マレーシア研修員が見た日本・日本人とは～「My Experience in Japan」（帰国にあたり綴ってくれたエッセイです！）

JICA筑波が実施した研修「洪水防災」（2020年度課題別研修）に参加したブータンやバングラデシュ、マレーシアなどの国々から来た研修員たち6名は、約1年間の日本滞在を終え、9月17日に帰国の途に着きました。研修員たちは、つくば市にある研究所で、河川管理や防災政策などの洪水被害軽減のための知識や技術を習得しました。

帰国を前に、研修員の一人、マレーシアのノレインさんが、日本で暮らした印象をエッセイにまとめてくれました。エッセイでは、コロナ禍での来日の不安や、来日後に日本人の優しさに触れた時の気持ち、そして日本で感動したことなどを綴っています。このエッセイを読むと、日本は他のどこの国とも異なる、唯一無二の国である、とノレインが感じてくれていることが伝わってきます。ぜひご一読ください。

Participants of the Knowledge Co-Creation Program "Flood Disaster Risk Reduction" returned to their home countries on September 17, after about one-year stay in Japan. Through the program, 6 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, and other countries have acquired knowledge and skills for flood damage mitigation, including river management and disaster prevention policies, at the research institute in Tsukuba City.

The following is an essay written by Ms. Norain binti Osman, one of the participants of the course, about her impressions of living in Japan. She wrote about her anxiety of coming to Japan under COVI-19 pandemic situation, how she felt when she was touched by the kindness of the Japanese people, and what impressed her in Japan. This essay reminds us that Japan is a unique country, which is different from any other countries. Please read it.

●Course Name: KCCP “Flood Disaster Risk Reduction”
●Course Duration: 2021/9/30-2021/9/17
●Ms. Norain binti Osman (Malaysia)

<Essay on my experience in Japan>
On my very first visit to Japan, I arrived in Tokyo during the Covid-19 pandemic. I arrived at night and was waiting at the airport for all documentation and testing on Covid-19 for almost 2 hours. I was exhausted, and a little overwhelmed by my new surroundings. As my arrival was with very huge and heavy bags (you can imagine that I am going to stay long in Japan), I am afraid the officer will get a backache with it. But, their kindness to bring my bag into the shuttle bus and off to the accommodation building was making me feel the warmth and welcome. And thus, with their kindness, the first Japanese person I ever met in Japan had set a tone that would continue to this very day. After the shuttle ride from the airport into the JICA Tsukuba Building, I arrived with a smile from the front desk officers of JICA Tsukuba.

The hospitality and warmth welcomed then continue during the 14days quarantine and so on. Japanese people never fail to move me with their kindness and, most of all, thoughtfulness and consideration. It permeates every aspect of life in Japan, and even short-term visitors come away with an overwhelming sense that respect, both given and received is a huge part of the Japanese experience.

As we all also know, Japan is a very unique country and that not many places in the world can be compared with it. The culture, the history, food, and the place itself it’s something that you can’t find anywhere else. I am so in love with Japan. The amazing things that makes Japan such a unique country is how it can mix its ancient history and traditions, with its incredible modernization. Japan’s history has existed for a few thousand years now, and that until this day a lot of it remains very much alive.

Something else that you can’t really experience in other places is how everything works so smoothly in Japan. Japan’s Public transportation is the best. Buses, Trains, Bullet trains, everything! It’s just so convenient for travelers and locals. It is incredible the punctuality in which these types of transportations work by.

I know that Japan will continuously stay strong in everything, overcome the worst as they are always learning their lessons, and be prepare in everything. I wish Japan to stay having the courage, keep on strong with whatever disaster that they will face and good luck in everything.