一歩を踏み出すことの勇気【2018年07月17日号】

   西日本豪雨の被害が引き続き報道されています。被害が出てしまった地域に在住するプログラム参加者やアメリカ出発を控えた高校生たちとそのご家族、留学生やホストファミリー、その他多くの知人たちの無事を案じ、自然災害の恐ろしさを改めて実感すると共に、何もできない自身に対し腹立たしさを感じています。ただただこれ以上被害が拡がらないことを祈り、そして被害のあった地域でまだたくさんの方たちが大変な思いをしていることを「他地域のことだから…」と忘れ去ってはいけないと痛感しています。

   そんな中で、被害に遭われた方々のお手伝いをするボランティア活動に高校生たちが参加をしているという記事が目に留まりました。「小さなことからでも手伝って、助けになれば…」「何か自分にできることがあれば…」という思いを行動に移している高校生たちに頭の下がる思いです。

   以前、ある高校で先生が生徒に対し「AO入試や推薦入試に有利になるから何かボランティアをするように」と指示をしているという話を聞いたことがあります。あるプログラム参加者からその話を聞いた時は、正直「ボランティア活動にはそんな目的で参加してほしくない」と思ったものでした。しかし、実際にボランティア活動に参加した子から後日体験談を聞き、その子の考え方が大きく変わっていることに気づきました。人とのつながり、自分が誰かの役に立っているという喜び、ただただ指示を待っているのではなく、自分で何ができるかを考えることの難しさ…AO入試のためという最初の動機はいつの間にか消えていました。最初の動機や目的はどうであれ、「参加すること」「体験すること」を通して成長できるのであれば、学校の先生の指示は正解だったのかも…高校交換留学プログラムも同じようなことが言えるかもしれません。「英語が喋れるようになりたい」「英語ができれば入試に有利だから」「親に言われたから」「兄弟が全員留学しているから」等が参加理由の第一歩であったとしても、実際に異文化での生活体験をすることにより、自分でも想像していなかった自身の中の考え方の変化に気付き、大きく成長した体験者がたくさんいます。高校時代の留学に不安や心配はつきもの。でもこのプログラムは若者の人生の中の「契機」となり得るものであり、一歩を踏みだす勇気で大きく自分を啓き、結果、拓けていく未来があるのも事実です。

☆彡留学生レポート�Vより（その�D）

   昨年7月にアメリカに留学した派遣生たちの、帰国1ケ月前に書かれたレポート�Vの紹介も今回が最後となります。質問ごとの回答を読み返し、改めてそれぞれが本当によく頑張りぬいたなと感心しています。ゴールを目指して必死に走り続けた結果が、自分自身に対する自信や、まわりの人たちに対する感謝の気持ちであることがまっすぐに熱く表現されていますね。アメリカから送られたすべてのレポートのコピーは日本の保護者の方に送付し、原本は事務所に大切に保管してあります！プログラムを無事終了して帰国した皆さん…数年後、何かにつまずいてしまったり、「頑張ってたあの時のこと、思い出したい」という気持ちになったらいつでも2018年7月の自分に会いに来てください。きっと元気になれますよ！。

Q.後輩の留学生へのメッセージやアドバイスは？留学を成功させるコツは何だと思いますか？

• 積極性、やる気。英語がぐちゃぐちゃでも頑張って伝えようとしていれば、必ず相手はしっかり聴いてくれるので、諦めずに積極的に話しに云ったほうがいいと思う。
  
• 私はこの10か月を通して、最初の2か月と残りの8か月が同じ長さに感じました。最初は慣れないことだらけで、長く思えますが、本当にあっという間です。新しいことに挑戦し、色んなことを経験して充実した留学生活にしてほしいです。たとえ失敗しても、そこまでの過程で得たものはあるはずです！
  
• 毎日笑顔。
  
• Don’t be shy!! 皆がダンスしている時は一緒にダンスをする。皆が歌ってるなら、一緒に歌う。恥ずかしがっていたら何も始まらない。
  
• 絶対スポーツした方がいい。スポーツが嫌いなら、吹奏楽とか、演劇とか。日本でやったことでなくてもチャレンジしたほうがいいと思います。
  
• 日記を書く。
  
• 良い友達に出会うこと！良い友達に出会うには機会を待っていては時間ももったいないので、自分から学校中の友達にあいさつをして皆に顔を知ってもらうことからはじめるといいと思います！
  
