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UMEX BBQ & Rice Harvesting
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[Last updated: 2009/10/4 15:51]
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UMEX BBQ & Rice Harvesting - Anna
[2009/10/4
15:51]
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Dear UMEX team,
I wish to express my gratitude to all of your great effort in introducing us, IUJ students, to Japanese culture particularly around Urasa and neighboring cities. We were very delighted to meet some of UMEX members during our first event, which was UMEX BBQ.
Most of UMEX members speak very good English, and I found no difficulties to speak in my poor Japanese with them.
Today we had the second UMEX event, which was the 'Rice Harvesting' near Tokamachi. It was such a beautiful scenery we had from Urasa to Tokamachi. We went through valleys and few tunnels. Once we arrived there, we were warmly welcomed by Japanese locals, and directly guided to rice field.
After grabbing a pair of gloves and a scythe, we began to cut some rice corps. It was difficult at the very beginning, but we managed to learn it quickly. It was lots of fun, and stress-relieving activity.
Then we got a chance to see how rice corps being harvested by machine, taken to factory, reaped, dried, and finally polished.
So it took long journey from corps to Gohan which we eat in canteen.. I was very happy and excited to see the whole process, and I wish to thank UMEX for making this wonderful trip happened.
Anna Y. Khodijah
E-Biz Student 2009-2010
Indonesia
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Gratefulness to UMEX
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[Last updated: 2009/6/22 21:26]
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Gratefulness to UMEX - Pheng Sokunthea
[2009/6/22
21:26]
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Dear UMEX,
I am writing to show my short gratefulness to UMEX. I am 2nd year IPSP from Cambodia. I will leave IUJ in 4 days. I am so sad to leave this wonderful place. More than that, what I want to express is the deep thanks to UMEX that allowed me to meet my dearest foster mother/ Japanese Tutor, Fukano Eiko. I am in deep gratitude to her as my Japanese mother. She has shown her great love, care, understanding, motivation, and her peaceful smiles whenever we meet. She always wants to take me around to many places in both Minauonuma shi and Japan. I am touched when she drove me to see Mt Fuji ( my dream place). She spent all her physical and spiritual energy to make me happy and to make me smile. She took me to Onsen for 5 times during my stay in Japan. I cannot believe that I learn a lot from her in terms of Japanese language ( mainly speaking skills) and social life and kind attitudes.
I also thank UMEX that gave a chance to me to know Mr. Tokuji Sakurai. He is a very active UMEX's member and also a very kind, considerate Japanese person I have ever known. I always get a lot of help from him.
I would like to show my deep gratitude,thanks and best wishes to Mother Fukano Eiko, Mr. Sakurai and all UMEX's members.
With best regards and wishes,
Pheng Sokunthea (Kitty)
I would like to convey my wish to
My
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Hottoke-Night Dinner Party
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[Last updated: 2008/10/7 18:48]
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Hottoke-Night Dinner Party - Kyoko Ode
[2008/2/13
21:11]
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Shapla Neer Caravan comes to Urasa on Feb 14
Mr. Atsushi Ojima (33) has just came back to Japan, after working in Bangladesh for more than 2 years. He will talk about NGOs/Fairtrade in Bangladesh and share his experience of international development with us.
Date: 18:00-21:00, Thursday, February 14, 2008
Place: Musodo (5142-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma-shi) 10 minutes walk from JR Urasa station, next to Care house Suzukake.
Fee: 3,000 yen (including catered Asian food, vegetarian menu are also available.)
RSVP
Tel: 080-5003-0322
Organized by Hottokenai Café
Supported by e-activists and Fairtrade MAVI
Hottokenai café is a not-for-profit, English speaking café, run by Community Leaders Network and supported by volunteers. We are one of the participating organizations to the world campaign known as gMake Poverty Historyh and promote fairtrade.
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My Memory of UMEX and Chinese Cultural Lecture
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[Last updated: 2007/3/13 8:52]
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My Memory of UMEX and Chinese Cultural Lecture - Lin Jianxin
[2007/3/13
8:52]
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It has been more than one and half years since I left the beautiful IUJ campus. Many things that happened on campus have become blurred in my memory. Yet UMEXfs Chinese Cultural Lecture that was held on December 5 of 2004 still stands so close to me that I almost could touch it.
The initial preparation of the Chinese Cultural Lecture began one day in June 2004, when Takeda-san, the UMEX coordinator, came to me and discussed this idea with me. It surprised me that UMEX would start preparing for an activity almost half a year in advance! I could feel how much importance they attached to this event and I welcomed her idea without any hesitation.
