili pom pili pili pom pim pom” and the place we finally know the secret of black magic. We’ve become more than friends towards the end of this program. But suddenly unexpected event appears, a lot of our friends got stomachache, so as my roommate, Emi. I was so sorry to her, I was her roommate but I didn’t know she throw up several times. I feel like such a fool sleeping so deep without recognizing what is going on with my own roommate. Thanksfully she recovers in the next day. Even until now, I still regret I can’t take care of her.
Goodbye and hello as always. After creating such a wonderful memories together we have to be part, back to our life. All of you are the best gift in my life. Big bunch of thanks to you all who arranged the surprised and the cake for my birthday. That’s the best moments I’ve ever had. We’ve just met for one day and you did a meaningful event for me. All of participants inspired me a lot. You all are amazing people. We’re family. 9 days is too short, if only we stay several days longer...
I am sooo grateful to have family in other countries. I’d like to see you in another chance maybe in Indonesia or in other parts of the world. I believe our path will come cross before long. I really want to shout out to the world that I LOVE ASIA. I AM PROUD TO BE ASIAN. I hope the future SOA will be held in Indonesia and I’ll help as much as I can do for SOA. Not only that, I hope more countries in Asia can join this program so we can learn a lot about Asia. We are unity.
Thank you Mr. Hatano, Mr. Daisuke, Mr. Yahiro, and all of you, for this program. I got a lot of knowledge and family as well. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. SOA gives me a new view of life. See you and Good Luck !
Sincerely,
PictureVi Tuong Hoang (Vi) (Viet Nam)
Sing Out Asia Cross-Culture Camp & Tour of 2015 in South Vietnam.
I do not know if what I am writing right now could be considered as a report of not, I just want to share some of my thoughts which I also told my friends as I came back home.
The fact is that I had about 3 days alone in Ho Chi Minh city before the program and I felt like this trip would take forever. However, 9 days with everyone in the trip just passed in a blink. When I was with my new friends from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan; when we shared about our lives, family, career, experiences, hobbies, even love life and belief; when I discovered my friends’ habits and thinking which were typical in their countries but totally different from mine, I had no idea about time.
That how I could make friends; how I could start the conversation was what I worried the most before the program. Would they be diplomatic with me and I could only share about general information of my country? It was all thank to training activities in our first 2 days in Vung Tau city which I did not understand. 555. I am just kidding. But it is the fact that I did not understand the meaning of some activities and I had to ask others who had no idea as well. We had to guess and discuss and guess and discuss again because we usually took it wrong. As we confronted the same things, we were placed in the same situation; there was no barrier between us. We addicted to each others’ jokes and silly ideas of which we always made fun. We came to each other naturally like that.
The interesting thing is that English is not as important as I thought I would be, to make friends and to understand their cultures, their lives. I think characteristic is the key element. I found it not the problem for me and others to wait for our friends looking up in the dictionary or trying to remember how to say in English. Actually, it is quite fun when I had to guess what my friends were talking about and tried to express what I wanted to say in different ways not only words. The thing decides if we could be friend or not is our expression, reaction, thinking, thing we want to say which reflect our characteristics. We are friends by our souls, not our English ability.
For bringing me the opportunity to join this trip as well as for always taking care of us through the Cross Culture Training program in South Vietnam, I want to once again, express my appreciation to Mr. Hatano, Mr. Yahiro and Mr.Daisuke. Arigatou gozaimasu!! And for all participants of this trip, I could not enjoy the trip to the fullest without you, you are everything I have found in this trip. See you next time!! A sport camp would be great!!
