～SIEA General Term Meeting Announcement～◆Date: May 19,2018 (Saturday) 13:00~

Vol.18◆Place: Saijo City Hall Main Building 5F Large Conference Room

March 2018

We will send details along with a postcard about the general term meeting in themail. We humbly await the attendance of all of our members.
＜Completed 2017 SIEA Projects ＞◆Public Language Courses (Chinese・Korean・Vietnamese・English）

Contents
SIEA General Term
Meeting

1◆International Exchange Café (4/ year)◆Industry and Culture Festival (4/29)◆Hawaiian Cultural Lesson (7/15)◆Young Leader Trip (7/20~8/5)◆International Exchange Month (8/1～30) ◆Japanese Cooking Class (9/24)

Public Language
1
Courses(Chinese and Korean)◆Halloween Party (10/28)◆Industry Fair (11/11.12)◆Christmas Decoration Lesson (12/3)◆Vietnamese Cuisine Experience (2/3)◆Square Dance Lesson (2/24)◆VIETNAM OSHOGATSU in SAIJO 2018 (3/18)

Highlights from
Recent Events

1◆International Camp “English in Action” (3/23~25)

Tanbara-choInternational
Exchange
Association SpeechContest2

NPO Regional
Revitalization
Speech Contest

2

Vietnam Tales

3

H30 (2018) SIEA
Membership
Recruitment

3

Dates with Diana

4

Events &Announcements

4◆Diana’s Mini Courses (Mommy & Me, Let’s Read Together, Translation Team,International Relations Saijo
is a quarterly newsletter
published in Japanese, English, and Vietnamese by theand Reading Club)○Course Term: June 2018~March 2019
◆Chinese（Saturday・20 classes per level）
Intermediate
13:30～15:00/ Beginner
15:30～17:00◆Korean（Sunday・20 classes per level）
Intermediate
13:20～14:50/ Beginner
15:10～16:40○Eligibility: Able to attend over 70% of the course, falling under next stipulations.
①Residing or commuting within the city
②Member of SIEA
○Capacity: 20 people per course○Location: Saijo Wellness Center (Sogo Fukushi Center)○Course Fee: 6,000円 (SIEA Members: 5,000円)○Application Period: May 1 (Tues.) ~ May 18 (Fri.)○Applications & Inquiries: Saijo City Hall Main Building 3F Regional Promotion
Division International Affairs Section SIEA Office TEL:0897-52-1206※Courses are not taught by a specialist.
※English・Vietnamese courses are scheduled to begin in
November.
Vietnamese Cuisine

Square Dance Lesson★Event Snapshot★

Mommy & Me

Saijo International Exchange Association (SIEA).
We welcome your comments,
questions and submissions.

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.city.saijo.ehime.jp

2

International Relations Saijo★～★18th International Exchange Speech Contest ★～★

On December 24, 2017, the Tanbara International Exchange Association hosted a speech
contest at the Tanbara Community Center. Foreign residents; elementary, middle, andhigh school students; and members of the Korean and Chinese Conversation Circles delivered speeches. A trainee from Indonesia, Fajar Yulianto, received the award of excellence
and the Ehime Shimbun Company Award for his speech “Traditional Indonesian Culture:
Wayang.” Speech summary→→
Fajar Yulianto
My name is Fajar Yulianto. I am from the Banyumas Regency on Java Island. Indonesia has traditional festivals,
dances, and clothing, etc. unique to each island.
Mr. Fajar Yulianto’s Reflections
You can find the traditional culture of “Wayang,” theatrethat uses puppets made from cowhide, on Java Island. Passed
I have seen the Tanbara International Exchange
down from the 10th Century, Wayang is performed at least
Association speech contest twice. I was interested inonce a year to give thanks to the gods. Wayang performed in
the contest, and one day my teachers asked, “Howthe afternoon is called ruwatto, and after a performance ends,
about entering the speech contest?” I felt happy to pareveryone eats rice, coconuts, and peanuts before going home.
ticipate.
Wayang tells tales such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, andI love Wayang (Indonesian shadow puppet theatre),
Prince Panji, but there are also depictions of other tales about
so I decided to give a speech on it. I asked my father,
the triumph of right over wrong. These tales teach us about
an expert on Wayang, many questions, and I asked mywhat is just.
Japanese friends about writing my draft. My friends
An individual called the dalang operates the puppets andtaught me simple Japanese that would be easy for me
performs various roles using as many as 50 different voices.
express. My teacher also corrected my draft and guidThe dalang must fast before performances. About 30 musied me with correct pronunciation. I learned how tocians called nayogo play kendhang (drums), gongs, kenong
speak clearly and slowly in a loud voice, as well as how(large standing gongs), and saron (metallophone). People whoto pronounce difficult words.
sing Javanese songs during Wayang theatre are called shinDuring my speech, I felt nervous at first, but after
den. Ms. Yumi Kano, a Japanese woman who became a shinsome time I could relax and speak more confidently.
den, is very famous in Java.
Thanks to the help of many people, I received awards
On November 7, 2003, UNESCO listed Wayang as an Intangible Cultural Property of Indonesia. We Indonesians confor my speech. I felt happy, and my family, company
sider Wayang the pride of our traditional Indonesian culture.
head, and friends were happy for me. I will never forNot only do I want to learn more about Japanese culture,
get this experience.
but I also want to experience it with the Japanese people.
Q1. What is your name?
A1. Sara Yoshioka.

