With various reasons, it is difficult to study what I would like to learn in Myanmar. So, I was very much interested in visiting Japan to study. When my friend told me about the Daskin Leadership Training program, I got interested and hoped that I could get such a chance for study. After an interview for the training, I received a phone call telling me congratulation. I was more than happy to have received such good news. I reached to the front door of my dream.

I arrived in Japan on Aug. 28. My mind was filled with many thoughts. I did not understand Japanese at all. If things go wrong, what should I do? Is it really possible for me to learn what I would like to learn? How can I possibly share what I have learned in Japan after returning home? In thinking about this and that, I arrived at Toyama Sunrise.

In the beginning, I thought Japanese pronunciations are difficult. It was kind of embarrassing to speak out Japanese. But as I learned more, it was getting easier and I came to like Japanese very much. More I learned, I wanted to improve more and more. I learned Japanese Braille also. All instructors were very kind and efficient in teaching us. I had to do a lot of home works, which made me very busy. I did not mind such busy schedule at all, because it was fun to learn and get good experiences every day. I love to make jokes, so I tried to make jokes in classroom to make our study as enjoyable as possible. On December 7, I made a presentation in Japanese for the first time. It was a thrilling experience for me.

From Jan. 9 to Mar. 31, I received the individual training at The Japan Light House in Osaka. I returned to Tokyo in April to continue to have the individual training.

Since I requested to keep Japanese language lessons during my individual training, I was able to study Japanese continuously. Although I am still not good at speaking, thanks to my teachers, I can somehow manage daily conversation in Japanese.

What I like most among all my works is a computer study. I have been making a lot of efforts in learning it, using one personal computer exclusively for myself. All of our teachers have been very patient and kind in teaching us. And I am so much interested in it that I have learned a lot more than expected.

I learned how to swim for the first time in my life. Every Thursday, in Osaka during my individual training, two volunteers who are university students taught me how to swim. Thanks to their instructions, I now can swim a little bit.

Before coming here, I was interested in playing the piano. But in my country, I did not have time for it, nor any teachers. In Osaka, I got piano lessons. Since the lessons were not long enough to become a good player, I still cannot play well. But I can play a bit.

When a person with visual impairment wishes to read a book, he or she can ask a sighted person to read it aloud. I requested to have many books read aloud for me. The most interesting book was “From darkness comes the light” written by Mr. Takeo Iwahashi, the founder of the Japan Light House.

I have had many chances to visit many places. All of what I have seen and what I have heard have been good information. In Myanmar, the current situation is not favorable for us to establish an organization for persons with disabilities. Even having such situation, I would like to continue to make efforts in creating an organization by overcoming many difficulties.

I have never lived alone in my country. After coming to Japan, I found it very difficult to do many household choirs all by myself. But I know I must do everything on my own. So, I tried very hard every day. After three month, the things that used to be difficult in the beginning have become easier as I have been getting accustomed to the life in Japan. I was very happy about it.

Since I have not completed my study at my college in Myanmar, I must continue my study. While continuing on to study, I am planning to do some volunteer works at a school for the blind. I have been lucky in having Duskin Leadership Training in Japan, through which I learned a lot. In Myanmar, there are many persons with visual impairment who wish to study some subjects with high aspiration, but due to many reasons, they cannot receive any opportunity to study. There are only four schools for the blind. There are many persons staying at home, who are poor or living in a remote place far from school, although they want to study. I am planning to share what I have learned in Japan with those persons. Also, I would like to get another chance to study in some other country, because I love studying very much.

In Japan, there are a great number of young adults living separately from their families. In Myanmar, It is common to find young people staying with their family even after reaching adulthood. After knowing the different life style of Japanese youngsters, I would like to live independently back home.

It is quite convenient for us to live in Japan, thanks to the installed braille blocks on roads, which guide us to our desired destination safely.

I really find this Duskin Leadership Training the greatest opportunity, which has brought me to Japan to learn a lot. Since coming to Japan, I have studied a lot more than I originally expected. Not only learning, but also so many wonderful experiences I have obtained.