Picture黒澤伸吾 (Japan)
自分を変えることができた
私は、SOAのメンバーとして、９日間ベトナムに行きました。私がSOAのキャンプに参加するのは今回が初めてでした。SOAのキャンプのメンバーには、日本人のほか、タイ人、マレーシア人、インドネシア人、ベトナム人が参加していました。
キャンプの１日目と２日目Lang Haiのホテルに宿泊し、クロスカルチュラルトレーニングをしました。私は、クロスカルチュラルトレーニングとは何を行うものなのか、全く見当がつかなかったこともあり少し不安でした。しかし、最初にみんなで集まって始まったのが、non verbalでコミュニケーションをとるゲームが中心でした。このnon verbalでゲームを始めることによって、初めのうちは、あまり打ち解けることができなかった私も、徐々に他の国のメンバーと打ち解けることができるようになりました。２日目になってある程度、メンバーが打ち解けてきたら、カードゲームや言葉を必要とするゲームを行いました。このゲームの一つとして、グループに分かれて、お互い異なるゲームをし、数人が他のチームに偵察に行き、そのゲームの内容を自分のチームに知らせるというゲームをやりました。そのゲームはとても面白かったのですが、私は英語を話すのが得意ではなかったので、他のチームのルールを自分のチームに英語でうまく説明することができませんでした。私が今回のクロスカルチュラルトレーニングを体験して思ったことは、たとえ言語や文化などが違う人が集まっても、方法を考えればすぐに仲良くなることができるし、友情には言語の壁はないと実感しました。
今回の９日間のキャンプで特に印象に残ったのが、自分の意見を他人に伝える力の必要性と自分の国の文化を知っていることの重要性でした。たとえば、クロスカルチュラルトークの中で先生方が私たちに意見を求めることが多くあったのですが、意見を進んで発表していたのが、ほとんど日本人以外のメンバーでした。これからの時代は、グローバル化が進み日本人も国際社会に進出していくと考えられるので、やはり自分の意見をしっかり持っていて、恥ずかしがらずに他人に伝えることが必要だと改めて思いました。自分の文化を知っていることの重要性が印象に残った理由は、知らないと国際人として恥ずかしいことだけではなく、文化を理解していると話の輪も広げることができると今回気づいたからでした。やはり日本は、海外と比較すると独特の文化を保持しており、日本の文化に興味を持っている子が多いのが事実でした。なかには難しいことを質問してくる子もいて、私の英語力では答えることができないことも多くあったのですが、説明できればより会話が弾むと思ったし、他の国と自国の文化を比較するのは非常に面白いことであると感じました。
私がSOAのプログラムをよりよくするためには、もっと滞在日数を増やす必要があるのではないかと思いました。それには莫大なお金が必要であり、簡単なことではないとわかっているのですが、滞在日数を増やすことでより多くの人と仲良くなれるし、より他の国の文化を理解できるはずだと思います。
私は今回のキャンプで自分を変えることができたと断言できます。今までの自分は、海外に行きたいけど、英語が話せないので海外に行くのが怖いと考えていました。しかし、いまでは、もっと英語を話せるようになりたいとも思っているし、様々な国に訪れてその国の文化を深く知りたいとも思っています。英語は話そうとしないと上達しないし、今のまま下手くそだから、という理由で話さないで萎縮していたら何も得られないと思うので、これからは様々なことにチャレンジして英語力を磨きたいと思います。Picture(Center)
Lê Ngô Ý Nhi (Nhi) (Viet Nam)
SOA2015 WILL BE ALWAYS IN MY HEART.
Hello!
I’m Le Ngo Y Nhi. I come from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I joined Sing Out Asia in March 2015 in South Vietnam. This was the first time I joined this program and I have to say that it was really my wonderful ‘first time’ and an unforgettable memory of mine.
I had not met many foreign friends like that before. During the program, I had to speak English to communicate with friends from other countries. I used English from morning when I get up to night when I go to bed. Because I had not used so much English before, I was trouble in speaking, expressing my ideas. Other friends often did not get what I said and I did not understand fully what they told me. This shortage, at first, make me afraid of sharing and talking although I really wanted to make friends and know more about different countries. In the first 2 days, I felt lonely and isolated a bit. However, I integrated with everyone the days later, especially after the talent show. I could see and feel the characteristics of each country from songs, dances, musical instruments, costumes, caligraphy and so on, which I had not seen before.
One of the thing that can make me smile but can make me cry in SOA tour is the farewell party. 7 days is quite short but I had many memories with all. That is the reason why I cried at the party. At this time, deep in my heart, I wish I could have had much time with them. It connected all of us, from unacquaintance to good friendship. That is a wonderful thing of SOA tour, I think.
