Asian Youth Development Program in Okinawa

Aug.14

The clock ticked 8:00 AM and it marked a promising day ahead. As my eyes opened to unfold a brand new day, I realized that I was not in any youth center this time. The first sight I saw included dolls, paintings, and grand hanging decorations made of shells. I was in our admirable host home.

In the morning, we had a small tour around the different significant spots in Iejima Island. In the afternoon, we decorated picture frames using shells and colored sand, made key chains, climbed to the peak of the only mountain in Iejima, bathed in a white sand beach, helped in carpentry care, and went to the supermarket.

In this day, I learned how it is to be in an Okinawan family. It was an experience that I will forever cherish and I will never forget. Today, we interacted with other people, created unbreakable relationships and shaped unforgettable memories. I found a second family which I never tried before.

I hope that I will see my host family again sometime in the future. I really had a great time with them.

Till next time and till we meet each other again Kinjo family! This is not goodbye but rather see you soon!

ID: G6-1
Name: Amiscaray Jude Martin
Country: Philippines

Aug.20

I can’t believe that 19 days has passed. I thought we would have more time. The final presentation was so amazing! I could watch the play for hours. I even cried during the video. It was very heart warming to see all of our fun moments in one video. With that we ended AYDPO 2013. After that we had a lecture about the brain. I agree that different people have different perspectives and we should learn to accept them. Soon, when the night came, our free time came as well. I had a lot of fun shopping. We had one last dinner together. It was really our last time eating together as one. I hope I can come back and relive this amazing experience I have had here in AYDPO. I will miss all of you. We came as strangers and we will leave as a family. I love you all!

ID: G2-5
Name: Leow Wen An
Country: Singapore

Aug.20

There’s a Thai phrase saying ” Party will always comes to the end”. Even though I realized that, it’s still hard to say good bye. So I’d tried my best to make our last day an unforgettable memory. We start our day busy as usual. Every participants was so excited about the final presentation. We had worked so hard prepared this.

Our final presentation start with the business plan worked by business committee. They present about the ‘SOLution’ company which would help us solve problem about energy and environment using solar energy. After the business plan presentation, here come the performance team. We showed you our vision, passion and strength to change the world through our performance. We talk about what we’ve learnt during this program, not just a business plan, not just an environment issue but we also learn about friendship, the bond that I believed it would last forever. Finally at the end of our final presentation, we’d like to thank to all the tutors and art committee for their hard working and supporting. And last, we gave a big thanks to Okinawa prefecture for giving us a chance to be part of AYDPO family and giving me the most wonderful time in my life ever. Ippe-ni-fe-de-be-ru!

After the final presentation, we had a little party together. It’s was gorgeous. There’s a performance from high school student. I really respect their passion for working so hard together to continue the Okinawa traditional dance and music and I appreciate Okinawa prefecture for encourage them and gave us a good chance to watch their performance.

At the end of the day, we have a little free time for shopping at Kokusai Dori. I’ve buy a lot of souvenirs for my family. I love Beniimo taruto the most. I enjoyed this moment a lot. Ayaka kinjo really taking good care of me as a guide, she brought me every where I wanted to go, Thanks Ayaka.

Finally, we have our last dinner together. it’s out last chance to say ‘itadagimus’ and ‘goshisosamadeshita’ together so we have a little competition shouting this word, it was so funny. While I enjoyed the dinner, the tutors gave us a chance to speak. I really have a lot of things to say but I don’t know where to start so I didn’t raise my hand. So I’d like to say something in this diary to all the staff and participants in AYDPO family.

‘I really don’t know where to start, there’s a lot of things I want to say. So I’d like to start with Thanks. Thank you to everyone in AYDPO family. Thanks to Limahahanagoo for always staying by my side Hinano, Ayaka, Sugs, Daniela, Fonso, Aou, Raika and Thin lin. Thanks to my beloved tutors, Gina and Chie. To Gina, actually you’re not Kowai but you’re hon-to-ni kawaii. I really thanks for always gave us suggestion and comment and lead us the direction. You said once that it’s kinda hard for you because both you and chie are woman-woman tutors while the other group have woman-man tutors, I like to say that it’s not a problem at all. You have done a great job comfort us and giving us energy,even though both of you are woman. To be  really really really honest, I couldn’t imagine a life in AYDPO with out you. To Chie, I always relieve every time I talked to you. You always comfort me with a sweet word and always cheer every one up in your own way. Thank you PapaGina and MamaChie (sorry Gina, you deserved to be a father more than mother).

