Learning about Hawaii's History, Culture, People, and Problems
英語コミュニケーション学科 2年
On the second day, we took JTB's trolley to KCC. Our school is near Diamond Head, which is a famous tourist spot and is also near KCC market. My first impression of this school was it is so big, and from there, you can see Diamond Head and the beach. We met both international students and local students from KCC, and they took us on the school tour. Their school was really amazing. There was a convenience store, a canteen, also a Starbucks, and all were run by students. Their school also has many activities. After lunch, other students and I joined to get an ice cream.
On the next day, Mr. Kozue from KCC took us for the outdoor lecture. He took us to many places such as hotels, beaches, etc. We learned a lot about Hawaii's history, culture, people, and problems. At the end of the class, he bought us famous cookies from Hawaii.
I came back to Japan with mixed feelings. Even after I came back to Japan, I felt empty for several days later. I just stayed in Hawaii for 10 days, but I already had a strong feeling about it. Many things to discover, and it's beautiful, and clean as Japan. People are friendly and willing to help you even if you don't know them. Japanese who are living in Hawaii are also different from Japanese living in Japan. They seem more comfortable, maybe because they don't need to follow too many rules. I wish I had more time.
JTB took us to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Through the tour guide, I learned about the war and how cruel the war was. On the next two days, we helped JTB staff to prepare for the festival. It was tiring, but everyone was fun, and in return, they treated us very well and we got some free coupons for expensive restaurants too. Then finally the festival came. I did many jobs there like translating, helping and playing with the kids, etc. On the final day, we participated in the grand parade for the Honolulu festival ending. The festival ended with a beautiful fireworks show at Waikiki Beach. I'm glad that everything went well, and I was a part of it.
I gained a lot. Not only knowledge about Hawaii, but many things that could not find on the internet. This trip gave me a chance to try authentic Hawaiian foods, and everything was so big, and delicious. I also got to go to many beautiful places that I always wanted to go. Furthermore, my English skills improved incredibly, and I realized that I don't need to be afraid, just need to speak up.
