Narrating & reflecting on the Exchange Experience in Japan 🇱🇦 🇯🇵 (JENESYS 2017, 5th Composite Batch: Peace Building Exchange)

Opening your mind to the outside world is crucial nowadays, particularly in this globalized world. Truth be told, stepping up onto an international stage is literally eye-opening, perspective-enhancing and life-changing. Focusing on youths, one of the best ways they could seek such benefit is to get themselves involved in a number of exchange programs, whether there are short-term or long-term ones. At the same time, they will be able to meet amazing-diverse people, learn new ideas that can be utilized as soft skills, and more. Indeed, acquiring said programs is what people wish to accomplish, yet it requires huge efforts in order to be successful. Therefore, achieving this type of goal is not as easy as one may think, and in fact, failures occur as a common matter. However, once you succeed, there are so many advantages you will possibly achieve further in your life; career, hobbies, etc. By the way, the program that the seven others and I were able to be a part of was held in Japan.

Without further due, you are being led to the part of where the article is all about. However, this article is not giving out tips and tricks or techniques on winning any types of scholarships but specifically showing the experience and key takeaways that the participants have gained from the program. Therefore, on the occasion that the JENESYS Program is currently opened for application, this piece shall be about some situations the participants shall be confronting and things that they shall take out. In similar terms, several points shall be skimmed further in certain proportions such as what the program is about, what happened during the time there, and so forth.

Lao representation

What is it all about?

To be clear, JENESYS is a program that brings relatively outstanding youngsters from various countries around the world to participate in activities that are designed by the program holder to seek out a plan of action that could concretely be taken in particular themes. Although, the batch that is being shown here only brings fair numbers of participants (8–14) from ten ASEAN members to discuss the concepts of Peace Building in Japan. That is also the reason the program well-represents diversity among the participants. As one of the members of ASEAN, Lao representation was able to raise its voice along with those countries concerning the said topic.

Several sub-topics were further researched and discussed in the program as the participants were divided into four groups of each theme which are:

A: Youths’ role to solve issues of Local, Regional and International Conflict

B: Youths’ role to promote issues of Inter-religious Dialogue

C: Youths’ role to solve issues of Refugees/Immigrants/Migrating Workers

D: Youths’ role to solve issues of Economic Imbalance

A highlight of the program

Along with the headings of each, the groups were named in such alphabetical orders. As a result, members of each group were required to stick with the team and be researching the given theme as they were exploring the city. Each team had its own approach to have the members engaged in every single opinion and circumstance, whether in doing a small panel discussion or individual research. Indeed, some people were taking things too seriously while others would rather be laid back and enjoying things around, yet getting involved as appropriate. Consequently, the outcome of all efforts was amazingly satisfying, remarkable, and worthwhile.

Exploring Japan

Frankly, this was the very first overseas exchange program I have ever joined. The word “excitement” could barely explain the feeling I had as soon as the result of the application was announced that fortunately, I was selected. Only those who have ever firstly acquired any types of scholarships shall be able to relate to this.

Before the flight, Passports Assemble

My first flight abroad was thrilling (in a good way) at first. Slightly, it started to be dull amidst the air. Then, it was all about the exhaustion. The reason is that I had never experienced any types of plane sick and flight delays before because I had never flown back then. Sitting & waiting 4–6 hours in the air without abundant entertainment plus, the terrible sound of the plane’s engines are the worse thing about traveling.

After landing, there was nothing better than stretching and taking a few walks around the Narita Airport to let my blood flow. At the same time, I could foresee the excitement ahead of me, whether it is about the atmosphere, transportation, buildings, food, and so on. A bunch of things!

What a relief!

After stepping on the Japanese ground, along with the co-participants, I was guided all the way to the parking space. Once getting out of the gate to the outside, truly, the air was extraordinary, cold, and fresh. A story being heard before that Japanese are disciplined. Now, I could see for myself that Japan truly is organized. Besides, we, Lao participants, were not alone. There were companies along the way from the airport to the hotel. Before arriving at the hotel, I had a chance to get to know a few people from ASEAN countries, mainly Cambodia and Myanmar.

After that, certainly, the foremost thing we considered doing after our arrival, despite the fact that we had been suffering from flight exhaustion, was to go sight-seeing around the town. Anyhow, our batteries were charged instead.

One impressive thing about Japan that we also experienced on the first day was the thoughtfulness of Japanese locals. Whatever the circumstances, there are two major things that they habitually do; gratefulness and apology. Indeed, other than these two, there are so many certainly decent manners that were commonly practiced. For instance, when you drop by a convenience store and are ready to check out, the cashier will considerately count all the bills and changes aloud to show sincere transparency and ends it with “Thanks”, “Arigato Gozaimasu”. In such a situation, no one is able to resist the warmth and respect from the person for certain.

Clean sidewalks + people in organized manners + beautiful little buildings + fantastic breeze = Unbelievable

This is just like Japan I was expecting to see; full of convenience stores and vending machines anywhere I go

Foods, drinks, snacks, etc.