Next, I’d like to thanks all the staff, coordinators, facilitators, Nurse and logistic team. You always working so hard supporting us. Mama Mayuko  and  Mama Minako alway come to our room at night to say Oyasuminasai and make sure we go to sleep at ten. I still remember the most famous phrase in this program ‘Please, please, please go to sleep at ten!!!’. The nurse always taking good care of me when I was sick. Nach-chan san and Mina san lend me their stuff when we went to beach combing to protect me from the sunlight because I have an allergic. I became an old woman with their cloth, Face-covered hat , glove and scarf but I was so touch by that. I feet bad for forgot to take a picture at that time. In our final presentation, I feel really thankful to Papalatino and Coco-san. They’re so kind and always support us in what ever we do. they gave us suggestion, gave us energy and help us in the music effect.

Third, Thanks to the entire participant in AYDPO. All of you have given me a lot of good memories. I can’t mention all of them in here but I know that every memory we shared will always be in our heart, right? I know that there’re a lot of time I’d done something wrong, but you guys always forgive me, accept me as who I am and always cheer each other up. We have only 20 days to learn about each other but finally we come one big family.

Finally, Thanks to Okinawa prefecture for the most wonderful program ever. Thanks to all facility like Itoman youth center, tokashiki island, onna village for giving us a nice place to sleep and to do our activity and big thanks for every meal, Oishi-desu. Thanks to every lecture for inspire us. Thanks you to anything that brought us here. I’ll never forget you guys. I’m not good at keep in touch with people but I’ll try my best. Thanks again’

Last but not the least, we have a little dancing,singing and Opalele in the dining hall! Tonight is our last night together, I won’t waste any minute on sleeping, sorry Mama Mayuko ^^.

ID: G5-4
Name: Montatipkul Pantitra
Country: Thailand

Aug.19
To day start with I wake up at 6.30 o’clock by myself (I think) and after that I went to toilet  from 6.45 o’clock to 6.55 o’clock and then take shower in the bath room before breakfast time about one minute.So,I’m late for my breakfast.When I went to breakfast already. Everyone waited for me I’m so sad and so sorry.Foods on this breakfast were not bad and not good.I got a little egg, bacon, fish and some bread. After our breakfast we had about 30 minute for free times. I went to my room 219 for wash my face and watch baseball game. 8.30 o’clock we ready in lecture room listen to feedback about our group presentation from tutor a and participants.When finished  I’m so happy about their comment.But,someone comment to our group about the last show on yesterday night. We listen and thank you for your comment and we will provide our presentation better.Next time we come together to meeting room and continue prepare for our presentation. Have more practice. 12.00 o’clock we have lunch together.And continue our show after that. Finally,We have BBQ for our dinner and contact to home at 7.00 o’clock.And now I in  PC for my diary. This day is the day before tomorrow that we have final presentation. Thank you all o lot for everything. Good luck.

ID: G6-5
Name: Charoensiri Siricharoen
Country: Thailand

Aug.18

Arghh.. Art visual committee are still playing with the big world poster.. there stiil have too many works to be done and there is only one more day left.. We have not done colour all the poster.. The saddest is when we are running out of colour and we have to ask to the staff to buy more colours and do nothing while waiting for the colours.. i asked Nori-san and he said that it takes 2 hours only to buy the colours.. It is wasting our time.. only the WHITE that always make trouble in our committee.

when the colours arrived, we started our work again. some of the members have to sacrifice his and her body and shirt to be painted.. haha.. Even we are very tired along this day but we still having fun while doing our own jobs. The most important thing that i learnt in this activity is i can be more close to each of the participants in this program. cooperations between members ia also important if you want your work to be done successfully.. i’m gonna miss this moments that i think will be the first and last.. but i hope not.. THANKS A LOT ART VISUAL’S MEMBERS.. miss you guys..

ID: G4-4
Name: Shaney Chrystalee Palmis
Country: Malaysia

Aug.17
Hello!!! I  was really strange on the first day which i have to stay with 3 japanese and they were talking in japanese. I dont understand at all!! But still they started talking me in english and we became friends like real friends.We are just so going on as the time changes, changing in roommates and stuffs. We were stable and had really really fun time during the time that we have! Laughing! Screaming! Shouting! Fooling! Dreaming! and especially talking! I love talking as others too love it. I was never ending at all. One thing i had the problem is the time difference with my country and had late sleeping time and early waking up time. I love everyone! We are family! I am sure we are going to miss each other a lot!