Q2. What grade are you in?
A2. 1st grade in elementary
school.

Q4. How often did you practice
before the day of the contest?
A4. After I completed my draft, I
practiced for an hour every day
from December 26th to the 30th.

Q7. What is your dream?
A7. As I said in my speech,
I want to be an architect.

Q6. Do you study English regularly?
A6. I learn English during English
conversation class. I do my homework,and I watch and listen to DVDs andCDs. I have loved English since I wasvery little!

NPO Regional Revitalization・Individualized Medical Care
English Speech Contest
On Jan. 7, 2018 (Sun.), an English speech contest was hosted at
the Saijo City Library. The contest had 3 levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Participants gave speeches on one of these
themes: “My Hometown,” “My Dream,” and “My Family.” Here isan interview with the winner of the elementary school student
speeches, Ms. Yoshioka!

Q3. Why did you decide to enter
the speech contest?
A3. I saw the contest flyers distributed at my school andthought I would like to join.

Q8. How do you feel about the contest?
A8. It was difficult to memorize English, but I enjoyed drawing the houseand presenting it to everyone. I
want to enter the contest again
next year!

Q5. Please share your speech with us.
A5. Hello. My name is Sara Yoshioka. I’m 7years old. I go to Saijo Elementary School. My favorite food is grape. It’s
tasty. I like to play with my friends. I like to swing. My favorite colors are yellow and purple. I have a family of four.
My father, mother and a younger brother. I love my family.
When I grow up, I want to be a designer of the house. My father runs a construction company. I saw many nicehouses. I like them. And I like to fray pictures. My favorite TV program is “Junintoiro”. It is about houses. I can see
many good one. It’s fun. ＜Introduction of her drawing＞ I drew picture. This is my favorite house. It’s simple. Many
trees and plants. I will think and draw many houses to be a designer. I hope my dream will come true. Thank you.

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.city.saijo.ehime.jp

International Relations Saijo

3*“Vietnam Tales I want to share with the people of Saijo!”*Currently 1,300 people from foreign countries live in Saijo. Technical trainees
make about half of that number. The trainees learn about the advanced technology
and expertise of Japan and expect to utilize these skills for the economic development of their mother countries upon their return. They not only hope to receive
work training, but also to experience cultural exchange with the Japanese people
and learn Japanese. After work or on weekends, the trainees diligently study Japanese with the Saijo citizens in the Volunteer Organization’s Japanese classes.
Awarded the merit of excellence in the18th International Exchange Speech Contest,
Fajar Yulianto is one such trainee from Indonesia. The 7 trainees who entered theTran Thuy An wearing
contest wrote their speeches on themes like “My Home Country,” “Encounters in
Vietnamese Ao Dai
Japan,” and “Hopes for the Future,” etc., reaching the hearts of the audience.
The Vietnamese trainee Ms. Tran Thuy An wrote her speech on the theme “My Favorite Person ~ My
Mom.” In her speech, she talks about memories with her mother, encounters in Japan, and her dreams. Because her father went abroad for work, her mother raised 3 children alone. Whatever troubles they faced,
they always had love. The figure of An’s kind yet resilient mother left a deep impression on her heart since
her childhood. She wanted to support her mother who had endured so many hardships, so she resolved towork in Japan. At the present, she studies Japanese while working at a supermarket within the city. Her 3
years of training in Japan is not long, but she endeavors to make every moment of her experience meaningful. Once she returns to Vietnam, she intends to utilize her work experience and Japanese language abilities
to find a good job. An thinks of her mother in Vietnam almost every day. One day she saw a Japanese woman in the supermarket who looked exactly like her mother from afar. Unfortunately, it was sudden and during her working hours, so she did not call out to her. Still, she looks forward to seeing the woman by chance
once again, as she makes her feel as though her mother is also in Japan .
After I had heard the story of An’s mother in Vietnam and her “mother in Japan”, my heart felt wroughtwith emotion. While living in Saijo, somewhere in their hearts, the trainees are thinking about home andfamily. It seems that the people around the trainees often think that they are just working away from home;
however, they came to study earnestly, hoping to use their new knowledge for their own futures and for thedevelopment of their home countries. I think that the people of Saijo have at times become a source of emotional support for the trainees. If you see them in town, please call out to them. By doing so, their lives in
Saijo will feel richer and more enjoyable, and they will cultivate hearts of love for the city.

