I stay with a family in Osaka during the New Year’s holiday for homestay.My host father was Mr.Norimasa Shimomura.It was a week-long stay but I think that I enjoyed the moments with them the most.

I was really happy to be with them as I was able to feel at home back in Tian Jin,China,my hometown.I am an only child in my family,but in this Japanese family,I was the youngest child as Mr.Shimomura has a daughter who is older than me.My　Japanese sister gave me the nick name of “Doraemon”.After the home stay program,I had opportunities to meet with my Japanese family,but I wanted to spend more time with them.Osaka is my second hometown and the Shimomuras are my family in Japan.I hope to continue this relationship with them even after I return to China.

As I mentioned that I am the only child in my family,I have lived with my parents since I was born.Since I have never lived away from my parents,I was very worried.In Japan everything in daily life was a challenge to me,which turned out to be a step to independent living.Shopping,laundry,cleaning,organizing and all these chores were good experience and I was glad to realize my ability to do many things.Thanks to these trainings in daily life in Japan,I have grown a little bit.It also gave me confidence in work,study and life after I return home.

Acquisition of a good command of Japanese is a big hurdle you need to overcome if you are to participate in the training in Japan.I have studied Japanese very hard during a three month intensive period.Unfortunately,because my memory is not good nor for other reasons,my Japanese did not improve as much as I had expected.So,I have tried many different methods.The most difficult part of learning Japanese is reading the Chinese characters.I hit upon the idea of remembering reading Kanji charactoers by remembering names of stations and places.While I enjoyed reading the names,I was able to learn how to read many Kanji characters.And the knowledge of stations and places helped me when I went out.

I have studied education systems for the Japanese schools for people with visual impairment at “Nagasaki prefectural school for visually challenged” and “Tsukuba University attached school.”In Nagasaki,I attended one of the classes and learned guidance of “individual Education for Visually Challenged Children”,how to operate out-patient clinic and how to keep medical records at hospital.Among those classes I audited,a class of Physics for the students at general faculty of high school was the most interesting.

Compared to China,the education system for universities in Japan is more advanced.Also,individual counseling is conducted at compulsory education in Japan,which system I want to introduce to the Chinese education system.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the three weeks I spent with teachers and other students at the dormitory of Nagasaki School for the Blind.Because I had a great fun there,I was very sad when I left there for Tokyo.In the last day of the stay,Chinese cuisine was served for dinner.The dishes were my favorite but I could not eat much as I was overwhelmed with the sadness to leave the place the next day.Usually,everyone talked a lot during meals,but that night no one talked and it was a very quiet night.At making a roll call before going to bed,I made a good –by speech.When I arrived there a month ago,I said, “How do you do,everyone!” and that night,I said “Good by!” I experienced completely opposite feelings during my stay there.

During the training,I made a lot of Japanese friends everywhere.I found the human network is very important,as we need someone’s assistance in our activities.I want to treasure the friendships I establised during the training period.

In China,there are only few books in Braille and audio books.Computer education programs and networks for visually challenged are not sufficient.As such,I set my goal of the training to acquire these in Japan.I had the training for publishing books in Braille at Ounkai.There,I have studied printing,editing,plate making,and computer skills including Word and Excel software as well as the basic operation of the Network Screen Reader.At Ounkai,I had an opportunity to work with staff at the publishing department.I felt as if I were a business person,which I think is a precious experience for me.

At the information and Culture Center for the Blind(ICCB) at Nippon Lighthouse Welfare Center for the Blind and JSRPD,I studied publishing digital recording books.Now,I am pleased that I can do recording with DAISY and data editing by myself.

I had always been interested in swimming and I was able to make my dream come true in Japan.After a three-month training,I became able to swim a little.Unfortunately,during the past six month since then,I had no opportunity to swim.I may not be able to swim now but would like to start practicing again when I have a chance.I went to skiing at the end of the year.As I had not done much exercise,I was little bit worried.I fell over many times but thanks to the trainer’s instruction,I was able to gradually improve myself.I want to go skiing if there is a chance.

During my stay in Japan,I developed an interest in vehicles.I like all kinds of vehicles.Since I especially became a big fan of route buses and railroads,I went out almost everyday to ride them.

Whenever I ride trains,I always got on the first car,and for bus,the back of the driver was my seat.I tried to remember many different kinds of trains but I also memorized all in-train annoucements at almost all lines.Riding the train is not only fun,but also a good opportunity to experience barrier free facilities.I hope this experience will be useful in my effort to make Tian Jin an internationalized city.

Ms.Yoko Aoki,my Japanese teacher in China is also auditorily challenged.She established a Japanese language school for those with hearing impairment in Tian Jin city and teaches Japanese to them free of charge.I am inspired by Ms.Aoki’s way of thinking which is very international.After I return,I would like to continue my studies of clinical and oriental medicine in collaborating with Ms.Aoki and work for people not only in China but also in other Asian nations.

I am going home soon.The days in Japan seem very short.I am very sad to leave.In closing my report,I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the friends I made in Japan,people at the Duskin AINOWA Foundation,JSRPD and the training facilities.Thank you very much for your assintance and kindness!My Japanese family in Osaka,please remember me.Please do not forget your little brother,my Japanese sister.I will continue to work hard to reciprocate the love and caring spirit that was given to me from everyone I met in Japan.