For me, SOA 2015 is not a trip to the South of Vietnam but also a trip to unity, a trip to friendship. I had more good friends after SOA. They are very awesome to me. They had taught me a lot about English skill, life skills. I could learn many meaningful things from them. Their fluency in English, their achievements and expericences had encouraged me so much.
I really want to send my deep thank to Mr.Hatano, Mr.Yahiro, Mr.Daisuke for giving me a chance to join such a meaningful trip like SOA.
Hope that I can join this tour once more, even twice, third.. Sing Out Asia! Hope to see you again!! ^^.
I will never forget the song that all of us sang in the talent show:
"We are one but we are difference
...we are unity"
-- Picture池田恵子, Japan
Sing Out Asia Cross Culture Training 2015 に参加して
「アジアに友人を作ること。」これが、Sing Out Asia CCTの大きな目的の一つです。これに加えて、私は今回の旅を通して成長するということを目標に参加しました。３月のベトナムで、アジアの５カ国３１人の学生たちと共に過ごしたことは、私にとって非常に貴重な体験となりました。
今回の旅を終えて、私は主に３つのSOAの魅力を挙げられると思います。１つは、1対1の個人として、学生同士が親密な友情を築くことが可能であるということです。当初、私はこの旅が人生初の海外旅行だったことに加え、全く知らないアジアの学生たちと果たして９日間も行動を共にすることができるのだろうかと、不安だらけでホーチミン空港に降り立ちました。しかし、すでに到着して日本のメンバーを待っていた他の学生に出迎えられたとき、そのような心配は無用であったと気づきました。彼らは笑顔で駆け寄ってきてくれ、初対面であるにもかかわらず、最初のホテルに移動するバスに乗っている間もずっと、たくさんのことを話しました。Cross Culture Trainingとして様々なアクティビティを行いましたが、言葉を使わず意思疎通をしたり、仮想の文化に対して見よう見まねで適応したりするようなゲームを通して、お互いに同じような感情やもどかしさなどを共有することができ、会ったばかりでもすぐに打ち解けて、とても仲良くなることができました。これは一口に国際交流と言っても、国家間の問題解決のための意見交換会や異文化体験などを目的とした国際交流とは一線を画した試みであると思います。というのもそのような国際交流は、お互いが異なる立場の存在、あるいは未知の存在であるということを前提として行われるはずだからです。SOAではもちろん参加者はそれぞれ国籍も年齢も経験も異なりますが、全員が初めて取り組む活動を通して、試行錯誤しながらも同じ気持ちを共有して協力していくことで、他の活動では得られない一体感が生まれるのではないかと思います。その他にも、空いた時間にはマーケットやビーチに出かけたり、部屋で話したりゲームをしたりなど、毎日とても充実していました。早朝に、ルームメイトの子に誘われて、3人でサドルが３つ付いている自転車を２時間以上漕いで冒険をしに行ったことも良い思い出です。
二つ目は、未知の世界に飛び込む少しばかりの度胸をつけられたことです。出発前の不安だらけで緊張していたときとは打って変わって、気が付けば周りの人たちと自然と楽しく会話ができている自分がいました。理解してもらおうと話していたのはもちろんですが、自分が分からなければ聞き返せば良いし、何よりも会話そのものを楽しんでいたので、とにかく自分も進んで話してみようという気持ちでいました。私の中のこの変化はこれから先何か新しいことに挑戦するようなときも、SOAで変われたから大丈夫、そういった自信につながるような気がします。実際に、４月から始まった大学の少人数のクラスでは、英語での発表や発言が求められることが頻繁にありますが、以前よりも英語で話すことや自分の意見を述べることに対してのハードルが低くなったように感じます。また、興味を持った授業やプログラムなどにも積極的に参加したいと思うようになりました。
三つ目の魅力は、このプログラムを通して、自分自身のこと、また自国のことについてより深く考え直すきっかけを得られたことです。SOAのメンバーと関わる中で、育ってきた環境の違い、価値観の相違、異文化に触れること、全てが新鮮でした。それは、他の学生にとっても同じだったようで、日本の話をすると興味深そうに様々な質問をしてきて、それに対して彼らの国では日本とはどのように違っているのかなどを熱心に聞かせてくれました。彼らは自分の国を客観的に見ていて、私も見習わなければと思いました。私は彼らと一緒に過ごす中でたくさんの刺激を受けましたが、最も印象深かったことは、彼らの学習に対する姿勢や向き合い方です。一度、大学で学んでいる内容について話す機会があり、共通の分野の話になったとき、自分はこのように考えているといった意見を堂々と話していて、あまり深く考えていなかった私は、ただただ驚くばかりでした。また、私の学科の名前がそれほど主流ではないために、何人かにどのような内容なのかと聞かれることがありましたが、とても興味を持っていて私のほんのちょっとした答えからも吸収しようとする意欲がひしひしと感じられました。
今回のプログラムを通して、私は確実に自分の視野を広げることができました。SOAは何年も前から知っていて興味を持っていた活動だったので、今回このような形で参加できて本当に良かったです。この旅で得た素敵な友人や思い出は、私にとってきっと一生の宝物になると思います。ありがとうございました。PictureVũ Tô Hà Phuong (Phuong) (Viet Nam)
One of the most miraculous experiences
My name is Ha-Phuong To Vu, one of the luckiest people who were chosen to be the participants of Sing Out Asia Cross-culture Camp 2015 in South Vietnam. I can say without any hesitation that, this trip is definitely one of the most miraculous experiences that happened to my life.
