So, today we said goodbye to our host families this morning. Going into this experience, I didn’t think I would get so attached. The family was open throughout the whole experience. I feel thankful more than anything. At the start of our class, I was told I must push
myself to absorb and sit still in the moment.
We all danced and performed from LMU, doing a Soul Train--shout out to Anna (we were going too crazy on them)!
Seeing people who survived through 3/11 and have so much wisdom welcome us into their families and lives is a great honor. Looking back at this experience, I feel like I’m starting to let myself be myself. This trip so far is the acceptance of being uncomfortable.
Then we went to Mirai Ships Inc. It was cool, but I was never interested in ships or
fishing. What stood out to me was the resilience and selflessness of the five major shipbuilding companies; it should have shown me the importance of coming together to rebuild and restructure. I reflect on how removing myself is essential for the group's success. It made me think back to past leadership roles and my mistakes.
Later, we met with Women's Eye CEO and founder Megumi-san. She told us the story of
Tamiko Abe and about the discrimination she went through while owning her fishing business. In the story, the biggest takeaway was a quote from her,“if you don’t give up, your wishes will come true.”
Women dispositionally are looked down at because of societal misogyny. As a man,
it made me reevaluate my privilege, belief, and actions towards women. I was raised on the idea of equality, but like a wise person taught me, promises are empty words without actions. I learned from Megumi-san that understanding the discrimination is not the critical part, but amplifying and empowering them.
Leaving Miyagi makes me reflect on how much we neglect our rural communities. How
many times do we travel and only stay in the urban areas? We chose to ignore their stories and we see tourism as what it can do for us. Looking back on the day, I realize it was one of reflection and learning.
I am just one person on this trip, in cohort and world. I cannot do much alone, but great things happen with great people. I came into this experience only thinking about who I am in the world, but who is the world for me. I am just one person whose job is to absorb and listen to the world around me. I have been challenging myself to be still and let others shine.
That is why I am not asking or answering questions as the first person. I am sitting back and learning from the world around me. I am learning that to come together is about the ego death of the self. We exist in the world.
The world does not for us.
- Ethan Carter
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