Although China and Japan are geographically close to each other, people of the two countries lack mutual understanding due to a short sad history and lack of exchanges. Chinese students in Japan have the responsibility to contribute their shares to change this situation. And UMEXfs idea offered a perfect opportunity. Having this in mind, I discussed with other Chinese students. To my great joy, they all agreed to do their part! November 7 was set for this special event.
Our enthusiasm on the Chinese Cultural Lecture was even stronger than that on the Open Day, the biggest event in IUJ, which was also scheduled in November. After a few discussions, we got into the swing of our preparation, including a brief overview of the history of Sino-Japanese relations, Chinafs modernization efforts, the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Chinese traditional musical instruments, Chinese national music and dance, presentation of Chinese martial arts and Chinese food, and lessons of basic Chinese conversations. Unfortunately, a strong earthquake visited IUJ on October 26 when everything had been going smoothly. Despite no casualties on campus, almost all IUJ activities stopped. UMEX did not cancel the Chinese workshop as I had expected, but put it off until December 5.
After the earthquake subsided, UMEX members began busy in making posters, sending out invitations, looking for the venue, projectors, acoustics, translators, dishware, and so on. They seemed even more enthusiastic than the Chinese students.
The event became quite a hit. On December 14, UMEX Newsletter (the 28th issue) published this news on its front page.
As far as I know, UMEX has organized a series of country introductions since its foundation. And each one of them has been a success. Besides UMEX membersf marvelous efforts, there are other factors which also led to the success of those events. First, most people today are still separated by national borders and do not really understand each other due to various factors including political conflicts and the problem of information asymmetry, even though people have become much gcloserh than a century ago. Therefore, there are strong needs for cultural exchange activities. Second, IUJ is uniquely positioned in offering a rich resource of country information and diversified cultural experiences, since it has students and professors from more than 50 countries. Third, UMEX provides a wonderful platform for IUJ students and the local Japanese people to exchange information and ideas freely. Last but not the least, peace, friendship and harmony are and will always be cherished by people from all countries alike. Cultural exchange is the most effective way to express their wishes and spread their ideas.
Two years of study in IUJ has become one of the memorable periods in my life. The 10-feet-high snow, elegant cherry blossoms, quiet library, friendly local people, erudite professors, candid friends, and more, often come to my mind and mouth with emotion. UMEX is one of the frequenters.
Lin Jianxin (IDP 2005), from Beijing
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Few words of gratefullness to UMEX
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[Last updated: 2007/3/12 15:32]
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Few words of gratefullness to UMEX - Yulia
[2007/3/10
11:56]
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Greetings my dear UMEX friends,
I am very glad to hear of UMEX and to feel as keep on being the part of the organization. When I received letter from Takeda-san to write a few words of UMEX I got very surprised, glad and excited at the same time. And again my heart filled with the gratefulness.
Only after leaving IUJ I realized importance and helpfulness of UMEX activity. Whenever they were busy with work or home affairs local Japanese people were always willing to socialize with IUJ students. As IUJ students between reports, presentations and final works always find time to participate in UMEX activity.
UMEX is a good opportunity to explore Japanese language, culture and life. Despite on the classes of Japanese language, which most of the students find hard to attend, communication within the UMEX let to know at least conversational Japanese. This made for us our trips to JUSCO and supermarket easier. Classes of ikebana and origami allowed get in touch with traditional art. Spring and autumn trips to different parts of Japan made for us possible to see nature and culture of the country, which is so different from ours. Through UMEX so many of us got friends and acquainted among local Japanese people.
My activity with UMEX started from the unforgettable trip to Hakkai-san mountain. It was autumn and mountain covered by the colorful forests left an amazement picture in my memory. And this is a special thanks to organizers and participants of the trip. My acquaintance with traditional Japan was started from the visiting Sakai-sanfs place. It was for the first time when I saw old traditional type of Japanese house, with garden and pond. My next home stay with Takahashi-sanfs family was very interesting and cognitive due to the visits to the museums and sightseeing. Then at the UMEX classes I got to know the process of making ikebana and few figures of origami. Trips to Aizu-Wakamatsu, Nagaoka firework festival, barbecue parties made my busy and stressful life in IUJ relaxing and more interesting. Due to UMEX I gained good friends: Tanaka-san and Aumi-san. With them I spend lots of pleasant minutes, among which the most unforgettable our trip to Sado island.
I am so willing to say words of gratitude to each and all of UMEX members. Your help is so necessary. You not only help to speak Japanese, organize trips and barbecue; you help to know another Japan, which is deferent from Tokyo with its skyscrapers, subway and rushing life. Knowledge that I gained, this is not only knowledge of Japanese language, but knowledge of history, tradition, Japanese culture helps me a lot at my present life. Now when I am writing these letters and outside the window it is snowing and temperature is below zero the warm memories of UMEX help me to overdo long Russian winter.
