東日本大震災被災地の中学生をメルボルンに招待するプロジェクト

吉田　葉月　（よしだ　はずき）

メルボルン研修を終えて

ホームスティの家族や学校の生徒たちも、心を開いてくれて本当にうれしかったです。みんな優しくて、言葉があまり通じなくても、他の方法で心が繋がった気がしました。海外に来て思ったことは、日本人は、もっと自己主張をするべきで、そこが日本人の欠点だと思いました。

来る前は、オーストラリアは、白人がいて、コアラやカンガルーがたくさんいる国というイメージで、少し怖い気持ちもありましたが、来てみると、みんな、たくさん話しかけてくれるし、心を開いてくれました。私も、日本にいる外国人に、たくさん英語で話しかけたいと思いました。

今回の滞在で、もう少し、積極的にすればよかったと少し後悔もありますが、とても良い経験だったと思います。ありがとうございました。

I was so happy to find that family members at the home stay and the students at school were all open minded. Although I could not converse with them due to problems with my language skills everyone was kind so I felt that we had a good relationship.

Having had this experience of mingling with people overseas, I thought that Japanese people should speak up more openly about their opinions. Japanese people generally do not express themselves openly to others which seem to be one of our weak points.

Before I arrived in Australia, I had a wrong idea about Australia and I was a little frightened and worried about coming to Australia. My image was that in Australia there are many white people, and also many koalas and kangaroos, however, the reality was much different. People spoke to me warmly and I started to feel like talking to people who are from overseas visiting Japan.

In retrospect, I regret that I could not have taken more positive manner in every area during my stay in Australia; however, I had a very valuable experience. Thank you very much.