ID: G1-4
Name: Han Thi Thet Lwin
Country: Myanmar

Aug.17
Haaaaayyyyy..! During this day, we just stayed in the hotel.Everyone can`t wake up because we really need rest. And sleeping hours is not enough for us . . . ^.^
We ate breakfast and after that,they gave us free time , so some of the participants were sleeping, playing , talking and everything that they want. After one hour,Mr.kanetoshi Oda shown us a presentation on how he helped a lot in other countries who`s having problem w/ drinking water.I really salute him for being kind to help others.And we do group discussion with the art visual committee. It really pressured us a lot ..
HAHa !!.. WE really need rest ~.~ ^,^ ~.^ =) ..Hahaha. Eventhough it is very hard, I still enjoy this day , especially we only have few days left here .. . . . . Sooooo.. =)))) We should just enjoy it.. =)
— I`m very excited for the final presentation — =)

ID: G2-4
Name: Monfero Cathlene Rose
Country: Philippines

Aug.16
The time fly so fast. Without realizing that we have been together in this program for 15 days. Today is 16 august, and I just hope it was 16 November because it was my birthday. It must be fun to celebrate my birthday with this new family member. Today I just start my day by hearing the wake up alarm as usual. I took a bath and went for the breakfast. I really experience something new at the breakfast that was row egg. Hahaha. I never eaten this kind of thing in Malaysia before. But I really like it.

After taking breakfast, we just have a short time to go back to our room because we need to move from the hotel at 8 o’clock. Our first destination is Okinawa National college Of Technology. We do have a great time in this building. We heard variety of lecture from some committee in this college. Other than that, we also spend a good time touring the building and experience new thing. I also experience a hard time at the toilet at this building. I just forgot that some of the toilet in Japan have the automatic flush. So, I keep searching for the button and finally found it, But this thing is a little bit weird. But I just pull it and surprisingly it produce an emergency sound like someone is in trouble. I start panic and keep pulling the the thing hopping that it will stop. Then some Japanese come and say something in Japanese, but I just say its ok. When I get out of the toilet everyone asking what happen and I just say I choose a wrong button. haha. It was the SOS button.

After that we went for lunch at an old Japanese Restaurant called Ufuyaa. It was a very traditional place. But we still have a great time eating together and eating something new that I will rarely found in Malaysia. As we finished lunch we still have a little time to visit all the  small shop there. And of course the Ice cream shop is the main attention of the participants.

Next, we took a bus to went to the next destination that was Okinawa Institute Of Science and Technology . It was about an hour till we reach the destination. Every seem very sleepy when we reach the place because we took a good nap in  the bus. It was really good that we have a chance to heard an interesting lecture and touring this unique building.

At night we are divide into 4 committee and I was in the performance committee and I am very Happy.

ID: G5-5
Name: Alffanso Aloysius
Country: Malaysia

Aug.15

Today I woke up at 6:30 and then help mother in homestay cooking until 8:00 . I went to wake Ryota and Peter up because they lived in the same house and also that time to had breakfast .after breakfast at 9:30 we went to Ie port because we had to leave Ie island to the mainland of Okinawa by ship.when we left we also missed the host family in homestay somebody cried.

On the ship it took around 35 mn, after arrived mainland of Okinawa we went to Okinawa zoo&museum we had some information about the oldest home in Okinawa and structure of pig’s house in the past and we also tried “Yushi Tofu” and had luch . then at 13:45 we had Lecture overthere the lecture talk about “The big challenge of a small company”by Mr Yoshiniko Akimoto we tried to put the pin in to the balloon then the balloon not broken everyone tried someone can but someone can not.