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Re: Few words of gratefullness to UMEX - Tak Sakai
[2007/3/12
15:32]
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Dear Yulia-san,
Long time no see, but how are you doing ?
I and my wife are very glad to know that you remember our old house and garden even now.
We also remember you clearly. Yes, you talked us about Mt.Hakkaisan climbing that you psssed the rocks holding the iron chains and about the berry jam that your mother and grandmother made.
Ah, at our house, we saw you sitting hardly on your legs in the "tatami" room and making well the rice balls in the kitchen.
Just now, my wife told me that you talked to her in good Japanese about Mt. Hakkaisan climbing when we were taking a walk at that time.
Anyhow all memories of you makes us so happy.
Thank you very much.
Wishing you and your families to be all fine and happy.
Best regards,
Tak Sakai
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My memory of UMEX
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[Last updated: 2007/3/10 11:57]
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My memory of UMEX - Chheang
[2007/3/10
11:57]
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Looking back to the experiences of studying and living at IUJ, one may say git is uniqueh. Stepping into IUJ campus at the first time, we can feel the natural beauty living around us and more than that people came to talk with us with friendly face and helped us in many ways in terms of adjusting ourselves to the new environment of living. UMEX members are one of those people who tirelessly assist us in understanding Japanese culture and language. Moreover, UMEX is a place of building friendship through strengthening mutual understanding between international students and local people and a training ground for many people to learn the culture of sharing with the people in needs all around the world particularly the victims of the Tsunami in Southeast and South Asia, and those vulnerable in the armed conflict in the African continent. I personally appreciate the efforts of UMEX members.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Mrs Takeda San, one of the founders of UMEX, for her support and encouragement given to me when I was totally lost confidence in my study and life. I also would like to thank Mrs Naomi, UMEX member, for her Japanese instruction. Thank you all members of UMEX for arranging various trips to tourist spots in Niigata prefecture. I really enjoyed and learned a lot from the trips. Last but not least, I wish all UMEX members good health and successes in your activities. May UMEX continue to grow! Long Life UMEX!
From Chheang Vannarith, IRP 2004-06
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Unleashed Memories UMEX and UONUMA
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[Last updated: 2007/3/10 11:53]
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Unleashed Memories UMEX and UONUMA - Nancy
[2007/3/10
11:53]
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This article is dedicated to those who have shared and dedicated their time in that special place we all once called gHomeh at Uonuma. I spent two wonderful years in IUJ. Despite the heavy snow and harsh weather, I had found a lot of warmth in the smiles of UMEX members. We spent time enjoying simpler things in life- the breath taking nature of the place, the river and above all the invaluable friendships.
Through UMEX we were exposed to the core of the local culture. UMEX offered for us a wide range of activities varying from language classes to rice planting trips!
On a very personal note, I would like to gratefully acknowledge the help of UMEX members and their friends for their support and enthusiasm for my thesis project without which it would have been factually impossible to complete my work. I would especially pick out for mention: Satoko Takeda, Etsuko Ohira, Yuko Iizuka and Keiko Sumiyasu to whom I am heavily indebted.
Currently, I work for Save the Children in Cairo an educational project linking schools, NGOs and the corporate sector. Corporate volunteers teach public school students life skills, fundamentals of economics to make them either better employees or entrepreneurs in the future. I benefited tremendously from my research in Japan and direct exposure to the educational system in my current work.
At the end, I would like to send a big hug to everyone in UMEX and thank them for the great job they are doing. I know in my heart someday I will be back to my second home and till then letfs stay virtually in touch thanks to modern technology!
Nancy from Egypt
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My memory of UMEX and my latest report
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[Last updated: 2007/3/8 12:42]
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My memory of UMEX and my latest report - Tang
[2007/3/8
12:42]
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It has been 4 years since my graduation from IUJ in 2003. I have got used to the work and life in Tokyo. But sometimes on Friday night, I came across a thought how Umex is doing in its Friday meeting. This brings back my memory 4 years ago.