• 自分一人で全てをやろうと思ってもできない。人に頼るところはしっかり頼ったほうがいい。友達が増えてから色んな物事が上手く回るようになった。
  
• やっぱり最初のイメージがすごく大事だと思います。最初どれだけ勇気を出せるかでその後の留学生活もだいぶ変わってくる。また、何事も「今更遅い」とあきらめないで行動することがすごく大事だと思う。
  
• 自信を持つ事…最初は誰も知らないし、色々な人を怖いと思ってしまうかもしれない。でも、相手は自分の事を何とも思っていない事がほとんどである。
  
• やりたいと思ったことは失敗をおそれずに挑戦する。何事にも挑戦する。アメリカでしかできないこともたくさんあるし、こっちの人は恥なんて言葉を知らないぐらい積極的に行動しているし、そんなことはみんな気にしていない。
  
• 時間かけても良いから、「自分」になること。
  
• 何事もポジティブな先入観を持つことだと思います。その方が楽しく過ごせるし、色々得をすることも多いです。言われてできるようなことではないかもしれないけど、意識だけでも十分だと思います。
  
• 恥を捨てて友達を作りにいく（話しかける）。
  
• しんどいことも、苦しいこともいっぱいあるけど、そこでずっと止まるんじゃなくてすぐに気持ちを切り替えて、ポジティブにどうしたら解決できるか考えて、楽しいことを考える！1年って言っても1回こっちに来たら本当に一瞬だから精一杯楽しむ！
  
• とにかく元気いっぱいな自分自身になって！誰もあなたの英語力を気にしてない、何を話しているかの方がよっぽど重要で周りも頑張って伝えようとしてるのを理解してくれます！とにかく楽しく過ごす、ハッピーになることが一番！意見はとにかく言おう！話し合いから学ぶことはたくさんある！！
  
• 留学を成功させる…何をアドバイスしたら良いか分かりませんが、スマートフォンのさわりすぎには気を付けた方がいいと思います。もう１つは、もしホストファミリーについて何か思う事があれば、迷わずホストファミリーにしっかり伝えることが大切です。Shareする事はとても大切です。
  
• 『笑顔、やる気、HAPPY』
  ・笑顔でいれば、人は寄ってくる、優しくしてくれる、助けてくれる。
  ・やる気のない人には何もめぐって来ない。何事にも前向きな姿勢で！
  ・HAPPYは私にとって大きなキーワードでした。１年間の留学を通して、楽しいことよりつらいことの方が多かったです。そのつらい時こそHAPPYになることを考えるのが大切だなと思いました。
  
• 大声で笑っていれば全てうまくいきます。なるようになるから、何事にも恐れないで挑戦してみて！！！良くも悪くも10ヶ月しかないんだから、周りの目とか失敗とか気にせずに、自分自身のやり方でつきすすんでがんばって下さい！！！そして全ての人に対して感謝を忘れずに！！！

Q.自分自身の留学を振り返り、高校交換留学生としての他への貢献度や自分の「頑張り度」は100点満点で何点をつけますか？時間を1年前に戻してやり直せるのなら、どのようなことをやりたいですか？

• 貢献度：100点中75点　頑張り度：100点中85点
  日本のことをもっと知っておくべきだった。英語にもう少し慣れるべきだった。
  
• 貢献度：100点中90点　頑張り度：100点中90点
  卓球クラブにもっと早く入っていたかった。
  
• 貢献度：100点中60点　頑張り度：100点中50点
  もっと勉強しておくべきでした。まだ遅くはないと思うのでこれからもっともっとボキャブラリーを増やしていきたい。
  
• 貢献度：100点中90点　頑張り度：100点中100点
  1年前の6、7月の留学前ならばタイピングの練習をする。もちろん英語の勉強も。また、日本のアニメ、映画などをたくさんみる。留学中ならば、初めから皆に積極的に話しかけたい。
  
• 貢献度：100点中90点　頑張り度：100点中80点
  甘いとは思うけど多くの友達や家族に聞いたり一生懸命伝えようと努力はしたので。やり直すならもっとポジティブになったり、単語をさらに覚えていきたい。
  
• 貢献度：100点中85点　頑張り度：100点中100点
  友達やホストファミリーともっとたくさん写真を撮れば良かったから、それをやり直したい。（せっかく出かけたりしたのに撮るのを忘れたりしたから）
  
