I met other trainees from various countries in Asia and Pacific for first time especially opposite with my disability. At first, I didn’t know how to communicate with blind people. One day Bee found out a way to solve our communication problem. We use messenger to chat each other. I started understand that there is barrier free for us if we have to work hard. (My family and friends would not believe that I can talk with blind people!!) Mary and I became good friend. We always eat, play and sleep together everyday. Mary helps me to listen while I help her to walk. One word said Mary is my ear while I’m Mary’s leg. Our individual training gave us a chance to stay together in one apartment. We able to learn our disability and cultures deeply. Not that only, I befriend with Mong because we are from same group. Mong’s local sign language was different with my sign language. But we able to communicate by using body language. Now we two are using JSL to communicate each other. Each of 10 trainees have their skills to help each other. We have good and bad memories together.

The Japanese language and Japanese Sign Language (JSL) courses took 3 months. I have good teachers and make sure that I understand everything they taught. I felt glad to have them as my teachers. But I was still not good at Japanese language and JSL skills. Sometimes I confused when I read or sign in Japanese. On October 2002, I opportunity to meet senior trainees. It was really enjoyable and took time to talk many topics. They (senior) gave many advices and guides to me. Raphael, Lokesh, Amaraa, Mong and I decided to establish our Deaf DUSKIN Trainee Sectors to collect information and build a better Asia and Pacific deaf world. After completed the course, I went to Niigaya to ski for 3 days. Skiing was my first experience. My fellow trainees and I were excited to ski because the most of us never ski and our countries do not have winter either snow especially tropical countries like my country. I learnt that special skiing equipment for visually and physically handicapped available and not stop them to ski.

After that, I went to Fukuoka to home stay with Takada family. Yoshimi and her father only two deaf members in family while his brother was hard of hearing. They were very kind and cheerful. We did mochitsuki (rice cake making). Mochitsuki making was really funny actually my body got aches caused skied. I ate about 25 mochi, rice cake for a day! Yoshimi and her friends took me to visit many places includes Nagasaki and Kumamoto. These places that I visited were beautiful and interesting. Then father and brother brought me to hills to pick some oranges at orange farm. I was happy and enjoyed the stay. I had a good day with them. I really miss and love them.

I want to work with deaf people to improve their community to a better community and world for Deaf Malaysian. So I made decision to learn about Japanese Deaf and their lifestyle and social rehabilitation in Japan. The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) was my first training. I learnt about the JFD’s establishment and management. The JFD is a national organization of Deaf with 47 member associations of the Deaf. Its conducts various projects to improve the welfare and social status of the Deaf and to enhance the public awareness on Deaf issues. After that, I went to Chiba Deaf Center for one week. At there I learnt about the way of its management and interpreter service. At same time, I gave 3 lectures on Malaysian Cultures, Deaf Malaysian Cultures and Deaf Malaysian Women Working. It was good thing to exchange with others to know each others. During I was in Tokyo, I did research on Deaf Japanese Employment. I went to 6 compancies to observe deaf working in different categories with Mr. Nozawa’s help. This observation gave me many ideas to me. I was very thankful to him.

I received training at Japanese American Sign Language Signers’ Society (JASS) in Iidabashi, Tokyo for 2 months. The good things were I have my past experience being as program co-ordinatoor for deaf and know American Sign Language (ASL). JASS provides ASL classes and various activities. In JASS, I opportunity to learn its establishment and management, program planning and class observation. Not that only, I met instructors and students to exchange their experiences also. I given the responsibility to plan and organize two activities, ‘Tea Party with Jessica’ and ‘Sakura Hanami (Cherry Blossoms Viewing) Picnic’. These activities were successful with the guidance from Kumiko Takakusa-san and Seiko Oomori-san. From these activities, I learnt many things include the positive and negative things.

My last training was in Yamanashi, started from April 20 till June 8th. I never attend the national congress of the deaf before this. Fortunately, the 51st National Congress of the Deaf to be held in Yamanashi. I joined to be an organizing committee member of the 51st National Congress of the Deaf. I learnt the organizing of congress and had own responsibility to make this congress successful. Everybody at committee members treated me as a part of them not as a guest. I was happy and able to exchange ideas to make the better congress together. I found out that there was no foreigner to take responsibilities as a committee member in national congress since 50 years. But this congress was completed with successful till I cried many times of my heart touched. My diligence for this congress was unforgetable. In Malaysia, there is no national congress of the deaf. Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) is young and still under development. MFD has 9 member associations of the Deaf only as Malaysia has 14 states. So when the national congress of the deaf will be held after the other 5 member associations to be founded. I will use my experience and knowledge that I learnt from my training to make the national congress with achievement.

Japanese lifestyle and culture are different with Malaysia cultures. My first experience when I came to Japan was toilet. I faced problem to find flush toilet location. Some of Japanese toilets don’t have flush toilets and the bakyumu-ka (honey wagon) is not an unfamiliar sight (or smell). Japan is full of drinking places – nomiya. The popular of alcohol are sake, shochu, beer and whisky. I thought Japanese eat raw fish only. When I arrive Japan, I found out that they not only eat raw fish but other meats such as basashi (horse raw meat). I don’t like toru (fatty flesh of tuna) actually it was very expensive. Actually, Japan is a beautiful country with 4 seasons especially in spring season. Sakura (cherry blossom) at everywhere on spring season. It was very beautiful and good for picnic. Accessibility services and barrier free for PWDs in Japan are better and advance than Malaysia. High-tech in Japan are wonderful and attractive.

In Deaf Japanese cultures are very interesting. Mimi Day is a celebration for Deaf Japanese in Japan only. This celebration have very meaningful. Mimi Day celebrate on March 3rd every years. Mimi in Japanese language means ear related to deafness and number 3 from the date in japanese character sounds mi. It’s really unique thing and fit. One of cultures is they keep nod the head during talking with others (by sign language). In Japan, they have to wear hearing aids during they drive based the Traffic Law actually they no need to wear it. For Deaf Malaysian, they have their rights to wear hearing aids to drive or not. The deaf education system in Japan is different with my country. From kindergarden, pupils not allowed to use sign language till junior high school but use oral method. Many of teachers don’t know sign language. I think sign language should be main language for deaf especially in school. Deaf people cannot live without sign language! That’s why Deaf Japanese have their eagerness to active in Deaf movement especially human rights and sign language relating to deafness.

My heart was touched by met deaf elderly at Fukuoka Deaf Elderly Home during my visit. I started find out that there is no elderly home for deaf in Malaysia. Elderly home for deaf is a very important for deaf elderly to have a happy life. It made me to view Deaf Malaysian’s future and myself. It caused my dream to make project on build elderly home for deaf when I return home. During my training, I met many deaf people and participated in different activities relating to deafness lead to my spirit to help deaf community for my lifetime. I have gained in self-confidence and leadership skills.

The moments in Japan are my previous memories. There were many problems such as Sars happened in my country that I had experienced but its not stop my heart to learn here. My family and friends in Malaysia encouraged me everyday. I’m here with successfully because of their confidence to me. Thank you to my family who I’m unable to meet for 1 years. I would like to thank to Osugi-san, Executive Director of Headquarter, JFD to take care of my individual training. I had learnt many things and gained my spirit. I would never forget JSRPD coordinators who always together and give advice during I was in Japan. I am grateful to DUSKIN Ainowa Foundation for giving person with disabilities in Asia and Pacific this invaluable experiences. Dear my friends whom I play, fight and work together, I want to thank you very much. I love you all and Japan. Now I will go to back my country that I belong with rich experiences and full confidence to improve deaf community. I want to share my experience and memories with Malaysian.