～General Term Meeting
Written Resolution～

Vol.27
July 2020

SIEA has made a written resolution in lieu of the 2020 SIEA
General Term Meeting scheduled for May 30 (Sat.) to prevent thefurther spread of coronavirus infections.

Contents
SIEA General Term ϭMeeting Report

Agenda Item 1

Saijo International Exchange Association Staff Selection

Agenda Item 2

2019 Fiscal Year Project Reports

A Message from SIEA ϭAgenda Item 3
Agenda Item 4

2019 Fiscal Year Income and Expenditure Review
2020 Fiscal Year Business Schedule (Proposal)

Even Small Deeds
Can Make a BigImpact

Agenda Item 52020 Fiscal Year Budget (Proposal)

Agenda Item 6ment of Terms

Saijo International Exchange Association Amend-ϮVisit Hue, Vietnam:
３An Introduction to itsHistory

The Saijo International Association plans to restart courses andDates with Donkey

ϰrelations, the SIEA website, and the e-mail magazine, etc.

Events &Announcements

ϰevents little by little, while being cautious of preventing the spread of coronavirus infections. Once SIEA has decided to hold a course or event, we will inform everyone via public

Try Taking a Step toward International Exchange?

International Relations Saijo is a quarterly newsletter
published in Japanese, English, and Vietnamese by theSaijo International Exchange Association (SIEA).
We welcome your comments, questions and submissions.

Perhaps, all members of the Saijo International Exchange Association
are spending their days in different ways than before by staying home toprevent the spread of coronavirus infections.
Many people feel anxiety over this turn of events, as most of us have
yet to experience anything similar, and worry that there is no end to theoutbreak of the virus in sight. Just as we do, the foreign nationals
amongst us are also living in anxiety.
There are 1,600 foreign nationals residing just within Saijo. Just as wesometimes feel comforted and coaxed into a smile with everyday, casualconversations, the foreign nationals living amongst us may also feel lessanxious after having casual conversations or exchanging simple greetings.
So, why don’t we act more assertively and say a few
words to the foreign nationals amongst us?
This, too, is one step toward international exchange.

Saijo International Exchange Association 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 〒793-8601
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1230
E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp
URL: URL:
http://www.saijo-iea.jp/
TEL(0897)56－5151内線2292
FAX(0897)52-1386
E-mail: info@saijo-iea.jp
http://www.saijo-iea.jp/

2International Relations Saijo☆Even Small Deeds Can Make a Big Impact☆
In Saijo, I have met many kindhearted people and made many friends, but since I grew up in a different environment and have had many different experiences from most Japanese people, I usually find it difficult to discuss my troubles with people in Japan. However, 4 years ago, I met Ms. Chinatsu Kume, who has always beena source of support and comfort.
When I first came to Saijo, I hadn’t studied Japanese for 6 years, so I wanted to review my Japanese language studies. Fortunately, the Ishizuchi Japanese Club introduced me to Ms. Kume. However, I never felt
compelled to study for the Japanese Proficiency Exam. Instead, I wanted to develop my language skills to express more complicated messages in written Japanese. As a result, Ms. Kume and I dived into various topics,and focused on writing.
Over the years, we also touched upon serious issues, but throughout all of our sessions together, Ms. Kume
always listened to my ideas with an open mind and helped me to relieve some of my anxiety in the process.
This may seem like a small act to an outside observer, but her empathy meant a lot to me.
While you may not be able to understand the entirety of another person’s struggles or worries if you are fromdifferent cultural backgrounds, if you approach another person as Ms. Kume had approached me—without belittling their experiences and struggles—you can become a source of strength for them. With Ms. Kume’s encouragement, I was able to overcome certain difficulties little by little. I feel blessed to have a friend like Ms.
Kume, and I feel so much gratitude for her friendship.
Ms. Kume is just as considerate of the other foreign nationals she has taught over the years. About a year
ago, she suddenly told me that she would be moving to Vietnam to teach Japanese. I felt a little lonesome, but,
more than that, I felt inspired by her decision. In that moment, it crossed my mind that Ms. Kume thinks withan international mindset. These days, the number of international trainees has increased in Saijo, and manyof them come from Vietnam. The youth of Vietnam has a lot of interest in Japan and working in Japan, so I
believe that Ms. Kume’s work as a Japanese language teacher will support this new generation. But I cannot
speak on Ms. Kume’s behalf, so let’s ask her a few questions directly!（ダイアナ・マリー・リントン）

Introducing Ms. Chinatsu Kume!
I was a volunteer Japanese teacher for 12 years inSaijo City. After moving to Vietnam from November
2018, I worked for a technical intern dispatching organization in Hanoi for 3 months and then taught
Japanese for 15 months to the nursing department
students at Hai Phong Pharmaceutical University inthe northern port city. The students will be working
at a nursing home in Japan this fall. Since May 2020,
I have been teaching Japanese to students who want
to work in IT in Japan at the University of Information and Communications in the Thai Nguyen
Province, which is located about 60 km away fromHanoi.