I am the lucky one seeing the establishment of Umex in campus. I did not recognize it until I found the consultation room in SD3 was occasionally open and some students were there practicing Japanese with some local people. I was invited to join the conversation and met many conversation partners there. One of my conversation partners was Sato Yaeko-san (²“¡”ªdŽq‚³‚ñ). Our conversation varied from topics in campus, foods, interesting Japanese customs, business conversation practice and sometimes even Japanese trouble-shooting like how to describe a hair-cut to barberfs shop. My favorite practice was reading the conversation column from the Japanese Journal. It was a good practice for Japanese pronunciation. Reading from the text sometimes could be boring. But Sato-san was always very patient and paying good attention. Sometimes, we repeated a single sentence or even a word for many times. She was always listening patiently and speaking with a smile. Her smile and patience was the best help for me to overcome the language barrier. Apart from Japanese conversation, I also met Umex people from sightseeing tours, Umex parties and all kind of activities, in which I met Mayumi-san (^‹|‚³‚ñ), Oabata-san (¬”¦‚³‚ñ), Etsuko-san (‰xŽq‚³‚ñ) and more. Although every student is staying on campus for 2 years, the memory with Umex can definitely carry beyond, which they can bring home and still remember it today.
After my graduation, I moved to Tokyo working for a Japanese company. I am unable to attend any Umex meetings but I am glad to read Umexfs news from Kawaraban. In the time Kawaraban releases its 50th issue this March, my career also begins a new path. I changed to work for an American company and have just spent two months in its US office. During my stay in US, I tried to meet and talk to more people, attend my US colleaguesf parties almost every week, just like what I did in Umex- trying to have more international communications and mutual understanding. I have now backed to Tokyo, and I really look forward to seeing the 50th issue of Kawaraban very soon. I believe there will be always new things to learn and experience to share in Umex, just like what I feel about my new job. When we enjoy reading the 50th issue of Kawaraban, I would like to thank many people working very hard behind. They keep us stay in touch through Kawaraban, and we can grow together in Umex.
Sai Keung Tang
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My Message to UMEX and a Personal Update
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[Last updated: 2007/2/24 22:31]
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My Message to UMEX and a Personal Update - Anton
[2007/2/24
22:31]
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Dear UMEX members:
Even though I graduated IUJ in 2005 I still remember UMEX to be the most delightful part of my IUJ life which helped me to manage the strain of my studies. So I take this chance to thank UMEX once again for its existence and the cultural opportunities that it provides to IUJ student and Japanese community around campus. If it was not for UMEX, my understanding of Japan would have been much more limited and I would have missed so much fun.
In this regard, I advise IUJ students to engage actively in activities provided by UMEX because they can easily one of the most exciting experiences of your stay in Japan. It was like that in my case. My most memorable even in Japan was my trip to Aizu-Wakamatsu, organized through UMEX and guided by Takeda-san. It was interesting, fun, and above all it gave me a chance to make new friends.
At this point, I work as Chief Economist in ACDI/VOCA-Kyrgyzstan. Our company works in the development field helping poor people with microcredit and microloans, which they can use in order to sustain their small businesses and then further develop them. This job is very interesting and rewarding. The most important thing is that I can use the knowledge and skills I received from IUJ in my work on a regular basis. Our company often sends its employees abroad for conferences and trainings. When timing is right I hope to be able to come to Japan on a business trip and then in this case I will try my best to visit IUJ and hopefully participate in one of UMEX activities.
As to my personal situation, I am still not married, but I think I am on my way to it. I met a wonderful girl who is my colleague at ACDI/VOCA and we are together now. This year she is applying to IUJ and I keep my fingers crossed for her. She is a great person: very smart, kind and understanding. Her name is Viktoriya An and she is Korean ethnically but Uzbek by citizenship. With a bit of luck, you will be able to see her this year. I am sure you will find communicating with her pleasurable and delightful. Of course, I told her that one of the first things she should do in IUJ is to get in touch with local people through UMEX and communicate actively with them as it is one of the most rewarding experiences one can get while in Japan.
In closing, I want to pass huge hello and warm regards to all UMEX members and especially the ones who I interacted with as an English language teacher and just as a friend. I still remember the fun classes that we had and great parties we had after those classes. In my free time I teach English to local people as well but UMEX class still stays my favorite. As you can see from this update there are chances for us to meet again. Until then good bye, take care and do your best!
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English Lessons in Muikamachi
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[Last updated: 2007/2/13 23:37]
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English Lessons in Muikamachi - Robert Rosehart
[2006/6/21
19:30]
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Hello,
My name is Robert Rosehart. I am a Canadian ESL teacher who has been in Japan for the past seven years. I've taught business English, Toeic and regular conversation classes for all levels of adult students. I've also taught elementary school, junior high school and high school lessons.
I am available weekday evenings and on saturdays for private lessons and group lessons. I can teach lessons at my home in Muikamachi. I have a room set up for lessons. I can also teach at other convenient locations.
Please send me an email for more information. Email to pusanrob@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading.
Robert Rosehart
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