3 and half years ago, when I came to Japan, all I knew and imagined about Japan, was something that I had seen in movies like "Oshin" or "Samurai" movies. So my imagination was different from what I see here.

　In the first 6 months, as I couldn't speak Japanese and almost had no chance for going to Japanese classes because of my one year old baby, I preferred to stay home and spend my time just with my daughter, and actually I had no communication with Japanese. In that time I didn't feel the necessity of learning Japanese.

　After 6 months some members of "KOKORO-Net" came to my room after a tea party in Kobe Daigaku Int. Residence. We could communicate in English and a few words of Japanese. It was a good beginning for me to start learning Japanese seriously, and time to have some relation with Japanese. During this time, I tried to attend "KOKORO Caf"s and I enjoy learning more about Japanese people, culture, dressing, foods ・・・.

Now, I see what kind and disciplined people they are and I hope to have the chance to visit Japan after some years again.

　

　

　My name is Kalpana and I am Nepalese. Since September 2000 my main residence is in Germany together with my husband Markus; I am studying business management at the Open University, UK, on basis of distance learning.

　One year ago, we came to Japan because my husband was invited as visiting scholar of the Kobe University. Having go this chance for traveling, I am very interested to see Japan.

　During the first months of our stay, we were wondering about all these new aspects of living and culture here in Japan. We even tried to study the language because we wanted to better communicate with friends and colleagues and to find our way through our new Japanese life. However, the Japanese language is very difficult for me to study. I can remember, once we wanted to buy coffee in the supermarket. When we arrived at home and opened the package, we realized that we were mistakenly buying cacao because we could not read the label of the package. As this tells, it was difficulty for us to get orientation in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

　After the first month of my stay, I met the Kokoro-Net Family. Here, I got chance to learn the Japanese language. It was very helpful for me to understand some basics of this East-Asian language. Additionally to the language activities, I am really impressed by all these incredible events and activities the Kokoro-Net. It is really enjoyable for us students to come together twice a month and learn and practice to understand the Japanese culture.

　Particularly, the Japanese Tea and Food Ceremony, the Kimono Ceremony, our visit to the Kobe Hospital and a supermarket, the sight-seeing tour were very informative and helpful for my understanding of the place where I have been living with my husband for almost one year. Moreover, it was a pleasure to stay and chat together with other members and participants of the regular meetings of the Kokoro-Net. Even my husband could learn some aspects of Japan when I came back from the meetings and told him what we did.

　We are leaving Japan in the second half of March back to Germany. A few weeks later, we will move to Boston for another year at Harvard where my husband will work as a Visiting Scholar. I have already made contact to the 'counterpart' of the Kokoro-Net, which is called the Harvard Neighbours in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They also to bring together the family members of University affiliates and organize several cultural activities for them. I hope I will be able to have the same nice experience there as I gathered here by participating in the Kokoro-Net Family of the Kobe University.

　I also hope that we once will meet again in the Kokoro-Net. I wish a lot of success and happiness to all members and friends of the Kokoro-Net Family.

　I would like to thank all of you from the Kokoro-Net Family very much for this Sayonara party.

　

　

　I've just got here in Japan as a dependent member of my husband on 4th January, 2001. Within these few months I achieved some experience of Japanese customs and culture. First of all I can't but say the politeness of Japanese people. Like so many polite forms of Japanese uttering they (the Japanese people) have the infinite variety of politeness. Not only polite, they are also very helpful. I think almost everyone must agrees with me. Whenever any Japanese is asked by someone specially by a foreigner about the location or transportation or Japanese writing of course he or she tries to help others according to his or her capacity. I believe, nobody has the experience of negative attitude in the above situation. This is really remarkable and of course example for everyone.

　Japanese flower arrangement or Ikebana is really very interesting. I like Ikebana from my school life. It's really praiseworthy. From my observation the Japanese ladies are very formal in dress-up. Ladies in casual wearing are rarely found.

　When I watch Japanese TV channel, there must be cooking session in almost every program. But of course the Japanese people are not habituated in overeating. Otherwise they could not have the record of longevity. Yet cooking session is very popular over here.

