It’s been 2 days since we left Japan (with the Student Ambassadors and Supervisors from the Philippines) and I can brutally and melancholically admit that we sincerely miss Japan: it's people and its climate (duh!). I can't help but admit that after arriving from this trip-- I closely follow the news everyday by watching BBC and NHK World (and would be sooo delighted when the news is about the land of the rising sun!) and started appreciating doreimon!. I even started following a Japanese human rights advocate's tweets although I had never used twitter since I activated my account. Truly-the experiences I got from this country would be enough to sustain me for a lifetime!
LEARNING FROM THE JICE
My country, the Philippines, and Japan share many things in common due to complicated historical events. The geographical similarity especially makes it more easily for us to feel empathetic towards eachother. The warmth Filipinos boasts for was likewise shared by the Japanese People. Meeting first hand the people at the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE)confirmed this impression. Our JICE coordinators showed to each of us that working with others requires self-control, and it carries the rewards of pride in contributing to the group, emotional security, and social identity. The notion of harmony within a group, requires an attitude of cooperation and a recognition of social roles. If each individual in the group understands personal obligations and empathizes with the situations of others, then the group as a whole benefits. Success can come only if all put forth their best individual efforts. Decisions are often made only after consulting with everyone in the group. No wonder, the whole program went smoothly and organized. Thanks to Obayashi-San, Mori-San, Takahashi-San and all the JICE people. In the Philippines, much was shown from Tomino-san and the other JICE coordinators.Truly, working in a group in Japan requires the development of successful channels of communication, which reinforce group interdependence, and the sense of difference from those who are not members of the group (like us, the Filipino Supervisors of the Jenesys Program).
DEVELOPING CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
I have been travelling for the past 15 years and it has been consistent that when confronted with new culture--it is impossible to avoid culture shock altogether as much of what a person has learnt (I was guilty as charged!). Our trip to Japan at first led all of us to feelings of disorientation (e.g. time difference,bidet, bowing and even the multiple use of "sumimasen")and helplessness (eating the whole bento box, confused what to eat in the mouth-watering and amazing buffets). Japan as a country values its cultivated traditions and practices as much as it values keeping in touch with the future. Whether grounded in history or in religion, Japanese customs are still widely practiced to this day. That made our visit more exciting and a superb learning experience.
One of the major attractions of traveling throughout Japan was trying different local cuisines in every town we visited. While sushi is in fact a large part of Japanese heritage, myriad flavors from all around the world have contributed to Japan's robust foodie culture, attracting more and more culinary figures worldwide to try the new eastern hot spot. Thanks to the JENESYS Program--we savored different cuisines while we enjoyed and indulged in the beauty of the countrysides!
Truly--visiting Japan is an endless discovery!
ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT
After studying Japan's disaster management and risk reduction, I slowly looked into the rather loose discipline in my country that alerted each of us (students and ambassadors)especially to the potential risks but with much worse conditions we might face someday in the Philippines. Many reflections though hadbeen made on the prevention management, quality of medial profession, efficiency of bureaucracy, and on people’s citizenship.
After the east-asia great quake, JAPAN is "open for business" and "recovering at surprising speed," from the earthquake that devastated the country. If you imagine that the whole of Japan is covered by debris, that is completely wrong. Most of Japan remains unharmed by the disaster, and the streets have leapt back to life. As one would expect, rich countries with high-quality institutions and populations with high levels of human and social capital recover more quickly, and are most likely to intelligently allocate resources toward improvements over lost capital stock and infrastructure. This reality proved Japan's resiliency as a country.There is no doubt that Japan has the will and strength to rebuild. I know my country will learn from Japan as a country and as an organized institution.
