２月初めから弊社でインターンをしていたデイン君が、コロナの影響で半月インターン期間を短縮して、４月１３日成田へ移動し帰国の途につきました。無事にアメリカに帰国し、おそらく２週間の隔離期間は必要かもしれませんが、一刻も早く家族の元に戻れることを祈っています。日本滞在中にお世話になった多くの皆様、お友達になってくださった皆様、本当にありがとうございました。彼の将来の明確な目標もできたようで、私たちも嬉しいです。またきてね、デイン。
Final Report
My trip to Japan is unfortunately coming to an end, with only one week left before I am off to the airport. While I am sad that my trip is coming to an end, I am very happy that I got the chance to experience Japan and meet so many wonderful people. The awe inspiring scenery that I was able to see here is something I hope I am able to one day return to, hopefully for a much longer period of time. I have wanted to go to Japan since I was around 10 years old, so finally being able to stay here for a few months was a dream come true.
My work at Mizutrans corporation was a great place for me to learn new things and experience the Japanese workplace. Every day I came to work, I almost always had the task of proofreading different reports and essays made by some of the translators, which I thoroughly enjoyed because it also helped me to polish up on my own english skills, as well as learn a few new things, such as the production process of tea and how the court system works in Japan. Most of my working days were spent in the office, except for the day we all went on a trip to Yanagawa and Dazaifu shrine. I have also been working on a presentation about anime culture in the west, which I am set to present on the 12th of April. I am very excited to give this presentation to see what everyone thinks about the American take on anime, and see if it sparks their interest in watching anime, as well as some American cartoons.
While in Japan, I was able to see many of the beautiful shrines scattered around Fukuoka and learn the proper way to pray. From going to an owl cafe, eating some incredible ramen, and making many new friends, I could not have asked for a better experience. One place I visited often was a bar called International Bar, where many locals and foreigners go to meet and chat with new people. It was there that I met one of my good friends Shoji, who I ended up hanging out with a lot during my time here, even going hiking up Mt Sefuri.
I was also able to view the cherry blossom blooms in my last week, with a few friends I had met near the beginning of my stay here. Seeing the many cherry blossoms surrounding Maizuru park was quite literally the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life, and a day I will never forget. While viewing the cherry blossoms, we were lucky enough to see a badger wandering around a field near the entrance to the park, something I definitely did not expect to see that day.
My experience in Japan has been wonderful in so many ways, especially because it forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me to expand my skillset. From navigating the train system, to learning more about the different customs , there is so much I am grateful for and would not have changed for anything. Being in Japan has also made me rethink some of my life goals, and persuaded me into to wanting to become an English teacher sometime in the near future, so that I may not only connect with more people and integrate into the Japanese culture even further, but so that I may also explore even more of what Japan has to offer, and to explore the more northern regions, such as Hokkaido and Sapporo. I am very grateful to everybody who was able to make this experience possible, and for giving me this wonderful opportunity.