Student Ambassador Reflection - Akemi Levine

Akemi Levine is a student at UC Berkeley and was selected as one of NWK's student ambassadors in 2014.  She and Emily Hatanaka traveled to Wakayama Prefecture together in July 2015. "Read below" to hear about her experiences as a student ambassador!

Akemi's California pride in Wakayama, Japan.

Student Ambassador Reflection by Akemi Levine

Everyone always says that college is a time to discover yourself, unlock unknown potential and passions, pave a future for yourself. But how can one do this without first exploring the treasures of their past? The past three weeks I have been blessed with the opportunity to adventure around Japan, meet many relatives for the first time, and develop my cultural awareness. I was pushed out of my comfort zone only to discover the beauty of a different lifestyle and the richness of building cross cultural, cross-generational relationships. So first off I would like to thank the Nanka Wakayama Kenjinkai and WIXAS for consistently supporting us youth in our endeavors to understand our roots and appreciate our rich heritage. I've never been so proud to be half Japanese, and I will carry my experiences with me for the rest of my life. 

One of the first experiences Emily and I had when we visited Wakayama was volunteering in an English conversation class at Wakayama University. We had the opportunity to meet incredible college students and learn about their passions, goals, and reasoning for learning English. We were extremely impressed with their ability to communicate in English, and for me it was the first event that sparked my desire to study Japanese.

Another equally amazing experience was our day trip to Hidaka High School. We gave a presentation about our lives in America to several classes, enjoyed cafeteria food, helped in another English conversation class, tried Japanese archery, and much more. My favorite part about this experience was being asked questions after our presentation. It was interesting to hear what the students were curious about America and for them to in return share about their lives. It was very nice to interact with students who were close in age to us and get insight on daily school life in Japan. It was also very nice that some of our relatives could accompany us on this amazing day. I got to meet my great aunt for the first time and I was so grateful.

Another great experience visiting my second cousin’s high school and going with her friends to tour Wakayama Castle. I borrowed one of her school uniforms so I fit right in when they gave me a tour. One of the things that surprised me about Japanese student life was that even on weekends they had club activities and they had to wear their uniforms. Wakayama Castle was extremely beautiful especially because it is in the middle of the city so in all four corners you could see a different view. My favorite was the view of the ocean. I was lucky that one of my cousin’s friends loved history and was able to explain the significance and history of the castle and different artifacts inside of the castle. The history is so rich in Japan and learning about it in person was so much better than reading about it in a book. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience.

I also really enjoyed the cultural aspect of my trip. I knew some information about Japanese architecture, traditional foods, and customs, but being able to see actual temples and take in their beauty first hand was greater than I could have ever expected. Some of the temples I went to include Dojoji, Koyasan, Kiyomizu, and Todaiji Temple.

Visiting these historical and cultural treasures also helped me appreciate Japanese traditions such as the way one cleans his or her hands using the ladle. Additionally, I learned how to pray in a temple and be respectful in these historical and breathtaking sites. I noticed many differences between the way Americans and Japanese site see. In America, we take pictures of everything and anything. In Japan, you cannot take pictures inside of the temples and of all the statues. When I visited my first temple, I recorded myself walking through it and the monk praying and sharing the history of the temple. I quickly learned that this was not okay. The cultural differences I experienced enhanced my knowledge of Japan and gain a deeper respect for those differences.

I also really enjoyed dressing up in yukatas for special occasions like when I gave my presentation and attended the Japanese American Society luncheon. Since I practiced Japanese dance for 15 years in America, I was very comfortable wearing a yukata. One day I attended a fireworks show and I saw a lot of young girls wearing them. Also, when I went shopping in Osaka there were many girls wearing yukatas in the street as well as when I went site seeing in Kyoto. I think that engaging in the culture of different places is one of the best way to experience a country and make memories that will last a lifetime.

One of the best experiences I had was meeting the Governor of Wakayama. It made me feel extremely welcomed in Japan and grateful for the hospitality that I received while visiting. Japanese people are so warm and welcoming. It is the people that I met that make me want to come back to Japan again one day. 

Another example of friendliness that I experienced is when my cousin’s calligraphy teacher offered to give me a lesson. She invited me to her classroom one morning and took time out of her day to teach me because I have never tried calligraphy. My first attempt was horrible, but as I continued to practice I got better and better leading to a decent final product. It was very nice because I got to interact with other students and have them help me improve as well. It was way more difficult than I expected it to be but it was also really fun. I am left handed so it was extra challenging because I had to use my right hand in order to make beautiful stokes. I am very grateful for this experience and the work that I got to bring home with me to show my friends and family. Everyone was very impressed with my calligraphy with so little practice. 

I also met two amazing couples that took Emily and I on a two-day trip through the southern part of Wakayama. We experienced going to an Onsen. That was a huge culture shock for us at first, but as we got more comfortable it became one of our favorite things to do in Japan. We have nothing like public bathes in America which just goes to show how sanitary Japan is. I also got to try a bunch of delicious Japanese food and go to a conveyor belt sushi bar. Sushi in Japan is so fresh and delicious. I was very lucky that one of my mom’s cousins works at a fish market and would bring home very fresh fish for us to eat. The dinner table set up was amazing with so much variety. 

The best part of my trip was getting to meet my family and see some of my family that I met when they visited America again. I build such strong relationships with them over the short 3 weeks I was in Japan and made so many memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I am eternally grateful for this program that helped me discover part of myself and learn about where my ancestors came from.