８月１１日の日誌

  I crossed the sea from Itoman to Tokashiki Island by ferry. I got on it for the first time.
  And I became seasick. I felt too bad to enjoy my first ride on ferry. Everyone was smiling. Then, I was staring at plastic bag･･･. After getting off the ferry, however, I felt refreshed. So good.
  Where we stayed, we took a lecture about “Safe Water” by professor. It was so difficult for me that I couldn’t understand perfectly. Discussing water problems after the lecture,
  We played skit. Every skit was funny, interesting, and intelligible. I had a lot of fun.

  I thought “In this way, I can understand and think about water problems easily. I was anxiety for this program, but I can do something”. Today was very good.

　このプログラムが始まって７日が経ちました。今日は渡嘉敷島に行き、「安全な水とは何か」のレクチャーと、グループディスカッションをしました。
　英語が苦手な私は、レクチャーを受ける前に、ちゃんと自分の意見が伝わるかとても不安でした。しかし、みんなすごく優しくて、耳を傾けてくれました。発表では、短い準備時間の中で、水について各グループが様々な劇をしていて、とても興味深かったです。
　まだディスカッションも２回ぐらいしかやっていませんが、何日か通して思ったことは、英語でうまく伝えられなくても、伝えたいという気持ちがあれば、みんな理解しようとしてくれるということです。

　あと１２日間、自分から積極的に英語で話しかけて、多くの仲間を作り、様々な事を学び、有意義に過ごしていきたいと思います。

　昨日は台風が来たので、渡嘉敷には行けなくて残念だった。でも、昨日の嵐とはうって変わって、今日はもの凄くいい天気で、無事に渡嘉敷に到着することができた。
　午後には、ディスカッションと講義があった。講義の内容は「安全な水とは何か」というものであった。安全な水とは何かをグループで話し合い、必ずしも飲み水が安全な水ではない（化学物質が含まれている）ということを知った。
　また、ディスカッションでは、水が引き起こす問題を考え、その原因とその問題がどのようなことをもたらすかをグループで話し合って、３分間程度のスキット（寸劇）を各グループでやった。どのグループもわかりやすくて、とても興味深いものだった。自分が風邪をひいて、グループのみんなに迷惑をかけて申し訳ないと思ったし、自分ができることはやろうと思った。ディスカッション中に自分が意見を言ったらみんなその意見に賛成してくれて嬉しかった。これからもディスカッション中に自分の意見をみんなに伝えることができたらいいなぁと思った。

  With the typhoon gone, we could finally make the long awaited trip to Tokashiki Island. We were all excited to go, but the trip wasn't as easy as it seemed: for some, it meant wrestling with their trunks, and for others, it meant fighting back the urgency to barf. Once we arrived on the Island, however, the beautiful scenery more than compensated for the small inconvenience. I was surprised to see the modernity of the National Youth House, standing in sharp contrast to its skyline that was uninterrupted by buildings or any other signs of civilization.
  The first lecture was very interesting. Professor Jimba's first-hand experiences in Nepal gave me insight to not only safe drinking water, but also to the methods of cooperation.
  The group discussion was still awkward, though it was a bit better than the last one. However, through cooperation, we were able to make and perform a decent skit.
  During free time, I went outside and talked to some people from Okinawa, Brunei, Cambodia and China, learning each others' languages and cultures. The free time that seemed too long on the first day in Okinawa seems too short, now that I have met friends from all over Asia who each have interesting stories of their own to share.

  When I first came here, I was very nervous.
  I was afraid of my speaking and my pronunciation. But when I met other friends, I felt very different.　They are friendly, kindly, helpful, and smart. They taught me a lot of things such as how should behave to other people, use chopstick, teach me other languages and they also encourage me every times. Everybody took care of me. In here, I learnt a lot of things. I confronted with some obstacles, too.
  But I could beat it. On the other hand, I have learnt about lectures which are related to water. I know a lot about how to use water safely, how to protect or prevent water from polluted.
  I am very happy that I can be here. In addition, I want to say thank to all of my friends not only foreign students but also Japanese students, too. They are my really good friends. I wish I can enjoy my 3 weeks with them.