Although the camp only lasted for nine days, but the things I received from it are priceless. It might have taken me much more time than this just to learn those few things instead of the duration which is honestly just like a short holiday to me. This is the reason why I appreciate this experience a lot.
The first thing that I learned, which is also the main purpose of the camp, is the diversity of cultures in the world we live in. Our camp has only participants from five countries: they are Japanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai people and Vietnamese; but the interesting uniques that I discovered from those cultures have already blown up my mind. In a mixed cultural environment, I found myself not only have to quickly spot the differences, adapt to them and learn to behave like an international citizen but also be able to show my own identity. In the trainings that I went through, I was taught that despite of not sharing the same cultural backgrounds or languages, people can still understand and make friend with each other by the willing to put effort on it. It is true, because when I left the camp, I had a whole new family with all wonderful members.
The second thing, although it is not something intellectual, it is one of the most important things in my life: friendship. On the first day I joined the camp, I barely know anyone. It even took me a while to remember all those names. I would never expect that things could change that much in only nine days. I did not have the chance to get to know thoroughly everybody, but I know they always consider me as a friend. For some friends I was able to share a quality time with, we really have deep connections with each other. Our talks were not only limited in introducing ourselves or our cultures or so on. I feel I can truly open myself up and share many personal stories. Not for a single moment that I thought I came from a different place with them. I guess this is the wonderful thing of friendship and I am so thankful for that.
Last but not least, I am so delighted that I met three great people who are my teachers. They have warm hearts; have great knowledge of the world that they always ready to share with everybody. What they do brings benefits to the youth, which includes me. Having the chance to meet them and friends from other countries, I realize where I am standing; and it definately motivates me to learn more, and do more things for the society that I live in.Picture
(Far Left)
Pheerawat Jiwatanangkornkul (Boat) (Thailand)
CCT Trip Report
Actually I knew SOA from my friends since I was a second year student. Since then I really wanted to join this kind of program so much. Then the chance has come to me this year. In CCT Saigon program I met many friends from Asian countries which are Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and learnt about each other.
Let me tell about the Cross Culture Training program which is in the first and second day of this program. Before I join this program I was a bit eager to know the way this program is going to make me blend with other people. Then I knew that every session in CCT program did make me blend with other participants and also expanded my vision about living with the others. As we can see since the card games that each table has their own rules and in order to play or live with them we should take some time and notice them how to do it. In the real life we also need some time to adapt ourselves into a new environment sometimes our first priority may be the least priority in other communities. In first two days there were many games and activities that provided to us but my most favorite one was “The talent show”. I really like every performance from all countries. Things that I like from the performances were not only observing other countries’ performance but also the way we (Thais) practice and perform. Let me tell you one more thing, I joined an exchange program for one year and that also made me graduate late for one year. I am the eldest in Thai participants and everyone in my year already graduated from university so the other Thais are my junior that I never know them before. The start of this program I found that it’s quite hard to find a place that I fit. But after we spend some time in the activities especially the practice of the performance, it made me know more about the others and merge with them easily and after that we are friends not senior and junior anymore. I can say that CCT program gave me priceless experience, knowledge and also made me get along with the other very well, not only foreign participants but also Thai ones.
