A Farewell to Kitsuki
This week was my last week teaching classes at Kitsuki High School. It was a difficult week for me, to be honest, but a good week, too. The first years were doing their "superhero" presentations (they had to design a superhero...my favorites this year were "Crab-Toyoda" (a combination of their homeroom teacher and a crab) and "Nikuman (Meat Man)"), and at the end of each class some representatives came up and gave a short speech and handed me letters from all of them. Gaku and Yutaka were the representatives for 4kumi, my favorite class, and Gaku gave his speech in English. All the other 1st year classes spoke Japanese, so I was really impressed. The second years took a whole class to read me their messages one by one. Some kids made me cry. Actually, a lot of kids made me cry. Unfortunately, my last third year classes were canceled suddenly because of the typhoon on Tuesday, but 5kumi still made me cards. Then, Friday was my farewell speech. I had to give a speech to the entire school in the auditorium. It was really hard to write, because I knew if I said, "Kitsuki High School" or anything about being thankful, hoping to meet again, or never forgetting this experience I would choke up and literally not be able to finish my speech. So, instead of writing the "this is what Kitsuki has taught me, and these are my best memories" speech I originally planned, instead I decided to try to answer the question, "Why do I like Japanese people?" which I have often been asked, actually. I wasn't sure how it would go over; it wasn't the usual format and it was a little bit...dramatic, I think is the word I am looking for. Here it is. I gave the speech in Japanese, but I'll write the English here too.
これは、私の最後の話なので、つまらなくても、長くても、最後までよろしくお願いします！
五年間前、私は日本に来ました。日本語あまりしゃべらなかったし、日本の生活にまだ慣れていなかったのです。よく間違えをしました。ある日、大分駅から杵築駅までの６３０円切符を買いました。千円で払うつもりだったが、間違えて千円ではなく一万円で払ってしまいました。気づかずに、そしてもちろん、機会の注意を理解せずに、九千円を残したままフォームに行きました。でも、フォームで知らない人はいきなり私に九千円を手渡した。「忘れ物です」と言ってくれました。
そして、今年、東北で大地震と津波の後, 災害による多くの避難者は必需品を必要としていました。必需品が足りないと分かっていたのに、避難者はがまん強く列に並んでて待ちました。そして、食事不足なのに避難者を訪ねったアメリカ人のリポーターと食べ物を分けようとしました。
そして、福島原発の事故で、１６０人以上の職大した儀儒者が原発の職員の代わりに働くことを申し出ました。その人たちを集まった山田やすてらは、「理にかなうよ。私たちはこの年で放射線の長期間の影響を受けることなし、私たちの世代はその原発を建てました。私たちの責任だ。」と言いました。
日本に初めて来たとき、なぜ日本人はそんなにいい人間だのかなと思いました。一番最初の日本人の友達、千尋、に聞きました。彼は、ちょっと考えて、「私たちには、ほかの人を幸せにするのは幸せです。」というふうに言いました。そのとき、私はすごく安心になりました。「私も一緒です」と思いました。
しかし、このことを理解できない人がおおいです。差別、性別、そして無知で目が閉じられている人もいます。私は、訪ねた国では自分の目で見たことがあります。だから、私が日本で学んだことをいろんな国に紹介したいです。何が学んだとはっきりいうのが難しいです。いろんな言い方があるんですが、一番分かりやすいのはたぶん野球の更衣室にかかれています。「いい選手の前に、いい生徒です。いい生徒の前に、いい人間です。」それは、野球だけでなく、夢なんでも、まず最初の一方はいい人間になることだと思います。
私は、日本人がいい人たちだと思っています。もちろん、完璧ではないです。誰でも、どんな国でも間違いがあると思います。原発を作るのはそういう間違いの一つだったかもしれません。しかし、それが分かってから日本人は原発のエネルギーを使わないようにいろんな犠牲をしました。先の世代を守るため、原発をやめるのは必要だと思います。日本には、今歩いている道がいいと伝いたいです。そして、あなたたちには、自分の国に誇りを持ってくださいと言いたいです。日本人は国内も海外もとても素敵な行動をやっているよ。
今週、２年２組の最後の授業で、いる生徒は私に「I will give you this word: 一所懸命」と言ってくれました。私は、そんの言葉に与えられて感謝します。がんばります。一所懸命頑張ります。私は、これからアメリカに帰って、国際教育、経済と政治を勉強します。卒業してから国連に入りたいと思っています。私は、その道で少しでも世界の力になればいいなと思っています。そして、行く前あなたたちにこの言葉をあげたいと思います。True Japanese: 日本人らしく。これからも、あなたたちは日本人らしくいい人たちになってほしいです。あなたたちは、駅の女と災害によろ避難者と山田さんのように、世界に「いい人である」という意味を見せて続けてください。
This is my last chance to speak with many of you, so even if my story is boring, please listen to the end.
