MIA NEWS 180ed., May (4)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Finding Home - Matthew Gumabon (Miyakonojo ALT)
“Where are you from?” This isside may fully accept us bea question that we may havecause of the way we look orheard many times in our lives.
speak. For many years I strugIt seems like such a simple
gled with these feelings, and Iquestion, however, somefelt lost.
times the answer may not be
But as I grew up, things beso straightforward! To begin
gan to change, and my jouranswering this question, we
ney to find “home” began! Incan ask ourselves, “Where is2020, I graduated from unihome?” For some people,versity, and I began working
finding the answer can take afor the United States governlifetime, but it’s that journeyment as an engineer for Navy Matthew and the USS
to find “home” that can lead to incredible adventures ships. The US Navy operates
Abraham Lincolnand important discoveries! My name is Matthew Guma- all around the world, so I travbon. I’m an ALT at Miyakonojo Technical High School, elled to many places for my job. During that period ofand I would like to share with you a bit of my journey to my life, more than ever, I was able to travel, meet newfind home!
people, and learn about new cultures. An eye-opening
Maybe, home is where you were born? I was born in experience I had during this time was my first
New York City in the United States. So maybe that homestay in Japan. I stayed with an amazing Japanesemakes me a “New Yorker”? But how did I even get to family in Tokyo. This family was a friend of my Japabe born in such a place? Maybe, home is really where nese teacher at the time. They also did not speak
our family comes from? My mom and dad both immi- much English, and I could only manage very simple
grated to America from the Philippines in the 1980s Japanese at that time. Despite this, they showed a levand found careers as nurses in New York City. There, el of acceptance and kindness towards me that I had
they met and later had me. So maybe that makes me never experienced before.
a Filipino? But my family may not have come from just Almost instantly, I felt likea single place! My mom`s family tree is mostly in the I was part of their family! I
Philippines, but it includes a branch in Japan that car- still look back at that asries the family name one of the most important“Yamashita” 山 下. This experiences of my life.
branch, however, seems to I have since left my engihave been separated from neering work with the NaMatthew with hisour main family branch long vy and returned to Japan
host family
ago. It’s a bit of family mys- as an English teacher withtery, but it seems that I have the JET Program. I was again amazed by the amount ofroots here in Japan as well! support and care that has been shown to me not only
Matthew with his parents
So with that, I ask myself, by Japanese teachers and staff, but from other JET Program participants also in search of “home”! I came to“Where is home?”
People of mixed ethnicity and multiple origins are very realize the first big clue as to where “home” was.
common in the United States! In my case, Americans “Home” can be wherever you want! It does not matterborn from Asian immigrant parents are often called where you were born, where your parents come from,“Asian Americans”. Having this “split-identity” between what you look like, or what labels other people might
East and West, we often experience a bit of an identity have given you. With some time, your best efforts, andcrisis. Do we belong with our countrymen in America, the kindness of others along the way, your “home” canor do we belong with our roots in Asia? We want to be- be anywhere and you just have to find it! I am foreverlong to both, but in order to “fit in” with either side we thankful to every person and place that has been a partfeel that we must choose one. Unfortunately, some- of my journey so far! My journey continues, but here intimes we fear that no matter which we choose, neither places like Miyakonojo I feel closer to home than ever!

MIA NEWS 180ed., May (5)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Aussie Bites! (Cradle Mountain by George Goonan, Australian CIR)

While it takes a little longer to get there compared tothe mainland, Tasmania is home to picturesque landscapes, great seafood, and welcoming people. If I wasto recommend one place it particular, it would have tobe Cradle Mountain, just north-west of the heart of Tasmania, and a 1.5hr drive from Devonport (4.5hrs fromHobart). The Cradle Mountain-Lake Saint Clair NationalPark is a little over 1,600km2, and has a number ofwalking trails and hikes to take on. If you want to getamongst the nature and away from the big city hustle
and bustle, this is the place!
(Both of the above photos were taken on location at
Cradle Mountain-Lake Saint Clair. Also, George’s father
is on the left hand side of the right photo!)

Information & Notices◇ Miyakonojo City Hall has created a Disaster
Prevention Guide for Foreign Residents
Available on the Miyakonojo City Hall website, thisguide contains information on disasters common tothe Miyakonojo City & Miyazaki Prefecture areas, aswell as information on how to better prepare yourself
for their arrival, and what actions to take should a disaster strike. These guides are available in
English, as well as Easy Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese. You
can find them at:https://www.city.miyakonojo.miyazaki.jp/
site/easy/44716.html
Inquiries: Miyakonojo City Internationlisation Promotion Office
Phone: 0986-23-2295
E-mail: intl@city.miyakonojo.miyazaki.jp

members (international residents) and student members), we ask for your cooperation in returning yourvote on agenda items to us by mail by the end of May
where possible.
Inquiries: Miyakonojo International Association
Phone: 0986-23-2295
E-mail: mia@btvm.ne.jp◇ Articles For MIA NewsAre you interested in writing a short article about international exchange or cooperation for MIA News? Somepossible topics include travel journals, introductions toyour home country, experiences staying with a hostfamily, and activities with an international exchange orcooperation group. Articles should be about a pagelong and include a couple of relevant pictures. If you’d
like to write more than that, please consult with MIA. If
you’d like to write anonymously, that can be taken intoconsideration.
◇ Regarding the 2022-23 FY MIA AGM
Due to the continued spread of the novel coronavirus, We are also looking for people interested in sharing
MIA’s Annual General Meeting for the 2022-23 Finan- their Australian experiences. Whether it’s a rare locacial Year has been cancelled, with our yearly agenda to tion you found or some fascinating people you interacted with, we want to share your story with all of our MIA
be resolved in writing.
members! Please contact us if you are interested!
For group & Individual members (excluding specialMovies info

C-Plaza Cine-port (Tel: 0986-24-2571)

17-9 Nakamachi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Map-Code (GPS): 117 488 540*55●Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness (Japanese Sub)
●Meitantei Conan: Halloween no Hanayome (Japanese)●Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secret (Japanese Sub/Dub)●Sing: Next Stage (Japanese Dub)
●Yomei 10 Nen (Japanese)●Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie (Japanese)*The 1st of every month is ¥1,100 for everyone.
*Every Wednesday is ‘Ladies’ Day’, all ladies ¥1,100.
*The cinema is closed every Tuesday.
*For session times visit: http://movie.walkerplus.com/th286/
schedule.html (Japanese)