Then, I would like to say a big thanks to Mr. Hatano and 2 sensei which are Hirakawa and Daisuke sensei that provided and gave us a wonderful experience. I think having foreign roommates also make me know more about other countries. My roommates were Indonesian and Japanese and I learnt a lot from them in many aspects such as thinking values, beliefs, and especially games. (My Japanese roommate taught me how to play monster strike: モンスト and until today we still playing this game even we stay in different countries.) After spending time, chatting and playing with my roommates I found that Adam loves diving and drinking, Yuta loves Japanese singers and reading books and Shingo loves to play badminton like me.
This trip is also my first time in Vietnam and especially with SOA family. I know that my English isn’t perfect but I really appreciate that everyone still be patient and listen to me. Vietnamese participants which are the host country are so kind, they didn’t hesitate to explain me everything I want to know. During shopping time I enjoyed watching our friends bargaining the price of stuffs and eating something in the market.
Before I joined this program I keep thinking that 9 days in Vietnam is quite long. Then I joined it, and 9 days of this program was just a blink of the eyes or 「あっという間に終わってしまった。」in Japanese. The last night of the program I tried to stay with everyone as long as possible. We play Killer, Takenoko and card games in the room together. Even Japanese who supposed to wake up early in the next morning still played the game until 3AM. In that time I realized that 9 days are freaking short. The next morning Japanese, Malay, Indonesian and Thai went back home sequentially.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to Koon, Yelly, Bank, Fai, Noonut, Non, Shingo, Tomoya, Yuta, Riko, Okky, Ning and other participants for being there and sharing the good memories together and especially Vietnamese students who are the warm, friendly host and teach me many words. I believe that we departed in order to reunion. Let’s meet up somewhere.
Keep In Touch
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(Left)
Riko Iizumi (Japan)
The most important thing of this trip is knowing each other
It’s second time for me to participate in SOA CCT trip. At first I want to thank Saburou-san for allowing me to participate in this trip again. When I decided to join this trip it was last December, while Japan Visit was held. Japan Visit was so hard for me, because during that time had classes and examinations. However, inviting and guiding friends into japan was so enjoyable and unforgettable. At that time, I reconfirmed that having friends around the world is a wonderful experience. That’s why I want to take part in SOA trip again.
The Cross Culture Training was second time for me, but it was like first time. Actually I don’t remember well about last year, but I remember that we did some same activity like this year. However, since members are different, I felt like this was my first time again. I think some people felt strange and funny, because in some activities we couldn’t speak and also couldn’t see. I felt this strange feeling in this and last trip also. That is a interesting point of CCT.
After CCT, we traveled to Dalat and Saigon. Our bus trip was too long, so that made us feel tired and bored, but I think in bus we could talk a lot with our new friends about our country, language, culture and so on. Usually long bus trip is boring or just for sleeping, but for me it was not only for sleeping, it was also for knowing each other. Of course, the places we visited were very good, like markets, temples, beach, Mekong river and specially riding the motorbike was so exciting.
Finally, I want to recommend the people who will join next SOA trip: Don’t stick together with people who are from same country as yours. If you do that, you will talk in your own language and I think it means that you are closing yourself to the other people. Don’t forget that the most important thing of this trip is knowing each other. Even if you don’t have confidence of your English skill, don’t worry and just try. I want next members to be out going and challenger.
Riko Iizumi
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(Left)
Mutiarani Zahara (Tara) (Indonesia)
Memorable 9 Days with SOA Family
Firstly, let me introduce my self. My name is Mutiarani Zahara and my nick name is Tara. I am one of five Indonesian Students who joined Cross Culture Training Camp and Study Tour in Vietnam 2015. I Study at Islamic State University of Jakarta, majoring in International Relations. This is my report of my memorable 9 days with SOA family.