• 貢献度：100点中80点　頑張り度：100点中70点
  英単語もっと覚える。頭の中で言いたい文章は思いついてるけど、考えているうちに話が変わって“あ〜”って後悔したことが何回もあったから言いたいことはすぐ言えるようにしたかった。もう一度やり直せるならやり直したいぐらい。
  
• 貢献度：100点中80点　頑張り度：100点中70点
  1年前に戻せるならば、もう少し料理のレパートリーを増やしておきたい。
  
• 貢献度：100点中95点　頑張り度：100点中90点
  1年前に時間を戻せるとしたら、たぶんオハイオ研修を終えてからワシントンD.C.行くまでのホストファミリーでの最初の一ヶ月をもっと楽しむ！
  
• 貢献度：100点中96点　頑張り度：100点中100点
  最初の方から友達とどこかに遊びにいったりすれば友達の輪が広げられたと思います。もう少し日本の政治について学んでおけば色んな人とそのことについて語り合えたと思います。
  
• 貢献度：100点中50点　頑張り度：100点中79点
  電子機器に使用した時間を、物事をホストファミリーと共有する時間にしたいです。
  
• 貢献度：100点中80点　頑張り度：100点中85点
  日本を出る前はもう少し勉強するべきだった。進路や将来について考えるべきだった。家族にもっともっと愛を伝えるべきだった。アメリカに来てからはつらい時、逃げていたことが多かった。もう少しあまえてみるべきだったのかも知れない。

Q.プログラム最終段階（帰国1か月前・5月）に入った感想・心境､これからの計画等は？
英語で書いてみましょう

• This study abroad started in July and I came here in Texas in August. And it already pasts about 9 months. Now in May, I really feel time goes by so fast. I can’t believe I have only one month left. At first, I was over whelmed that the speed of speaking. First day of school, I talked to someone behind me when I lined up for lunch and I got a friend. I still remembered that feeling even now. I had a little bit hard time that I was too shy to make friend and the time when I didn’t want to go to school, but my English was getting better and I got in track, had some events and then I could change something in myself as I’ve lived here. After I got to come back to Japan, I’m going to study for my university drawing on my experiences. During one month, I’ll have a lot of events, things so I’ll work hard to have no regrets. Also, I’ll show my feeling of gratitude to my host family, my friends, teacher and everyone who supported me during this study abroad.
  
• When I came to the US, I totally couldn’t speak English and I didn’t understand what they say. That’s why I didn’t know how I can make friends in the school and I felt lonely. However, my host family and adult who were around me have been very kind to me. They gave me a bunch of chance of making friends and tutoring for my homework and test. So I could feel better little by little. Then now I have enjoyed every single time with my sweet guys. I’m definitely gonna miss them. (Honestly still wanna live here. lol)
  
• This year gave me the decision against my future, new family and friends of various countries. It was absolutely good opportunity for me. Also thanks to my teachers, BIEE, FLAG, my family…all of you guys. I’ve spent such a wonderful American life. I’m gonna try hard to repay you and obligation someday! In addition, I’m gonna study for university in Japan after this so I’ll try my best for that, utilize my past experiences and acquired English skill on my prospect and be nice person as one of the adult!
  
• What I would like to mention as an exchange student from Japan, is that I do not want to go back to Japan. I have several reasons, but let me tell you one biggest one. Because…Everything is LIT.
  
• I just have about a month left before leaving here. However, my English still is not pretty good. So I gotta study more. My family is so kind. I’m so glad that they accepted me. My baseball season was over…I’m so sad…but I can study longer so that’s fine. That’s it!! Thank you.
  
• It’s about 280 days since I came to America. It was so fast to get to end of my exchange student year. So now only 30 something days left. I really enjoyed American high school life so I’m feel so happy to become exchange student. I learned a lot of English and American culture. But one biggest thing that I realized in over sea for me is how my own family is wonderful and awesome for me. I mean in Japanese is 「親のありがたみがわかる」。That’s what I realized. So I studied many things and I learned a lot of things. This exchange student’s life will be unforgettable my memory!
  
