Study Tour to India

Hashimoto Miho

This was my first visit to India. As soon as I landed the airport, I sensed the exotic atmosphere of India. I spent those two weeks having stimulating and precious experiences.

During the tour, I was most impressed to realise that the Japanese and the Indians are not so different as human beings. At a spiritual center, they taught us ‘The message of a tree'. That is, each one of us is a leaf and all leaves come from a seed. So we are one. I totally agreed with the message. When I visited a job training center to interview some women for a research, they welcomed us with smiles as if we were their friends. People we met in villages, schools and churches also welcomed us. At first I felt embarrassed by their excessive kindness. Most people speak their own local language and I was not able to communicate with them properly. Gradually I learned to make myself understood using gestures and facial expressions. They were wonderful people and I really enjoyed talking with them. Some treated me as if I were their daughter.

After seeing the smiles of Indian people, I came to fully realise that the smile is an international sign of happiness.
I learned lots of things during the tour. They made me think what about things I never considered.

I was dumbstruck when I first saw the largest slum area in Mumbai. I realized the disparity that exists in society. When we visited a Social Work College, one student asked me what I thought I could do to eradicate the slum. I was not able to give her any answer. I had not been aware of such various problems as slums and so forth. I noticed how ignorant I was and how little knowledge I had.

Compared with other senior Japanese students, I know nothing. Sometimes, I felt desperate at how insignificant I am. However, I think that the experience will help me to start changing myself. After I came back to Japan, I started to think seriously what I could do and what I lack.

I was very lucky to take part in the study tour and am grateful to the group members. I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot. I hope I can visit India again to see my acquaintances there.