　It's really my toleration, over here, there is a remarkable difference in taking soup. In many culture including ours to take the soup container in hand and having soup by mouth instead of spoon and producing sound are very indecent. But here things are different. But I like to be a Roman while in Rome.

　The most remarkable characteristic of Japanese people is hard work. Today's technologically developed Japan, the member G-8, is not like the sudden uprising of Middle East. It is the result of Japanese people's hard work. Simultaneously their loyalty to law and order helps them to reach the goal. It is really example for every one.

　Last of all, I express my gratitude to the organizers of Kokoro-net and to my senseis. I am grateful to everyone of Kokoro-net.

　

　

　Last year in May, 2001 was the first time for me to study a different language besides English. Because I stay in Japan I must learn Japanese. I did not know anything about Japan. Initially it was difficult language for me. I learned from basic how to read and write Hiragana and Katakana. My husband introduced me to learn Japanese in Kobe University organized by Kokoronet. I have two teachers who always help me to learn Japanese. I try to understand all, but not all can I remember. Usually grammar is easier to understand, but if my teachers ask me directly I am still confused to answer quickly. Speaking Japanese is my weakness until now. However now I can undertand a little bit when some body speaks Japanese. Initially in my class there were many students from different countries such as: China, Mexico, Uruguay, Rusia, Bangladesh, Rumania. Korea, Nepal, Indonesia, but later not all my friends can continue to attend the class. However some new faces came and joined the class. For me, it is interesting to learn Japanese, not only language but also I learn about culture, food, etc. Because two of my teachers always teach me patiently, my life in Japan is more enjoyable. Previously it was very stressfull for me, because I did not understand anything. Together with two of my teachers we went to Awaji Island by bus to see Japanese puppet show. We went to awaji zoo too. It was good time together with many friends from all over the world. Good place and good time together. If I did not learn Japanese in Kobe University, may be until now I can not get in touch with the Japanese in here. I hope for the next future, two of my teachers never get bored to teach my friends and I to understand more Japanese. Because one of my sons goes to Japanese school, I try to attend the parents meeting and follow their activities. I think it is important for me to be able to speak with them in Japanese. I try to speak Japanese, but only few short words asking about school schedule, activity, etc. Because they know that I am foreigner, they always try to help me to know about school activities such as; making omochi, celebrate their childrens birthday by cooking for lunch together, going picnic together, or some time eating together in school, singing together and many other activities. I hope some day I can wear kimono or attend tea ceremony.

　

　

　My name is Tagreed, from Egypt. I arrived to Japan in July 20th 2001 with my two girls Toka and Jasmina, they are five and four years old. My husband came to Japan on April 5th 2001, to start his study as a research student, in order to gain the PhD degree in business administration from kobe University. First of all, I have to say that, before coming to Japan I predicted that I will face many challenges; the more big one is that, I was pregnant in my 5th month, when I came to Japan. Moreover, I did not learn any of Japanese language in Egypt. That is why, I felt that, it will be impossible to contact with any person to guide me, specially, in my case , because I have to contact with Japanese people whether in the airport or in the hospital to make the monthly follow up.

　I started the Japanese classes in October 2001. Unfortunately I could attend these classes just for a month and half, because I had my new baby Hana in November 30th 2001. But during this short period, I could understand the main basics of Japanese language, because of the great efforts and real co-operation of the teachers whom used a daily live examples as much as possible during their explanations to make us more familiar with every thing surrounded, as well as to enable us to understand an instructions in the train station or in the street or the products' prices and discounts in the supermarkets, more over to give us the main rules of speaking to contact with Japanese,which gave me the chance to contact with my neighbours, host family, sellers, even with the people in the street, which enabled me to build a new friendships with Japanese. Now I have a number of Japanese friends, I meet them from time to time, in every time, I learn a new expression, and try to improve my Japanese language.

　Finally, from my short experience in Japan, I found that the key word to enjoy your live in Japan is Japanese language. By other words, you can not enjoy your residence in Japan without learning the Japanese language, therefore, as much as you involve in Japanese language, as much as you can use Japanese facilities and enjoy your live in Japan.