Five years ago, I came to Japan. I couldn’t speak much Japanese, and I didn’t know anything about Japan. I made many mistakes. Once, I bought a train ticket from Oita to Kitsuki, which costs 630yen. I meant to pay with 1000 yen, but I accidentally used a 10000yen bill by mistake. Not realizing my mistake, and because I could not understand the machine’s voice, I took only the coins and left the 9000yen behind. But, on the platform a woman suddenly ran up to me and pressed 9000 yen into my hand. “Wasuremono!” she said.
This year, as you know, Japan was hit by a major earthquake and then a tsunami. Many refugees were desperate for food, water, and supplies. People around the world were shocked to see Japanese refugees patiently waiting their turns in long lines on the news. And when an American reporter flew in to report on the disaster, Japanese refugees offered to share their food with her.
A month later, when the Fukushima Power Plant went into melt-down, Yasuteru Yamada, a retired engineer, gathered a group of over 160 retired professionals who offered to replace the workers trying to cool the plant. “It’s only logical for the older generation to bear this burden,” he said. “We are too old to suffer the long-term effects of radiation, and we built these plants.”
When I first came to Japan, I wondered what motivated Japanese people to be good. I asked my first Japanese friend, Chihiro. He hesitated, but he told me, “Making other people happy and doing the right thing makes us happy.” I suddenly felt very relieved, because I thought, “I am the same.”
But not everyone understands this idea. Too many people in the world are blinded by racism, sexism, or ignorance, or fettered by poverty. I have seen it first-hand in many of the countries I have visited. That is why I want to go back to America, to study International Education. Actually, most of my study will be about economics and development. I want to work internationally to help the world understand what I have learned in Japan. It’s expressed in many ways and many words, but perhaps the easiest to understand is a sign hanging in the baseball locker room. It says, “Before you are a good player, you must be a good student. Before you can be a good student, you must be a good person.” It’s not only true for baseball. Whatever your dream is, before you can achieve it you must be a good person.
I believe Japanese are good people. I’m not saying that Japan and the Japanese do not make mistakes; building nuclear power plants was certainly a mistake. But upon realizing this, Japanese people rallied and made sacrifices in order to use less energy, and resolved to stop using nuclear power. Of course sacrifice is hard, but I believe Japan is making the right decision. I think you should look at your country, at the actions, large and small, of your countrymen both in Japan and abroad, and be proud. Japan is a country you should be proud of.
In our last class, one student told me, “I will give you this word. Isshogenmei.” I am thankful for that word. I will. And in return, I would like to give you this word: True Japanese. Nihonjinrashiku. I believe that many of you already realize that Japan is not isolated from the world, and is becoming less so every day. I hope you will continue, and continue to teach your children to be, true Japanese, and that each of you will continue to stand as an example to the world of what it means to be a good person.
After my speech, Abe Mao (the school president) and Ono Ken (VP) came on stage. Mao gave me a really good speech in English, and Ken gave me some flowers. I really love Mao and Ken, and I wanted to give them hugs. But Mao was holding his speech and the mike so it was kind of awkward and I only shook his hand. I hugged Ken though. Later Mao complained to his teacher that he didn't get a hug too. haha Poor kid. Imma hug the crap outta him on Monday!
