ある教官のことば

You have heard too many nice speeches today so I am going to spoil your fun now. I am going to give you a bad speech. First, I want you to forget about all omedetous you have heard today because you haven’t done anything yet. For some of you the main problem you had here was how to deal with your Monday morning hangover. I know that some of you did work hard and even stayed awake during host country lectures. But I still want you all to ask yourself this question :

During the 11 weeks here did you do your best to be what your host country people believe you are?

If you don’t, then I want you to remember a few truths. Being Japanese is not a qualification in itself. You are in the position to call yourself a volunteer in a foreign country only because you were born with privileges and opportunities the people in your host country do not have. But if you do not use your opportunities to be the best that you can be, then you are going to be a fake promises. The kind of efforts you make when you go to your host country will tell you what you really are. I hope the hardships you will see over there will make you appreciate the difference between your opportunities and their despair. I hope you will not insulate yourself from them and just be another expensive “expert” from the “developed world”. If your experiences over there make you a more conscientious and compassionate human being then you deserve our sincerest congratulations. Until then, good luck, safe journey and don’t forget your homework.

続きは後ほど・・・。

中和　悠