After that we went to visited the company,we also khew alot of interesting things Such as : how to make the can bread from began until final step.Then at 18:00 we had diner at the hotle that we stay. Around 19:00 until 20:00 we had time to contacting home but we had only 5 mn per participant.after that from 20:00 we had group discussion “ Business plan for AYDPO 2013 part 1” Everyone thought about the business plan in the future .I was so tried today becaue we moved by bus and ship and we walk alots but I also enjoyed because I had a big family in Okinawa “AYDPO 2013”

ID: G3-3
Name: Chanthavixay Nilakone
Country: Laos

Aug.13

today i went to churaumi aquarium. it was such a valuable new experience.　the aquarium was a masterpiece itself. i was overwhelmed by the japan largest tank with many beautiful kinds of fish. the shark whale was the centerpiece. i felt like an elf gazing at its grandeur. i also learned a lot about underwater lives. from the experience i drew, i grew my love to the ocean and the lives in it.　also, i went to iejima island for the homestay session. i was really nervous to see my host family with whom i would spend the next 2 days. otousan was a funny retired man. he was so humorous that we could not stop laughing during our stay. living with him was full of fun. on the first night, he drove us around just to find habu snakes (allegedly you can get 2000 yen for running over a habu snake). the island itself was a beautiful but scary place. otousan told us a lot about its history as well as heart-breaking stories about its past during the world war 2. otousan was also a generous man. he eagerly bought us a lot of snack and also went out of his way just to make us feel at home. at night, we played card games. for the first time i got to know how to play uno, which is not common in my country. although i felt a little sleepy as it had been a long day, i was kept awake by his humor and humbleness.

ID: G1-3
Name: Do Quang Khanh
Country: Vietnam

Aug.12

The Last Day Of Tokashiki Island/Midterm Presentation

Today,I want to see the last view of Tokashiki. so I wake up at 4:00, and look around view of Tokashiki island During 7:00.

And, after breakfast, We have Group Discussion. but I can’t see the Group Discussion 7-3. Because They Codinated Me.,….WTF

and Midterm Presentation start.

I can’t remember all of things of Midterm Presentation. I was very nervous.. but, I remember only one things. This is.. Midterm Presentation was very funny and exciting. Every Presentation is very  great, and I can’t move my eyes somewhere.

After the Final Presentation, We had BBQ. but I don’t like BBQ. It is too noisy to eat..

After BBQ, I watched last sunset with many friends. It is very beautiful….

ID: G3-2
Name: Lee Do Hyun
Country: Korea

Aug.12
Today it was our last day at Tokashiki and we also had our midterm presentation. We had been working on it from the last evening, discussing everything with the group, struggling to come at a conclusion and in the morning also we had been given some time to prepare. It was a hard task to prepare for the presentation as the topic was to make a business plan related to saving energy and the future world in 2033.
The presentation started at 2:00 pm and I liked the way all the tutors and facilitators welcomed us in the hall. All the groups presented there business plans. I enjoyed all the presentations but two groups won the best of best award, one was my group, group 2 and the other was group 6. I was really happy and excited. We will be working on topics of both the groups for the final presentation but I also knew that this would be a little difficult. After the final presentation we had a BBQ… it was not that exciting for me as I am a vegetarian and I could only eat vegetables there, although the vegetables were good as well. I even watched sunset that evening and it was beautiful. That’s all we did that day and I can just say… “Bye Tokashiki… and I won’t be anymore able to see the twinkling stars, beautiful sunrise and sunset!!”

ID: G2-1
Name: Agrawal Ashita
Country: India

Aug.11

Today is a pretty rush day. The first activity we had was the business model lecture with Mr Seiji Sugimoto. I find that his ‘CANVAS’ system is pretty much essential to see whether a green business is going to work out or not. It is like a foundation for pretty much every starting business.. Next was the beach combing, I enjoyed it and I found many dead corals and also a lot of rubbish. There were huge ones like a gas tank from Taiwan and a container from Korean on the beach. So from this we should remember that the trash we threw into the sea may end up on another beautiful place like the beach in another country. Next would be the midterm presentation preparation, our team thought of many ways but highly impractical. I think our teams’ needs creativity. GAMBATE FLAMBOYANT FOUR!!!


ID: G4-2
Name: Jun Hui Yow Nicholas
Country: Singapore

Aug.11

We had a lot of interesting activities today. In the morning, we had lecture presented by Mr Seiji Sugimoto which was about the business plan of his company ”Nico nico douga”. It was a little bit boring for me because I don’t know much about business stuff (smiley face). The most “out of the world” thing of the day was the beach combing activity. We cleaned the beach and found many stuffs which were from other parts of the Earth floating along the sea and making their way to Okinawa’s beach. We played “coral tower” game and my group won the second place! Woo hoo!!

ID: G3-5
Name: Luu Thu Thuy
Country: Vietnam