Carlos
It has been 5 years since I came to Japan. This was the second Home Visit Program for me.
My Japanese ability was not enough to communicate with my host family when I joined this program for the first time. However, I noticed my Japanese has been improving just a little this time.
I went to Mr. Imai’s home and met his wife as well. They were kind. I was worried whether I can communicate with them well or not. I could not understand what they said perfectly but I tried to ask if I did not understand. As a result, I think that I communicated with them very well.
During I stayed at their home I tried to talk about my family and country and then I showed my collection of metal badges, and I told the stories of each ones to them.
It has been more than 20 years for Mr. and Mrs. Imai since they started taking part in UEC Home Visit Program. However it was the first time for them to accept a student from Colombia. After we talked enough through each other, I was treated to lunch. It was home made soba by Mr. Imai. They looked very happy to hear that I love soba and wasabi too. Soba was really delicious.
After we had soba, they led me to the next room. Then, surprisingly, hakama was ready for me. I changed my cloth into hakama. It was amazing because I like Japanese History and their customs. I have tried to wear hakama before but Mr. Imai taught me the proper way of wearing it this time. First of all, you start wearing Tabi. Learning how to wear traditional cloths such as hakama is a precious opportunity for me. Afterwards, I was able to wear different one. At that time, I tried to carry a sword and a fan as well. I thought that how to wear hakama is as difficult as kimono. I am very interested in learning Japanese History, especially, Edo era and everything about Samurai. My thoughts went to that era by wearing traditional Japanese cloths. Also, I thought even hakama is hard to wear, so being in full armor, yoroi and kabuto, must have been really hard for them and must have taken a long time to get ready for fighting. Yoroi is such a heavy thing. So, I marvel how they manage to fight with putting on it.
After that we had delicious dinner. Then, while we were drinking plum juice together after dinner, we continued discussing lots of topics such as living in Japan, my life in UEC, the significance of participating this home visit program, the difference between Japan and Colombia, and conversely, common feature between Japan and Colombia.
I appreciate them for listening to me has difficulty to communicate in Japanese with patience. I am full of feelings of gratefulness and thank you for the wonderful time. I wish both of them great happiness and health with all my heart.
Created: June 29, 2013 / Last modified:January 14, 2014