I joined this program is for the first time and also at the first time, i was feeling very greatful for this. A lot of reasons that made me feeling so blessed being one of participant of CCT this year. First, about the training. I am feeling so blessed because I got a lot of knowledgement in the training. I learned how to understand people who had differences from me. I learned how to adapt my self to the new environment, new situation, and new condition. And also I learned how to bring my self to communicate and socialize with new friends. In the first day of training, i felt so excited because i was curious how the training would be. And i got the answer of mine. The training was very funny and interesting. We did many games, like game which teamwork needed, game which to understand ourselves personality, game which to understand new places and cultures, etc. Games that i remembered the most are card game and alpha and beta culture game. In card game, we divided into some groups. Every group has a paper where the rules written inside. We have to understand the rule and play the game. In the end of game, the one who win and lose the game should move to the other group and play the game again. I won the game once and move to other group. I played the game with different group from the first and I shocked. Why? Because i faced some different rule of game. But what I did just keep silent, observe how the game should be and continued the game. Here i found the purpose of this game. It was to showed us that every place has their own rules and me (as the person who moved) have to observe that new place and be able to adapt in order to continue my life. In Alpha and Beta Culture game we played the game longer, but i also found a value of the game and the purpose of the game is to understand and observe other culture. It showed us that outside our own country, there are many different cultures and it is important for us to realize and understand of that. The point is all of games that played in training have their own purpose and i felt the purpose or meaning of game well received on us. Because it delivered in easy and funny ways. Very interesting.
Second, about the tour. The tour was really really awesome and interesting. I felt so blessed because i had a chance to go to various places in South Vietnam. I saw many differences and also similarities between Vietnam and Indonesia. Beside that, i felt this tour has so much deeper meaning, because beside got experiences in visiting many places, this tour also made relationship between each other participant tighter and closer. We spent so much time on our journey in one bus, and it made us communicate each other, asking and anwering each other, event for laughing. When we saw an unique thing or place, it would be our topic of conversation and i thought it was so much interesting.
Last but not least, i felt extremely blessed because I have not only friends but also family. I have new family! SOA 2015 Family! all member of SOA 2015 were very kind, humble, friendly, and funny. I am feeling very glad to meet you all. Thank you guys for making those 9 days be a memorable days for me ;D. And also I would like to say many thanks for Hatano Sensei, Daisuke Sensei, and Hirakawa Sensei who had organized and allowed me to join this awesome program. It was a honor to me can meet and know you, sirs.
In conlusion, this program gave me a lot, teached me a lot and i was very blessed could join this program. I hope, this program will sustain and gives this kind of chance to more youth arround the world to shared the value of unity. And I hope, CCT next year has much more participant that comes from more various countries. So we can make a bigger unity :D
PictureDam Thi Thao (Thao) (Viet Nam)
Unforgettable Memory!
The last year of student life, I had an opportunity to join in an amazing cultural exchange program named Sign-Out Asia, which is one of my most wonderful experiences in my entire life!
The two-first day of journey, we participated in Cross-Culture Training in a very beautiful sea city-Vung Tau city. Thank to Cross-Culture Training, I have learnt how to understand people of diverse cultural backgrounds. l know that the cultural values of Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other areas are very different. As to Asians, we may look the same, but in reality our cultural values are quite different. However, after joining in a lot of enjoyable games, we not only grasp the essence of different cultures but enrich newly-built trust and friendship as well. At the night of talent show, when we all forgot where we come from to express our custom and tradition and immerse ourselves in interesting traditional performances, it is true to say that “we are one and we are unity”.
This journey also brought to me valuable experience that I will never forget. It was great to meet and become friends with so many professional and interesting people from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. During 8 days in South Vietnam, we shared joys and sorrows with others. We laugh so hard, took so many pictures and left one another with great memories. Seeing my friends enjoying their time in Vietnam, I felt really happy. Besides, we had a wonderful sharing time together in such a place possessing passionate beauty of nature. We were extremely stunned by fantastic beaches, the glory of mountains, skies, fogs and thousands of elements found only in the south of Vietnam. I still remember exactly the excited feeling when we played volleyball together on Nha Trang beach, or when we went to night market and bought a lot of souvenirs in Dalat or the first time I sit on a boat visiting floating market on Mekong River in Cai Be town, Tien Giang province. I got strong impression when enjoying folk music of South Vietnam among a leaf house with a lot of fruit trees. All of those have formed such a bright memory that I have never forgotten in my life.