Why did you become aJapanese teacher?
As a Japanese teacher, I have never managed or operated more than 20 classes. I wanted to design acourse by myself within a set period, establish a syllabus, produce a certain amount of results, and receive
feedback. In Southeast Asia, there are many programs
that teach Japanese to university students, so I gathered information, narrowed down my options to a few
countries, and traveled to them in advance. I felt a highdemand for Japanese language teachers in Vietnam.
After traveling, I decided that Vietnam would also be agood fit because it was safe, and the food was delicious.

My family home is actually in Kobe. When I was
20 years old, I became friends with the children of
an American family who moved into the house opposite ours, and my parents asked that I be hired
for the part-time job as their babysitter. At first, we
just played together and looked at homework together, but eventually I grew interested in teaching
Japanese because of that connection.

Why did you decide to teachJapanese in Vietnam?

Saijo International Exchange Association 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 〒793-8601
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1230
E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp
URL: http://www.saijo-iea.jp/
TEL(0897)56－5151内線2292
FAX(0897)52-1386
E-mail: info@saijo-iea.jp

International Relations Saijo☆Ｉｎ Ｖｉｅｔｎａｍ．．．
What do you like about Vietnam?
I teach not only Japanese proficiency but also
culture, etiquette and manners to university students who are looking for jobs in Japan. Whileacknowledging the differences in culture, I teachwhat is necessary for working in Japanese society. Also, if students have more questions evenafter studying, we always support them on SNS.

What has been your most memorable
experience so far?
My students sometimes prepare food, take meto sightseeing spots, and plan something that isalways full of surprises and excitement.

Has there been a change in your way of
thinking after interacting with people fromdifferent countries?

3

Instead of an ordinary greeting, people often ask,
"Have you eaten?" I think it's because they care about theother person. I like this aspect of the culture. Also, there
are many kinds of fruits and vegetables, and they arecheap! Here, there is a custom of giving flowers for manyoccasions, not just for anniversaries. For example, people
give flowers on "Teacher's Day", "World Women's Day"and "Vietnamese Women's Day." I think this is great!

As for your students, what activities are you
particularly focusing on?
I visited SAPA, a popular tourist destination near
the border with China, twice. The beautiful 3000m
mountain range and terraced rice fields spread out
lushly. There are ethnic minorities living in the area,
but many young children under the age of 5 try to sellhandmade souvenirs while carrying babies on theirbacks. My chest really hurt. I was at a loss for words.
It was a shocking and thought-provoking experience.

Tell us about an anecdote withthe local people!
Every day, I find myself thinking that, in manyways, nothing is obvious! I also think that hurdles
to happiness have decreased.
I always try to convey my feelings of gratitude.

☆ Visit Hue, Vietnam: An Introduction to its History ☆
Hue City, which has become a friendship city with Saijo City, is where the imperial palace of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam, was establishedbetween 1802 and 1945. The people of Vietnam familiarly call the city "the ancientcapital of Hue." The Nguyen Dynasty was the first dynasty to unify the whole ofVietnam and also the last dynasty of Vietnam.
The Nguyen Dynasty accepted the teachings of Confucius in China as in the previous dynasty, and put a lot of effort into human resource development by introducing new systems, such as education and examinations. It was also interested in armament and learned how to build ships from European countries. The Nguyen Dynasty also issued the National legislation and implemented various important policies. At the same time, it invested money into the construction of the royal palace.
However, in the mid-19th century, Western countries like France tried to invade Vietnam in order to open colonies andmarkets. Under these circumstances, intellectuals at the time proposed reforms, such as politics, military, diplomacy,economy, culture, education, and technology, to the king. However, the court did not approve of these reforms. Instead, theNguyen Dynasty banned the spread of Christianity and adopted an isolation policy.
Meanwhile, in 1858, French warships attacked Vietnam's Da Nang Port and invaded Vietnam. By 1884, the whole ofVietnam became a French colony under French control. Although the dynasty still existed until 1945, the king was merely
a puppet of the French administration. Known as the Last Emperor of Vietnam, Emperor Bao Dai was raised and educated in France from an early age. After returning to Vietnam, he became the emperor, but he had no choice but to obey theinstructions of the French government. He was absorbed in a luxurious life and played around.
Following the end of World War II in 1945, Vietnam became increasingly independent of France. Ho Chi Minh declared
Vietnam's independence, and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born with Hanoi as the capital. The last Emperor
Bao Dai advertised his abdication in Hue City. At the time, he had said, "It is better to be a citizen of an independent
country than to be a king of a slave country." Ho Chi Minh invited Bao Dai to join the new administration as an advisor.
However, Emperor Bao Dai fled to a foreign country, never returned home, and ended his life in France.
Vietnam’s 150 years as the Nguyen Dynasty set in Hue City became a history of prosperity and extinction. Hue Street isa precious treasure that Vietnamese people consider with pride, as it has many buildings with deep historical meaning
and an elegant nature. Everyone in Saijo, how about a visit to Hue City?

