My Struggle in Japan (7) — A Little Earth Connected by 'A-I-U-E-O'

■ A 'Multinational Force' of 20

The 'Class A' I was assigned to was the largest class in the school. Looking around the classroom of about 20 people, it was truly a little Earth. South Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Congo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan...

Among them, the largest group was from China, like me. The faces of those who made up about half the class were surprisingly diverse. Many were in their 30s and 40s, and they were all people who had been active on the front lines in their home countries as elite employees of major companies, engineers, painters, and teachers.

On the other hand, the students from other countries were young, in their late teens to 20s, and full of energy. We, with our different titles and ages from our home countries, were now about to start from 'A-I-U-E-O' in the same classroom.

■ Self-introductions with Ten Different 'Flavors'

The first lesson was self-introductions.

What surprised me there was each person's 'pronunciation.' It was Japanese with the unique 'flavor' of their respective countries.

Accents that strongly reflected their national character and unique, strong quirks. When the meaning couldn't be conveyed, everyone desperately used gestures to express themselves. The classroom was filled with loud laughter many times over their earnestness and the somewhat funny sounds.

Sanjay, a 19-year-old from Nepal, was impressive for his gentlemanly way of speaking and constant smile, which belied his youth. In contrast, Bupi from Congo was dressed in a vivid contrast of a black silk jacket and a white shirt, and his voice was so quiet that it was hard to hear what he was saying, giving him a somewhat mysterious atmosphere (I later heard a rumor that he was related to the Congolese Embassy).

■ Amidst Vivid Contrasts

My Chinese classmates were also a group of unique individuals who were not easily categorized.

Chen from Shanghai was an intellectual businesswoman who spoke fluent English. However, she wore surprisingly thick eyeliner, and during breaks, she would stare into the distance with a cigarette between her fingers... To me, she seemed like a very complex and mysterious woman.

Wu from Beijing, who was good friends with her, was a very clear person, in contrast to Chen. Her two large eyes always radiated kindness and friendliness, making even those who looked at her feel bright.

People with diverse backgrounds, all carrying the same 'anxiety' and 'tension,' were spinning words one step at a time, watched over by Mr. Ogawa, who was desperately taking notes.

■ Meeting a Savior

Among such unique classmates, the one I became closest to was Tou from Beijing.

He was a man in his late 30s who had worked as an engineer before coming to Japan. Tou, who had arrived in Japan half a year earlier than me, lived with his older brother and his wife who were already in Japan. Humorous and a good talker, he seemed used to life in Japan and relaxed, and he became a good understanding friend to me, who had just arrived.

The lonely part-time job and the unfamiliar life in Japan. My tense heart began to unravel little by little as I met him and was able to share various stories.

The days I endured all alone ended, and thanks to him, my life in Japan finally began to change into something I could think of as 'fun'.

Next Episode Preview

I had finally found friends I could trust. However, once I stepped outside of school, the harsh reality was still waiting for me. Next time, Dishwashing Hands and Textbooks. I will write about the days spent wavering between working to survive and studying.