Time did fly fast like an arrow. At the time we had to say goodbye, I had so many different feelings: a little bit happy because the trip had finally gone to the end successfully, but sad a lot because I did know exactly when we could meet again. We talking like as this was the last time we saw and chatted each other. Hugs became so tightly. However, I strongly believe that good-bye does not mean an end, but a beginning. Grasping opportunity of joining in the next SOA programs in Thailand and Japan or other programs, we enable to sit side by side again. I did do my best to bring us closer and overcome all the obstacles, cultural and language barriers.
On the other hand, I also have two small comments about Cross-Cultural Training program. Firstly, about the structure of CCT, it is more effective if CCT can be hold on different times during that trip such as the first day, the middle day and the last day of journey, but not on some first days of journey. For instance, in Vung Tau city, we should have one day for CCT and one day for visiting tourism place; the next CCT day will be hold in other city such as Nha Trang or Saigon; then we end program with a talent show. Because, when we finished all training activities and celebrated talent show at night of the 3rd-day of the trip, I felt a little bit that this was the end of program and the left part was simply traveling. Secondly, about the content of CCT, you would require each team to prepare at least typical game in their country for CCT and submit idea to you before beginning program (you can check whether it is appropriate with your criteria or not). It is way to encourage your international participants to share their customs and traditions with you and others. I am sorry if my comment is so impolite and it makes you fed up with. Honestly, it does not mean that your program was not interesting or exciting because I appreciate highly your ideas. For example, you mixed people come from different countries in a room, which is a smart way to help us make friend easier.
Once again, I want to give a sincere thank to Mr.Hatano, Mr.Daisuke, Mr.Yahiro and other organizers of SOA program for all of happiness, amazing experience and sweet memories you bring us.
SOA - Thank to become a part of my life!Picture(Far Left)
Ratchanon Wongapichat (Non) (Thailand)
Thank you everyone for such a memorable time
I am passionate about travelling, learning new things and getting to know new friends. At first, I had never known about SOA program before, but after seeing photos and hearing about this program from my friends who have joined the program last year, I found it really interesting that the participants can have a chance to do activities with new friends and have an excursion at the same time. Before, I had only few friends from Southeast Asian countries and had never had any friends from Japan. So when the program was announced to be held in Vietnam, I didn’t hesitate to apply and was always counting down to the travel date.
We spent 2 days in Vung Tau to do the cross-culture training. We got to know each other much more through the games and activities. Everyone was so energetic .Nobody was shy to answer the questions and express their opinions towards many different topics we talked about. The activities we did were mostly related to social and cultural issues. I’ve got many ideas from these activities and discussions. As we all are Asian and share some same cultures, traditions and lifestyles, we could get along with the others very easily no matter where we are from.
After the training, we started our journey to many different cities in South Vietnam. Although sometimes we had to take a long bus journey and the traffic and road condition weren’t that good, but the places we went were worth visiting. South Vietnam offers all kinds of experiences from breathtaking mountainous area, beautiful beaches to chaotic cities.
As we know, now is the age of Asia. Japan is one of the major powers while Southeast Asia has become an emerging region. Understanding between each other is so important and youth are the ones who will shape this region in the future. SOA program has given us an opportunity to learn more about other cultures and understand the differences. We have gained the experience that we couldn’t find anywhere else.
Time flew so fast when we were in South Vietnam. One of the best journeys I have ever taken was about to end. It’s always hard to say “Good bye” because we can’t know when we’ll be back and have this kind of moment again, but I always believe that the world isn’t that big. We meet to depart and depart to meet again. Thank you everyone for such a memorable time and hope to see you all again someday.
Suggestions
The length of the program is appropriate, not too long and not too short.
But it would be great that we could have a chance to visit some more important places. Some of them, we may have to pay ( such as Unification Palace, Cu Chi tunnel and War Remnants Museum ) and the cost of the tour can be more expensive, but is it possible to reduce the cost by using lower grade hotels? Base on my experience, 2-3 star hotels in Southeast Asia are acceptable. They are cheaper, the rooms aren’t too small and all the necessary things are provided.