My speech went over pretty well, especially with the teachers. I'm not sure about the students, but I made a mistake. When I said "retired" I reversed the kanji and said "shokutai" instead of "taishoku". Normally, I think people would laugh at a mistake like that (shoku also means food, so it's kind of a funny mistake), but no one did. The principal was really impressed with the kids for that, and he liked my speech so much that he decided not to give the speech he had prepared for the student's closing ceremony. He just told the students to remember what I told them. I didn't know that until the party later (which was REALLY fun, but I will write about that later), because I left after my ceremony.I made it through without crying too much, but I needed a moment or two afterward.
I have so much to be thankful for. Especially for five wonderful years here at Kitsuki High School.
これは、私の最後の話なので、つまらなくても、長くても、最後までよろしくお願いします！
五年間前、私は日本に来ました。日本語あまりしゃべらなかったし、日本の生活にまだ慣れていなかったのです。よく間違えをしました。ある日、大分駅から杵築駅までの６３０円切符を買いました。千円で払うつもりだったが、間違えて千円ではなく一万円で払ってしまいました。気づかずに、そしてもちろん、機会の注意を理解せずに、九千円を残したままフォームに行きました。でも、フォームで知らない人はいきなり私に九千円を手渡した。「忘れ物です」と言ってくれました。
そして、今年、東北で大地震と津波の後, 災害による多くの避難者は必需品を必要としていました。必需品が足りないと分かっていたのに、避難者はがまん強く列に並んでて待ちました。そして、食事不足なのに避難者を訪ねったアメリカ人のリポーターと食べ物を分けようとしました。
そして、福島原発の事故で、１６０人以上の職大した儀儒者が原発の職員の代わりに働くことを申し出ました。その人たちを集まった山田やすてらは、「理にかなうよ。私たちはこの年で放射線の長期間の影響を受けることなし、私たちの世代はその原発を建てました。私たちの責任だ。」と言いました。
日本に初めて来たとき、なぜ日本人はそんなにいい人間だのかなと思いました。一番最初の日本人の友達、千尋、に聞きました。彼は、ちょっと考えて、「私たちには、ほかの人を幸せにするのは幸せです。」というふうに言いました。そのとき、私はすごく安心になりました。「私も一緒です」と思いました。
しかし、このことを理解できない人がおおいです。差別、性別、そして無知で目が閉じられている人もいます。私は、訪ねた国では自分の目で見たことがあります。だから、私が日本で学んだことをいろんな国に紹介したいです。何が学んだとはっきりいうのが難しいです。いろんな言い方があるんですが、一番分かりやすいのはたぶん野球の更衣室にかかれています。「いい選手の前に、いい生徒です。いい生徒の前に、いい人間です。」それは、野球だけでなく、夢なんでも、まず最初の一方はいい人間になることだと思います。
私は、日本人がいい人たちだと思っています。もちろん、完璧ではないです。誰でも、どんな国でも間違いがあると思います。原発を作るのはそういう間違いの一つだったかもしれません。しかし、それが分かってから日本人は原発のエネルギーを使わないようにいろんな犠牲をしました。先の世代を守るため、原発をやめるのは必要だと思います。日本には、今歩いている道がいいと伝いたいです。そして、あなたたちには、自分の国に誇りを持ってくださいと言いたいです。日本人は国内も海外もとても素敵な行動をやっているよ。
今週、２年２組の最後の授業で、いる生徒は私に「I will give you this word: 一所懸命」と言ってくれました。私は、そんの言葉に与えられて感謝します。がんばります。一所懸命頑張ります。私は、これからアメリカに帰って、国際教育、経済と政治を勉強します。卒業してから国連に入りたいと思っています。私は、その道で少しでも世界の力になればいいなと思っています。そして、行く前あなたたちにこの言葉をあげたいと思います。True Japanese: 日本人らしく。これからも、あなたたちは日本人らしくいい人たちになってほしいです。あなたたちは、駅の女と災害によろ避難者と山田さんのように、世界に「いい人である」という意味を見せて続けてください。
This is my last chance to speak with many of you, so even if my story is boring, please listen to the end.
