Before I came to Japan I did not have much information about the program.I was working at a school for the disabled in Bandung,Indonesia.Many of the students there are physically or mentally disabled or autistic.I wanted to study about special education in Japan,especially the method of teaching physically disabled children and autistic pupils.But after I came to Japan,I realized that there are many other things that I want to study.The situation in Japan is just wonderful for the disabled.

On August 24,2001 I was at Narita Airport.I was finally in Japan,the country I had always wanted to visit,the country of my dreams.I couldn’t believe it.It was the first time for me to be in a foreign country.The culture is different,seasons and climates are different,and I don’t understand the language.I was afraid.I thought a one-year stay in a foreign country was too long.Japan is a country where the levels of technology and education are very high.Japanese are strict about time.Everything here is neat and clean.To tell you the truth,I had a hard time at first,but soon I got used to my life in Japan.

The barrier-free environment for the disabled is well established.I was surprised to see many severely disabled people walking around or riding trains.In Indonesia,the disabled,those who are severely disabled in particular,stay home and do not go out.

The individual training started on December 1 and ended on June 6.I received training at Toyama school for the Disabled.Aiiku School for the Disabled,Machida Human Network,National Institute of Special Education,Studio IL Bunkyo,CIL National Enjoy Center,Shimonoseki Children Development Center,Com-Support Project,and International CBR Study Group.I also visited various schools.

I started my individual training at Toyama School for the Disabled.The individual programs at Toyama School are excellent.These days,teacher in Indonesia are learning about individual programs,but such programs have not been carried out yet.There are still too few teachers and too many issues to deal with.Education for the disabled is not advanced at all.Severely disabled children,in particular,receive little education.In Japan,I had a nice time everyday playing and talking with elementary school pupils in Toyama.The educators have a different teaching method at Aiiku School for the Disabled.They treat each child very carefully.They do not treat children with disabilities as special pupils.If you have a disabled brother,he could be as happy as other brothers and sisters.This is how they treat children.

After the training I received at these facilities and visits to various schools,I have realized that education is not about math and languages only,but it is about relationships among people.At Machida Human Network,I learned about such topics as assertive training,peer counseling,and support by parents.The training I received at Machida was very important for me.I learned about the importance of expressing and presenting ideas to others.I have visited many institutions,and it is quite difficult to choose just one institution that was most useful and important.Each institution had specific features.I think I studied a lot and had a good experience at each institution.

After the six-month individual training,group training started on June 10,2002.I was very happy to meet all the trainees again.We attended classes,held discussion sessions,and went out together.We trainees became very friendly and felt close to each other,and we had an international symposium.We met many people and exchanged information.It was a nice opportunity to share ideas with others.I enjoyed the lectures by the leaders.They emphasized that it is important to give feed back of the knowledge and skills one has acquired to other people.One has to analyze and assess one’s experience.They taught us how to be good leaders.

People use crutches in Indonesia.One week after I arrived in Japan,I started to use an electric wheel chair.I started to use an electric wheelchair.At first I was afraid because I was not used to it.After I got the hang of it,I realized it was very convenient.You can go to a far place if you are in an electric wheelchair.The barrier-free environment is excellent in Japan,particularly in Tokyo,so I can go anywhere.Even if a train station does not have an elevator,the attendants would help me.So I don’t have to worry.Five people among the trainees use wheelchairs.My wheelchair acted as a helping hand to other four people,Lokesh,Shfiq,Chano,and Nadin.People who can walk sometimes rode on the back of my wheelchair.There are many people in electric wheelchairs in Japan,but in Indonesia you do not see any electric wheelchairs.

I went skiing for the first time in my life,as we do not have snow in Indonesia.I saw snow in Toyama for the first time.It snowed a lot everyday.Before the home stay we went skiing for three days.I enjoyed it.I fell once when I tried to get on a lift.I felt great when I skied.In Japan,people with or without disability have equal opportunities to enjoy sports.Although disabled people engage in sports activities in Indonesia too,we do not enjoy sports with unimpaired people.We do only certain kinds of sports.

I had always wanted to go to Sapporo.Fortunately my host family lived in Sapporo.My plane arrived one and a half hours late in Sapporo because of the bad weather.The people in my host family are nice people.During the six-day stay,they took me to a lot of places.I met the brother of my Japanese father,the grandmother of my Japanese mother,and their friends.I really enjoyed the stay with them.

They have become almost my real family.They came to airport to see me off when I left for Tokyo.My Japanese father came to the gate.I felt lonely and missed them.On the plane I was crying all the way to Tokyo.I hoped to see them again.

After the home stay I kept in touch with them.During the Golden Week they invited me again to their home in Sapporo.I spent another three days with my Japanese family.We had a barbecue party and had a lot of fun on the first day.

I had a lot of valuable experiences during my one-year stay in Japan.I was home sick at first,but I enjoyed my time here in Japan.I have made a lot of friends,and I even have a family here.I met many people in different places and learned a lot from them.Upon my return to Indonesia,I will work at school again.I have many hopes and desires to achieve for the disabled.I would like to make an effort to raise awareness and understanding about the disabled in my country.The trainees represented nine countries,and we spent our time together.There were some difficulties,but each of us did have pleasant memories for sure.During the one-year stay in Japan,I laughed with happiness,quarreled and cried over trifles.After I returned my home country,I would like to keep in touch with everyone.

I would like to extend my appreciation to all those wonderful Japanese people concerned who have made my training possible.the Duskin AINOWA Foundation has this wonderful business,and they have generously supported the disabled through the Leadership Training Program in Japan.I don’t know what to say to thank you.I am also grateful for people at the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabled.I would like to thank all the people who gave me advice and taught me many things during the individual training session.I would like to say thank you to those in the training department,who worked hard for us,took care of our stay here,and supported us both physically and spiritually during the one-year program.Thank you again and OTSUKARE SAMA DESHITA.