The other suggestion is that sometimes the bus ride took too long. Everyone also mentioned about this problem, it may not be enough to see all the things within 9 days. It would be better to reduce some cities that are quite far away from the others out in order to reduce the traveling time and we can spend more time on visiting places.
The last suggestion is that it would be nice that we could have more interactions with local people like visiting local schools and government places and sharing ideas and cultures with them.
By the way, I was impressed and did enjoy the trip. Thank you once again JPicture平川 知弥 (Japan)
気持ちの持ち方次第でもコミュニケーションは成り立つ
１1日目のプログラムでは、目的を考えながらトレーニングに取り組んでいました。しかし、趣旨について特に説明もなかったことなどから、各トレーニングにおける目的などを理解することができませんでした。そのため、その後のトレーニングにおいて趣旨などを考えずにただ楽しむだけという形で取り組んでしまいました。これは自分の考える力などが足りなかったのが、原因の一つと考えられますが、トレーニング後のまとめで先生方から趣旨や目的を言ってもらえるとより理解が深まりやすくなると思いました。自分で考えてほしいという意図があるとは思いますが、ある程度の説明はあっても良いと思います。
プログラム全体の始めにこのトレーニングを行うことで、他国の生徒との距離が近づくきっかけとなったのはとても良かったです。
2 まず今回の旅はとても楽しかったです。行く前までは正直あまり気のりせず、不安も多くありました。しかし、同世代の学生と交流する中でその不安はいつの間にかなくなり、もっと長く一緒にいたいと感じるようになりました。それは他国の学生も日本の学生と大した差がなかったことが一番大きな要因だと思います。
言葉が通じないこともたまにあり、コミュニケーションを取ることが難しかったです。しかし、相手が話す時はこちらが理解しようとし、逆にこちらが話すときは相手が理解しようとしたことでそれほど不便さは感じませんでした。このことから、言葉（英語）が話せれば一番容易に意志疎通ができますが、たとえあまり話せなくても、相手を理解しようとする気持ちの持ち方次第でもコミュニケーションは成り立つのではないかと思いました。
そして自分の英語スキルのレベルを把握するいい機会になりました。ある程度は通じるものの、語彙の少なさから伝えたいことが伝えられないもどかしさを覚えました。
また、他国の学生と交流することで価値観の違いや他国の生活について知ることができ、関心を持つことができました。
知り合った人たちとは今後も連絡を取り合う関係を続けていきたいと思いました。
3
・学生がツアーガイド
プログラム中、すべての予定を組むのは難しいと思うので、2日か3日は現地の学生が予定を組んでツアーガイドを行う。あらかじめ、行きたい場所を各国の学生に聞き取り調査を行い、それを元にツアーを組む。この際に複数のグループに分け、移動しやすい人数にする。ツアーガイドによって、英語力の向上に加えて自国の理解にもつながると思う。Picture(Right)
Natnicha Surasit (Noonut) (Thailand)
Report on the Sing Out Asia 2015 trip in Vietnam
When I first heard about this program, I was very interested and thought that it would be fun to be go to Vietnam and meet new friends from foreign countries. Then on the first day I got there, I thought it was going to be a little difficult for us all to communicate and comprehend other kids from different countries and cultures but we tried our best to open our minds and learn about new and different cultures. When it came to the first day of activities, the ice-breaking, we really enjoyed the activities and games all together. I think that was great fun and made us all feel more comfortable in getting to make new friends very quickly. The activities later on were not only fun but also stimulative, interesting and knowledgable. They gave us realization regards being a part of diverse the community and society in which we have to learn and adapt ourselves in order to survive.
I found myself and others enjoying them so much. The culture night that we had to make shows of our own cultures was fun and full of joy. We could learn a lot more about others' cultures from that night.
After those cultural activity days, we got to travel around several cities in South Vietnam which was another best part of this cultural program. I really love spending times with all foreigner and Thai friends I made. The food in every meal was awesome. The tour made great choices of restaurants for us and I thought I did gain weight. The only obstacle of the trip was that so many people got a diarrhea and some were so sick that they couldn't come visit some places with the rest of us. After all, I had learned so much that there's nothing right, nothing wrong, it is just different. This trip was very remarkable and was one of the best memories of mine.