I arrived in Japan, the country I knew nothing about, traveling from my home country, Papua New Guinea. What is Japan like? Who live there? How do they live? – I knew nothing. After arriving in Japan, my eyes got so much larger – why? The answer is that I was constantly stunned. Japan and Papua New Guinea are completely different. Japan has large cities and there are many different types of food. Japanese people are also kind and friendly. Disabled people in Japan are fun, kind, strong, and energetic. I became friends with everyone. I lived people with disabilities and engaged myself in many activities with them. And that made me stronger and energetic, too.

Before coming to Japan, I had always bad thoughts. I was constantly sad. Whenever I went outdoors, I wished I was invisible to everyone, because I was afraid of discrimination. I did not like people with disabilities, either. I thought that if I walked with them, I would get discriminated against by people without disabilities. Therefore I used to think that it was best for me to stay with my family.

During the 10 months of training in Japan, I had many new experiences.

• The Japanese language was new to me, so it was fun for me to study. I studied very hard, but I did not manage to pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. I was terribly embarrassed, but did not give up learning Japanese. Whenever I came across a new word during the training, I always made sure to write it down, and later looked it up on the Internet. By doing this, I began to understand Japanese gradually and was finally able to speak it.
• I had never skied before so I fell over many times, but I gradually got better. I love snow. I would like to go skiing again.
• I stayed at the home of four families in Okinawa. The names of the host families are: the Tairas, the Miyagis, the Kinjyos and the Nakamoris. They welcomed me and treated me with the best possible hospitality. They also showed me many beautiful places. I also celebrated the New Year with them. The times I spent with my host families were most wonderful.
• In Japan, people with all types of disabilities are actively engaged in sport. In my country. there are still no opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport activities.　The first sport event I participated in Japan was a team marathon called Pipo Universal Ekiden. At Nagoya City Handy Marathon, I raced in a wheelchair. I was delighted to rank the 6th. I also found skiing extremely interesting. It was the first time I had seen snow, which was just wonderful. I skied many times, and also enjoyed snowball fights with my fellow trainees and skiing instructors. At Tokyo Sport Competition for People with Disabilities，I enjoyed javelin and soft ball throws and got gold medals in both.

Before coming to Japan, I thought that the training would be all about sitting in a lecture room and listening to a lecturer. Contrary to my belief, the training involved visits to many places and seeing the lives of people with disabilities. I saw people with severe disabilities making handbags, or toy bullet trains. They were also baking bread or cooking fried noodles. It was amazing, and I joined in. I felt very happy and satisfied, sharing and experiencing their activities.

I often went out with people with disabilities, enjoying shopping, going to restaurants, and public baths. I did everything with them, and it was great fun. I had never had such experiences in Papua New Guinea.

I attended training courses in many different places, but the longest training course was that of Independent Living “MUCHU” Center. At MUCHU, there were people with severe disabilities engaged in many activities. It was an uplifting experience, and it also deeply touched me. 　They were very active, and living with a strong will. I participated in many activities and they taught me so many things.

Japan is such a lovely country. The sky scrapers, fast bullet trains, convenient metro, large cities.. everything is wonderful. Life in Japan is also very convenient. But what surprised me most, and what I　found most wonderful, was the Japanese people with disabilities. They are totally different from people with disabilities in Papua New Guinea. My perception towards people with disabilities completely changed. This was such a breakthrough.

If I were to use a metaphor, the training in Japan was like climbing a mountain. Before coming to Japan, I was at the foot of a mountain and was unable to climb. After arriving in Japan, I started climbing. On the way up, it was a wonderful path, seeing beautiful birds fly, or feeling a cool breeze, or drinking cold water. I felt a lot lighter and more hopeful. I wanted to climb higher, and get to higher places. One day, I would like to reach the summit of Mt. Fuji. It will probably come with many obstacles. So I will ask others for help, and keep climbing.

The 10-month training in the new world has ended. I had many new and interesting experiences. The most important training for me was that of independent living. I have now become more fun, kinder, and stronger. I also have hopes. My goal is to establish an independent living center in Papua New Guinea. I would first like to hold a lecture or a seminar, and raise awareness for people with disabilities, including awareness about advocacy. I would like to empower people with disabilities. In future, I would like to turn Papua New Guinea into a country with no barriers or discriminations. I will look towards a society where people with disabilities can participate in all kinds of activities, and children with disabilities can receive inclusive education. I will work to the best of my abilities from now on. I cannot do this on my own though, so please can I ask for your kind support. Then, my dream will come true—the dream of reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji.

Firstly, I would like to thank and express my cordial appreciation to Duskin Ainowa Foundation for recognizing me as one of the potential leaders. Indeed it has been my pleasure to honor your recognition. Second, my gratitude goes to Ainowa’s Mr. Taniai. Third, my distinctive gratitude goes to the JSRPD staff and my special thanks to Masakosan, Nasusan, Akikosan, Chibasan, and Kanasan. Without you, I would not have been able to come this far. Also I would like to acknowledge my home-stay families in Okinawa, and Mr. & Mrs. Higuchi in Kochi Prefecture. Thank you also, my skiing senseis (teachers), and everyone at Mainstream, Partner, Movement, DPI, and Human Care. Lastly, thank you Muchu Centre, you are in my heart; because of you I know now who I am. I gained a lot from you, my love to you Mr. Hirashita and all of you at Muchu. Thank you all for your support and I wish you all best.