Five years ago, I came to Japan. I couldn’t speak much Japanese, and I didn’t know anything about Japan. I made many mistakes. Once, I bought a train ticket from Oita to Kitsuki, which costs 630yen. I meant to pay with 1000 yen, but I accidentally used a 10000yen bill by mistake. Not realizing my mistake, and because I could not understand the machine’s voice, I took only the coins and left the 9000yen behind. But, on the platform a woman suddenly ran up to me and pressed 9000 yen into my hand. “Wasuremono!” she said.
This year, as you know, Japan was hit by a major earthquake and then a tsunami. Many refugees were desperate for food, water, and supplies. People around the world were shocked to see Japanese refugees patiently waiting their turns in long lines on the news. And when an American reporter flew in to report on the disaster, Japanese refugees offered to share their food with her.
A month later, when the Fukushima Power Plant went into melt-down, Yasuteru Yamada, a retired engineer, gathered a group of over 160 retired professionals who offered to replace the workers trying to cool the plant. “It’s only logical for the older generation to bear this burden,” he said. “We are too old to suffer the long-term effects of radiation, and we built these plants.”
When I first came to Japan, I wondered what motivated Japanese people to be good. I asked my first Japanese friend, Chihiro. He hesitated, but he told me, “Making other people happy and doing the right thing makes us happy.” I suddenly felt very relieved, because I thought, “I am the same.”
But not everyone understands this idea. Too many people in the world are blinded by racism, sexism, or ignorance, or fettered by poverty. I have seen it first-hand in many of the countries I have visited. That is why I want to go back to America, to study International Education. Actually, most of my study will be about economics and development. I want to work internationally to help the world understand what I have learned in Japan. It’s expressed in many ways and many words, but perhaps the easiest to understand is a sign hanging in the baseball locker room. It says, “Before you are a good player, you must be a good student. Before you can be a good student, you must be a good person.” It’s not only true for baseball. Whatever your dream is, before you can achieve it you must be a good person.
I believe Japanese are good people. I’m not saying that Japan and the Japanese do not make mistakes; building nuclear power plants was certainly a mistake. But upon realizing this, Japanese people rallied and made sacrifices in order to use less energy, and resolved to stop using nuclear power. Of course sacrifice is hard, but I believe Japan is making the right decision. I think you should look at your country, at the actions, large and small, of your countrymen both in Japan and abroad, and be proud. Japan is a country you should be proud of.
In our last class, one student told me, “I will give you this word. Isshogenmei.” I am thankful for that word. I will. And in return, I would like to give you this word: True Japanese. Nihonjinrashiku. I believe that many of you already realize that Japan is not isolated from the world, and is becoming less so every day. I hope you will continue, and continue to teach your children to be, true Japanese, and that each of you will continue to stand as an example to the world of what it means to be a good person.
After my speech, Abe Mao (the school president) and Ono Ken (VP) came on stage. Mao gave me a really good speech in English, and Ken gave me some flowers. I really love Mao and Ken, and I wanted to give them hugs. But Mao was holding his speech and the mike so it was kind of awkward and I only shook his hand. I hugged Ken though. Later Mao complained to his teacher that he didn't get a hug too. haha Poor kid. Imma hug the crap outta him on Monday!
My speech went over pretty well, especially with the teachers. I'm not sure about the students, but I made a mistake. When I said "retired" I reversed the kanji and said "shokutai" instead of "taishoku". Normally, I think people would laugh at a mistake like that (shoku also means food, so it's kind of a funny mistake), but no one did. The principal was really impressed with the kids for that, and he liked my speech so much that he decided not to give the speech he had prepared for the student's closing ceremony. He just told the students to remember what I told them. I didn't know that until the party later (which was REALLY fun, but I will write about that later), because I left after my ceremony.I made it through without crying too much, but I needed a moment or two afterward.
I have so much to be thankful for. Especially for five wonderful years here at Kitsuki High School.