BoeingHigherEducationProgram

2014 Visiting Kofu Higashi High School Report ３March 11, 2014

　When I heard the announcement about the visit to Kofu Higashi High School and that they needed volunteers, I thought to myself that it would be an interesting and signed up straight away. Not only I was not disappointed, I was satisfied beyond expectations. It was the kind of experience that stays in one’s memory for life, and I will surely cherish it.

　Perhaps some of us came in with the idea that we were representing our countries and must not bring shame on our compatriots. However, I wanted the students to somehow understand that we should look at people as people, and things like citizenships as afterthoughts. So I went in with an open mind and a ready smile, to try to get those shy boys and girls to come out of their shells. I was being as open and honest as I could, and I ended up being told several times that I was speaking too fast. In the end however, I think I was able to get through to them.

　Communication is not about how good your grammar and vocabulary are. It’s about how easy you find it to express your thoughts and ideas, and how well it gets through to the other person. I sensed that the students wanted to ask questions but were a bit embarrassed and so we were not able to exchange so much. However, I believe that all they need are more opportunities in order to experience and grow.
　I am glad that I was able to show the students, even if it was just a little bit, what lies outside the glass bowl of Japanese society. I am sure that there were many questions left unanswered or even unasked, but if I was able to instill that curiosity inside them, then I believe that I had achieved something.

　We talked, we exchanged ideas no matter how hesitantly, and shared a meal together. We even cleaned up together. All of it was familiar and nostalgic to me, and yet only slightly different, as if looking at the same object through differently-tinted lenses. When you stop to think about it, although we may be looking through all sorts of different lenses, in the end we are all looking at the same things.
　It was a short time, but very precious. As I interacted with them, I watched those young high school students and was reminded about my own time in high school. They were not so different from us back then. There are those who have dreams, and those who have not decided yet. Everyone is pursuing their own interests, whether through club activities or otherwise. Most of all, I was moved by that awkward and yet energetic youthfulness.

　Towards the end of the visit, one of the students asked me, “Are there any similarities between Japan　and the Philippines?” At that time, I thought of climate and the like, so I ended up answering “pretty much nothing”. However, upon reflection, I was completely wrong. Wherever you go, people are people. People want to communicate, to connect with others, to reach out and feel a welcoming hand grasp theirs in return.

　To the students of Kofu Higashi High School, find your dreams and make them reality. To the teachers and staff, thank you for arranging this event, and please continue taking care of your students.

　From the bottom of my heart, I am truly thankful for this experience.
　Noong narinig ko ang patalalstas tungkol sa pagdalaw sa Kofu Higashi High School at sila ay nangangailangan ng ilang boluntaryo, agad-agad akong sumapi. Hindi lang ako hindi nabigo, ikinatuwa ko ng lagpas pa sa aking inaasahan. Ito ay naging karansang maaalala habambuhay, at tiyak na mamahalin ko ito.

　Maaaring ilan sa amin ay dumalo habang inaalala na kami ay kumakatawan sa aming bansa at hindi maaaring pahiyain ang aming mga kababayan. Ngunit nais kong maintindihan ng mga estudyante, kahit papaano, na ang tao ay dipat tignan bilang tao, at ang mga bagay katulad ng pagkamamamayan ay pahabol lamang. Kaya ako ay dumalo ng bukas ang isip at nakangiti, ng makayanan kong akitin ang mga studyante na lumabas sa kanilang mga talukap. Ako ay naging lantad at matapat hanggang sa aking kakayanan, at dahil doon ay ilang beses akong napagsabihang masyadong mabilis ang aking pananalita. Ngunit, pakiramdam ko na kahit papaano ay naintindihan nila ako.

　Ang komunikasyon ay hindi tungkol sa kagalingan ng iyong gramatika o bokabularyo. Ito ay tungkol sa kung gaano kadali para sa iyo ang paghayag ng iyong mga pananaw at kuro-kuro. Naramdaman ko na nais ng mga estudyante na magtanong, ngunit sila ay medyo nahiya, at samakatuwid ay hindi namin masyadong nakayanang mag-usapan. Subalit, naniniwala ako na ang tanging kailangan nila ay mas maraming pagkakataon upang makaranas at sumulong.

　Natutuwa ako na nakayanan kong ipakita sa mga estudyante, kahit gaano man kakonti, kung ano ang mayroon sa labas ng mangkok na salamin ng sosyedad ng bansang Hapon. Sigurado akong maraming mga tanong na hindi nasagutan, at higit pa ang mga hindi naitanong, ngunit kung naitanim ko ang pagkamausisa na iyon sa kanilang isipan ay pakiramdam ko na mayroon akong naitamo.

　Kami ay nag-usapan, nagpalitan ng kuro-kuro kahit gaano pa mang nag-aalangan, at kumain ng magkasama. Sama-sama pa kaming naglinis. Lahat ng ito ay alam ko at nostalhik sa akin, ngunit naiba ng konting-konti lang, ng parang tumitingin sa parehong bagay gamit ng lenteng magkaiba ang kulay. Kung pag-iisipan nating mabuti, kahit na lahat tayo ay gumagamit ng lente na iba’t-iba ang kulay, pareho lang ang mga bagay na tinitignan natin.

　Iyon ay maikling panahon, ngunit napakamahalaga. Habang kausap ko sila, pinanood ko ang mga batang estudyanteng haiskul na iyon, at naalala ko ang aking sariling panahon noong haiskul. Hindi sila masyadong naiba sa amin noon. Merong may dalang panaginip, at meron ding hindi pa nakapagpasya. Lahat sila ay humahabol sa kanilang kinawiwilihan, maari mang sa gawain ng klab o sa iba pa. Higit sa lahat, nabagabag ang aking loob sa kanilang pakapa-kapa ngunit masiglang pagkabataan.

　Nang palapit na ang katapusan ng pagdalaw, tinanong ako ng isang estudyante, “Mayroon bang pareho sa bansang Hapon at Pilipinas?” Sa panahong iyon ay nasa isipan ko ang klima at iba pa, kaya ang naisagot ko ay “halos wala”. Ngunit, sa aking pagmumuni, ay nalaman kong nagkamali ako. Kung saan ka pa man mapunta, ang tao ay tao. Ang tao ay nagnanais na makipag-usap, ng makadugtong sa iba, ng mag-abot ng kamay at may sasalubong na kamay na hahawak sa kanya.

　Sa mga estudyante ng Kofu Higashi High School, hanapin ninyo ang inyong pangarap at patuparin ninyo sila. Sa mga guro at mga kawani, salamat po sa inyong paghanda ng ibentong ito, at ipagpatuloy po ninyo ang inyong pag-aalaga sa inyong mga estudyante.

　Mula sa ilalim ng aking puso, ako ay nagpapasalamat para sa karanasang ito.