【Annual Membership Fee】
Individual 1,000円, Student (until high school) 500円,
Organization 10,000円【Membership Period】 April 1, 2018 ~ March 31, 2019
【Enrollment Method】(Current Members) We will send renewal guidelines
in the mail. We hope you’ll continue your membership!
(New Applicants) Complete membership form andsubmit to the SIEA office (Saijo City Hall International Affairs Section).
(Forms available at City Hall and public
facilities like the community centers.
Can also download from HP)＜http://www.saijo-iea.jp/membership/＞2018 SIEA Project Proposal Recruitment!
Thanks to all our members for last year’s many
proposals! We will continue to host festive activities promoting international exchange. Have you
ever thought “I want to do something like this!” or“A non-Japanese person might be troubled bythis”? We look forward to your determination andideas! (Refer to pg.1 for 2017’s events)◆Target: SIEA members (org.・all individuals)◆Contents: Proposals for international exchange
in Saijo City
◆Application Method: Submit “Saijo City International Exchange Association Project Proposal” to
SIEA office (Please call or email for consultation)◆Submission Deadline: March 30 (Fri.)◆Board of directors will review the applicants

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.city.saijo.ehime.jp

4International Relations Saijo
Dates with Diana

A MeaninglessComparison

I’d like to discuss a fundamental component of deepening intercultural understanding and effectively communicating with people from different countries, ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds. There is no comparison between people’s pain and suffering.
People rarely express in words sincere pain, rather,
the action of putting their feelings into words makes
the reality more tangible and gives negative emotions
life. Though not without consequences, it is more common to hide pain from others. Should someone breathe
life into their problems by speaking about them, it isproof of their trust in you. However, should you say,“Your suffering is nothing in comparison to that of others” in response, you will lose that person’s trust in an
instant. It will be unlikely for that person to reveal thetroubles within their hearts to you a second time.
I raise this issue because racial discrimination within American society has had a large impact on my life.
Thanks to the unrelenting efforts and unconditional
love of my parents, I grew up in a blessed environment. Even so, my family is not fully protected fromthe realities of racial discrimination. Should I find myself growing closer to you, I may talk about my experiences of discrimination and social problems related todiscrimination. Sometimes I would like to halve theburden of my troubles with a close friend rather thancarry the weight on my own. I don’t pity myself, yetsomeone that I had once wanted to trust had said tome, “Racial discrimination exists among white people
too, so it isn’t just an issue for black people,” and continued to make comparisons. Despite having neverfaced a similar form of discrimination and despite having little knowledge of the social problems born from ahistory of slavery and restrictions of civil liberties, shebelittled the problems of the black American community, our pain, our fears. To protect myself and to face
everyday life, I built a wall between us.
Comparisons of pain are not only disrespectful, butalso meaningless. Asking, “Who experiences the worst
form of discrimination?” leads us nowhere and pulls us
apart. We should be asking, “What barriers are createdby institutionalized discrimination? How do we address those barriers? What community endeavors arenecessary to overcome the bullying, violence, and fatigue engendered from psychological discrimination?”
Should someone open up to you, don’t make comparisons of their problems. If you want others to understand the pain of a group of people for which you areconcerned, do not elevate their suffering above that ofothers. We may not be able to eliminate discrimination, but people who give up have not considered theperspective of others who suffer from it. Deepen understanding by stepping into the shoes of another.

Events & Announcements
Message from the Saijo International
Exchange Association①「VIETNAM OSHOGATSU IN SAIJO 2018」
Reenact Vietnamese New Year’s Day in Saijo with Saijo’s
CIR Anh Thy!
◆Date：March 18 (Sun.) 10:00～14：00◆Place：Tanbara Community Center (Kouminkan)◆Capacity：first 15 applicants◆Cost：300円 (Members) 500円 (Non-members)◆Application Period：March 1 (Thurs.) ~ March 9 (Fri.)※ Please bring an apron and a bandana.

②International Exchange Camp “English in Action”
The Saijo International Exchange Association will hostan international exchange camp. Immerse yourself inEnglish with non-Japanese residents over 2 nights and 3
days! People with weaker English skills are also welcome!
Strengthen your English skills while having fun.
◆Date：March 23 (Fri.) gather at 14:30
March 25 (Sun.) conclude at 15:00◆Place：Omachi Community Center (Kouminkan)◆Eligibility：1st year middle school students~2nd year
high school students (Saijo residents or students commuting to schools in Saijo)◆Capacity：first 20 applicants◆Cost：5,000円（Board・Food・Supplies）◆Application Period：March 1 (Thurs.) ~ March 9 (Fri.)

Volunteer Recruitment○International CampMarch 23~25
If you are interested, pleasecontact the SIEA office fordetails!
○Industry and Culture Festival
April 29 9：00～15：00
Simple assistance as usual would be greatly appreciated!

①②Please direct inquiries to the SIEA office.
℡：0897-52-1206/ Email：kokusai@saijo-city.jp

Editor
Notes

This time, I wanted to introduce a more serious
theme, but I still feel fortunate to have meaningful experiences and encounters in Saijo. I hope
we can continue to learn from each other’s experiences!（ダ）International Relations Saijo Staff
Yuki Teraoka （寺）Miho Ishimura (石）
Read in fullDiana Marie Linton (ダ）(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.city.saijo.ehime.jp