• Time goes so fast. I can’t catch up it. When I came to the US very beginning, I couldn’t even imagine this speed of time. Now I’m not only excited to get back to Japan but also sad. Of course I miss my Japanese family and friends and just want to see them as soon as possible. But I’m so sad to leave from the US. People who were around me were so nice and I can’t thank enough. Especially, my host family was so nice and always supported me. I had a lot of struggle things but I could overcome: I realized that how Japan is nice country. I became a person who loves Japan more than before. One thing that I’m worried about is my weight. I have gained my weight so much. I know it’s normal thing to exchange students but… It’ll be ok.
  
• It seems like years since I left Japan. But also the time flew so fast. And June will come soon. I feel like I’ve been knowing my host family and friends since I was born. But I also remember clearly the day I came here. I used to give up easily, and I didn’t have confident in myself. But now, I can say that I spent wonderful 9 months in America. I’m sure I will never forget every single thing that made me stronger. My most favorite part of this exchange students program is meeting new people and becoming a family or friends with them. I wasn’t good at socializing with people. But now I know that I like to talk with people who have experienced the stuff that I’ve never tried. That gives me energy and courage to try new things. I am thankful to everyone who helped me trying to be a better person. I couldn’t be here as the person who I am now without all of your support.
  
• I have been thinking a lot about going back to Japan but it is hard to think I have only about 30 days left. If my Japanese friends ask me how it was studying abroad, I won’t be able to find the words which can describe my experiences. It was very hard at times and fun as well. I appreciated so many people who helped me. I got depressed very easily during studying abroad even though I tried to think of it positively. But at the same time, many people helped me out. I’m not still satisfied with my English level and myself improvement but it gets better every day. I wish I could experience this all over again but I know it’s impossible. And I think I just should think what I can do now. I’ll do my best in the rest of my days.
  
• I can’t believe my exchange year is almost over, I can say time passes so fast, because I feel like I came here yesterday, I have time more than half a year, or I’ll live here forever. Because my host family is so amazing, nice, kind, funny and so on. I can’t express them in the word. Every day is fun and so quick to spend with them and it’s not an exaggeration to say that family ties are stronger than Japan, and family love exists. (I’m sorry to my Japanese mom, but it is.) If I can, I want to stay forever, I really don’t wanna go back to Japan. And my “only” sister (from Germany) is so nice and kind. I do love her so much, so I can still believe she left here. I’m still sad. So I’m not gonna forget about my exchange student’s year, and thank you so much for people around me.
  
• Honestly, I don’t know what I can do in this last part. I’ve been doing whatever I could do as much as possible. (At least I tried.) I feel like I should keep doing what I’m doing now. Of course, I’m not giving up, I’m still eager to enjoy the rest of this studying abroad year and I want to be proud of I’d have done when I go home. The rest of the year, I’ll spend time as me, natural myself, not someone with heavy responsible to make people feel they want more exchange students from next year. I know I should keep it in mind, but I want to be just myself. I hope you allow me to be it.
  
• I experienced so many things through this exchange program. After I left Japan, everything around me changed. People, language, culture, religion, food... everything was different than what I had known. I try to adapt for them, and learned lots of things from them. I feel that it passed very quickly this school year. In the future, most likely, I will face many difficulties and challenges that I can’t imagine how hard they are now. But, I am pretty sure that this experience is going to help me to overcome them. It is an irreplaceable treasure of mine.
  
• Everything didn't work as I expected at first. By acting positively, everything went well. This year was a little harder than I thought, but I think I could make a progress through awesome experiences. I am going to have to appreciate my parents, teacher, everyone who supported me. I would like to take full advantage of this precious experience in my future.
  
• I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported me. I think I am so lucky that I could have such a great environment, for instance, I got the best family, the best friends, and the best teachers. I could do everything I wanted and I have nothing that I regret. Even though I cried a couple times during this year, those turn to my good memories. I won't forget anything and hopefully I can come back here. Thanks a lot.
  