Saijo International Exchange Association 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 〒793-8601
TEL(0897)52-1206
FAX(0897)52-1230
E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp
URL: URL:
http://www.saijo-iea.jp/
TEL(0897)56－5151内線2292
FAX(0897)52-1386
E-mail: info@saijo-iea.jp
http://www.saijo-iea.jp/

4International Relations Saijo
nori Chan Market every time! The carrots and cab-Dates with Donkey

bage that I love so much are always fresh, and themarkets have many different varieties.

Nice to meet you. My name is Siddhartha Linton. I

Saijo has a beautiful natural landscape, so it is an

am half Indian and half German. My father is a rockeasy place to live for a handsome donkey like me. I

star in Bremen, Germany, so my mother raised me byhave lived in a lively metropolis before, but, after all,herself. However, when I was very little, I was sepa-

the gentle environment of Saijo suits me better. I feel

rated from my mother and had to work in the Ama-as though I have a place where I belong in Saijo.

zon. The work was unbearable, but I was able to retire

I will be leaving Saijo from August, so I feel rather

in 2010 because a Saijo CIR, Diana Marie Linton,sad. But since Saijo is the best place for retirement, I

adopted me. That is why my last name is Linton.

know that I will return one day. I am forever in yourIn 2016, I came to Japan with Diana. It was not mydebt.

first time in Japan, but it was the first time that I
would live in Japan. Saijo City in Ehime Prefecture isvery peaceful, and, thanks to the famous “Uchinuki”
spring water, Saijo is blessed with delicious fruits andvegetables, so I was very happy! I was so impressed byThank youveryDONKEY!

how tasty the fruits and vegetables cultivated in Saijo
are, so I looked forward to going to Suito-ichi and Mi-

Events & Announcements◆Korean（Saturdays・15 classes per level）
Beginner
13:00~14:30Intermediate
15:00~ 16:30○Course Term: September 2020~ March 2021
○Application Period: Aug. 3 (Mon.) ~ Aug. 13 (Thurs.)○Capacity: Beginner : 15 people・Intermediate 20people (first come first served)◆Chinese (20 classes per level）
Beginner
Mondays 19:00~20:30
Intermediate
Wednesdays 19:00~20:30〇Course Term: September 2020~ April 2021
〇Application Period: Aug. 3 (Mon.) ~ Aug. 13 (Thurs.)〇Capacity: 20 people per level(first come first served)○Eligibility: Able to attend over 70% of the course, fallingunder these stipulations:①Residing or commuting to the city
②Member of SIEA
○Location: Saijo Sogo Fukushi Center○Course Fee: 7,000円 (SIEA Members: 5,000円)※Courses are not taught by specialists.
※The day of the week and time for both courses havechanged.
※There is a possibility that the course will switch to theonline course.
※If you stop attending the course, the tuition fee will notbe refunded.
○Applications & Inquiries: SIEA Office
TEL:0897-56-5151 (Extension 2292)「Considering the Global Environment
from the Forest of Borneo」 Lecture○When: August 8, 13:30~16:30○Free admission (applications necessary)○Where: General Welfare Center (Fukushi Center)
Resource Room 2○Application Method: Apply by QR code or email（slows2030@gmail.com）

International Culture Course "World Study"○Capacity: 10 people○Application Period: Sept. 10, 2020~ March 11, 2021
(10 sessions in total)○Eligibility: Kindergarten ~ Middle school students in Saijo○Application Period: Aug. 4 (Tues.)~22 (Sat.)○Where: Saijo Chuo Community Center○Application Method: Submit the application form to any
community center or the SIEA office○Course Fee: 5,000円

EditorNotes

We hope that everyone is doing well. Due to the coronavirus, we couldn’t enjoy many outings and there wereinconveniences, but perhaps you have also enjoyed adifferent lifestyle, cleaning up at home and watchingmovies at your leisure! (小）

International Exchange Association NEWS Staff
Minoru Tokumasu （徳）Kosugi Maiko (小)Diana Marie Linton (ダ）Read in full(English Translation)color！
Nguyen Bui Anh Thy (ア）Saijo International Exchange Association 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 〒793-8601
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1230 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.saijo-iea.jp/