「レッツゴー キャム！」Cam, Ikuzo! Come follow Camden’s journey! November 2024

“Sister City Introduction Corner”

On October 19th, the “Matsudo International Culture Festival” was held at Matsudo Citizens’ Hall!

Pictures of Matsudo students taking part in an overseas homestay experience held every March were put up on display at the “Sister City Introduction Corner”, where citizens of Matsudo were able to get a glimpse of the fun time the students had studying in Santa Clarita (United States) and Matsudo’s sister city, Whitehorse (Australia). Also at this spot, I was able to talk to one of the students that went on the homestay experience, and had a conversation with them about what is need in Japan to make the country easier for foreigners to live in, and what can be done about problems that arise from the language barrier. The student’s enthusiasm for helping foreigners living in Japan by putting to use what they learned from their homestay experience was very inspiring, and it served as a good reminder as to why homestay opportunities are invaluable for expanding one’s worldview. I can definitely see why living in a country where your native language is not understood and then returning home can make you more empathic towards the foreign citizens trying to get by in your own country. Amid the continued rising population of foreign citizens, I hope that the students who make valuable memories on the “Youth Sister Cities Dispatch” trip will be able to use their experience as they become adults to help Matsudo become a city of intercultural cohesion where everyone supports each other.

Taiwanese tea ceremony experience

In addition to Japanese students, people of all ages and nationalities were able to have a fun time interacting with various cultures from around the world at this event. At the “Exhibitions and Experiences Corner” there were many hands-on experiences that anyone could take part in such as Taiwanese tea ceremony, Thai carving (sculptures made from soap, vegetables, etc.) trying on traditional clothing, and even an area where foreign citizens could be introduced to Japanese classes in Matsudo that are run by volunteers. There were also many hands-on experiences and performances that introduced Japanese culture, which I thought allowed Matsudo City to come closer to being a society of intercultural cohesion, where everyone acknowledges the values of others while living and working together in peace, rather than only supporting a one-sided understanding. I tried the Taiwanese tea ceremony experience, and I learned that you can politely request more hot water by putting the lid on the teacup sideways so that the inside of the teacup can be seen. I spent my time there drinking tea and having a pleasant conversation with a few people who had an interest in music and movies made in my home country, the United States. I think it was so cool to be able to share my country’s culture with others, while at the same time learning about culture of other countries. Thanks to the people of Matsudo having such a high interest in cultures from around the world, meaningful cultural exchange was made in so many areas at this event.

「姉妹都市紹介コーナー」

10月19日に松戸市民会館で「松戸市国際文化祭」が行われました！

毎年行われる青少年姉妹都市派遣におけるホームステイの写真が「姉妹都市紹介コーナー」で飾られ、アメリカのサンタクラリタ市と松戸市の姉妹都市であるオーストラリアのホワイトホース市で生徒が楽しく学んでいる様子が松戸市民に伝えられました。その場で、私はホームステイに行ってきた生徒と話すことができ、外国人にとって日本を住みやすい国にするために必要なことや言語の壁による問題を解決する方法等について語ってくれました。ホームステイの経験を活かし、日本で暮らしている外国人の方を助けたいという積極的な気持ちに感心し、世界観を広げることができるホームステイという経験の良さを改めて理解できたと思います。やはり、母国語が通じない国に住んでみて、母国に戻ると、自分の国で苦労している外国人市民に共感できるようになりますね。外国人市民が増えている中、「青少年姉妹都市派遣」のような事業で大切な思い出を作った生徒が大人になり、皆が支え合える多文化共生社会を目指している松戸市の力になってくれるよう願っています。

台湾茶道体験

今回のイベントでは、日本人学生だけではなく、様々な国籍、年配の方や子供が世界の文化を通して楽しんでいる様子が見られました。「展示・体験コーナー」では、だれでも体験できる台湾茶道、タイカービング（石けんや野菜で作られた彫刻）、民族衣装の着付等のコーナーがあり、ボランティアによる日本語教室を外国人に紹介するためのコーナーもありました。日本の文化や世界の文化を知るためのコーナーやパフォーマンスがあり、一方的な理解ではなく、お互いの価値観を認め合いながら、共に働き、共に安心して暮らす「多文化共生」の社会に松戸市が近づいたように感じました。台湾茶道体験で私は、お湯がなくなると湯のみ茶碗に蓋を中身が見えるように斜めに置くと、丁寧にお代わりが欲しいことが伝わるというマナーを学びました。同じ場で、お茶を飲みながら私の母国であるアメリカの音楽や映画に興味を持っていただいた方々と歓談し、他国の文化を学びながら自分の国について教えることもでき、国際の文化に関心が高い松戸市民のおかげで交流を様々な面で深められるイベントとなりました。