If you have still been reading this blog until this part, it was yet to be the best one of all, only just the beginning of the JENESYS experience. True, it was only the first day as it is being narrated. In fact, the program’s objective was to bring the entire participants to the City of Nagasaki to apprehend peace matters which strongly is advocated there. Therefore, the second day of our journey was to fly to Nagasaki in an early bird.

On the way to another town, and Bento for lunch (breakfast actually).

We dropped by a buffet-style restaurant to fill up the stomachs before heading to bigger tasks ahead. This one includes the second day of the program. It was significantly cold which I almost caught a fever.

Arrived at the hotel with an extraordinary view from above (from the corridor of my room)

The third day of the trip was that we were on tour to some remarkable sites of the city which is in relation to peace, or other words, peaceful symbols of Nagasaki. To briefly go through a story of the city, Nagasaki was bombed along with the City of Hiroshima by the United States during the Second World War, as a result of the Pearl Harbour attack. This concluded World War II as Japan had fully surrendered. There were a couple of Atomic Bombs that belonged to the U.S. named Little Boy and Fat Man. Nagasaki was a city to be bombed by Fat Man which caused wide-range damage and instantly wiped out the entire city in a minute. Large amounts of people were killed. Besides, it posed a long-term effect on the local people as they have been suffering from the chemical consequences mainly cancer ever since. Lots of lessons were learned from such the event, and as a result, Nagasaki and Hiroshima later became the symbols of peace advocacy.

Constantly became ruins.

Honestly, the third day was truly beautiful although it was cold and pouring.

Look at that foggy landscape filled with early blooming Sakura! I wish I could live there for life

The Peace Statue and a few others in the commemoration of the Atomic bombing of the city

One of the best parts of the trip was that the Cherry Blossoms were gradually blooming along the way we went. In fact, the program actually took place in March which is the best season for blooming flowers especially Sakura (Cherry Blossoms). Also, I picked one piece of them and still keep it in my little notebook since then.

Enjoy seeing them blossoms!

Long story short, I would like to keep this article quite brief by piecing things together where appropriate and avoid describing the whole story in each of the whole agenda.

Apart from the first, second, and third day, the program began to drive participants crazier by putting pressure on them as long as days went by. Every evening, people were required to do a small discussion to wrap up what they’d achieved during a day-trip. Most of all, they needed to come up with a proper action plan related to the topic; the quicker, the better.

Nonetheless, we quite enjoyed our days amidst such tension.

Experiencing a traditional outfit (Yukata) — this is actually Japanese Pajamas.

University of Nagasaki campus tour and student discussion between Japan and ASEAN. Origami Crane crafting,

Stopped by an early dinner (probably the best one) and observing the town from the top

The following is to be the day that we all got to experience the cultural exposure of Japan.

On the way to put on some Kimonos. Feels much like Anime! Along with fellow B team!

The last day in Nagasaki quite broke most of our hearts because to leave such a gorgeous city is complete sadness. So, there was a lot of roaming. Though, we made the most out of it.

Back here again for the last time.

Exploring a few other places

Night-time exploring

Well, that concludes Nagasaki. Next, we are going back to Tokyo for a few roamings. Relevantly, all teams were required to do some reflection and presentation on the entire trip that they made including the plan of action that they had come up with altogether.

Anyway, Tokyo was also spectacular with full of sites and places to discover. After a couple-of-hour flight, nothing brought us down, not even the idea of visiting the center of Japanese representation, Shinjuku.

With the squad, we decided to take a train to the central town. The subway lines in Tokyo are literally complicated to follow. Be careful, bring a friend if you want to visit Tokyo, you might get lost.

Energetic people

Everything was dark like we were in a DC Universe. Plus, I was the only boy on board.

Finally ended up having some Ramen with the happiest (daunted) facial expression ever.

The story of the JENESYS 2017 which was held in 2018 is coming to an end. The last day, the day that people cried, but not me (I’m stronger than that, lol), was the day that all things were summarized. The action plan was presented and reflection was completed. Further, it was the day that the certificates were given away. It was also the day that we celebrated our diversity by dressing in cultural outfits in representing the uniqueness of each country's delegations. However, no one is keen on the farewell at all.

Above all, I shall miss the Cherry Blossoms because of their brilliant beauty. Second of all, JENESYS was the program that allowed me to observe the diverse opinions and attitudes which taught me in terms of personal approach and leadership capacity that has still been enhanced later on. In addition to this, lasting friendships and precious memories were made within the ten-day agenda, and that we often keep in touch ever since.

In a nutshell, JENESYS is one of the highly recommended programs that you should be applying for, once. To be joining this is to get yourself into a life-changing experience that will stay with you to the end. Also, it can be a spark of inspiration for others in pursuit of the same interests that you share with them (e.g. education) or even considering working or living there.

Ultimately, every program is worth joining depending on the field of interest. However, one important thing is that you should be able to identify the takeouts or outcomes of it so it would not be a waste for which you are eligible to participate for just once.

Travel along!!!

While I am writing this article, you may be applying for a bunch of scholarships, and failing along the way. Admittedly, I failed seven times applying for this one, yet I kept up until succeeded. The truth is it does never matter if you accomplish it earlier or later, it matters when you are finally able to be a part of it. You’d better wipe your tears and give it another go.

Glad You Enjoyed it,

Bo