• I have been here for about 9 months and I will have to go back to Japan soon. That makes me so sad because I love my American family and friends so much. During the school year, I had lots of experiences. I sometimes felt so hard and I thought I wanted to go home, honestly, but now when I think about my life in the US, I remember so many precious memories with awesome people around me way more than hard and sad memories. Once I started to think in positive ways for everything, I feel like I’m so happy and everything has changed in positive ways. I’m so glad that I came here and I chose to came here:) I’m so grateful for my family, American family, friends, BIEE, FLAG, and everyone who helped me and made good memories with me and being with me:) I cannot even express my gratitude for them. I think America is my second home country and it’s so wonderful to have two families in the world!! I think the highlight of my life in the US is that I had my American family and I went to American high school and made the best memories with them!! :) One thing I have been trying since I came here is keeping my journal. I haven’t managed to do it every day, but I still keep doing it when I especially have big events such as Christmas, New Year, or even small things, like watching movie or going hiking, I keep them in my journal because all of them are my precious memories and I don’t want to forget them after I go back to Japan. This year has been going too fast. It’s not even a year, I feel like it’s only a month, but I think I could challenge myself and grew up myself too. I think that’s all thanks for the hard feeling I felt during this studying abroad. This year and my memories are the best and I loved it so much!! I definitely want to come back to the US and I will come here as an exchange student in some day during my university! :) Again, thank you so much for supporting me and helping me to have a good time here!! I am so appreciate it! :) Love
  
• This year was amazing, meaningful, and really important for me. It felt long for me and that is because I always tried to make every day meaningful. I felt so many emotions that I can’t even count this year. Sometimes, I was so mad and irritated because I didn’t satisfy with relationship with my friends because I used to be shy. But through sports season, I got to be myself and laugh with friends so hard till we cried. I felt really happy often but I feel depressed sometimes, too. But I was able to be really positive this year. Even though when I was in bad mood, I always tried many solutions to solve problem to make things better. My host family was the best family ever. My mother always showed me love and she gave me a lot of life lessons to make me become better person. I grew up so much and I became much more open-minded person. Last month was the best month ever. My friends became so close and we loved so much each other like a family. I appreciate every single person I’ve met this year! Thank you!!!
  
• I don’t know how I feel. I’m excited to go back to my country, but at the same time, I don’t want to leave here, because I love my host family and my friends. The school is going to be done in 6 weeks. I hope I am going to enjoy every moment.
  
• I don’t even know my feelings right now about going back to home. I’m sure I really miss my family, friends in Japan, and environment. However, I could make so many best friends in here. I am going to miss them. Additionally, I have three family now. My American families gave me a lot of love. I am really a happy person! I will write down about my study abroad. I had very hard time more than fun time. I cried so many times than I expected. But I could realize that there is a lot of small happinesses which I couldn’t realize before. I was glad that I could talk with my friends longer than usual, I could get more friends, my teammates encourage me when I was playing basketball and soccer, I could exchange greetings with friends, family, and church family, and so on. These are actually small happinesses, but these were big happinesses for me. I knew I could think like that, because I am here, America without my Japanese family and friends. My study abroad days weren’t “easy” for me. But, I’m sure I will never regret to came here even up to now and from now on.
  
• Saying goodbye to people in here is the hardest thing I’ve ever had. I am not ready to go back and can’t believe I am leaving soon. I met many amazing people and realize how blessed I am. My exchange student year was tough enough. I had many things I struggled with but I never regret that I came here. Because my exchange student year was also filled with so much great, unforgettable memories and friends. I’m going to miss here so bad and I will be back here for sure! I really appreciate to my family, my host family, friends, teachers, FLAG, and BIEE.
  
• First of all I really don’t want to go back to home in Japan. Actually, I just got used to talk with people friendly, I just became a person who is outgoing. To be honest, I regret one thing about my life in America, even though I tried to do my best. For 6, 7 months, in my mind, I wanted to talk with everybody and make friends, but I was so afraid to be ignored by someone when I talked and also I was afraid to use wrong English. But now I know, if I come up something, just do it. It is good thing to think about what is going to happen, but sometimes it makes me nervous. So don’t think about thing deeply, just do it. Now, I almost finish this exchange program. Honestly I can’t believe that and I don’t feel such a sense of accomplishment. I think that I still keep on challenging even if I finish this program. I’m not really sure about my future but this experience gave me a lot of advices. I have two families in Japan, and America. I am pretty sure I am the happiest person in the world. I appreciate everyone who I met in my life and I shouldn’t forget this feeling. Thank you for everything. I will be more stronger person.
  
• I’ve done with my program, but I feel like going to study abroad again. I had a lot of hard time in America. But I’m sure everything I experienced will help my life. I will not regret deciding to go study abroad. This year was one of the most valuable moment in my life. Thank you for all supports you gave me.

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