Gain New Experiences, Get a New Family

“Not crying because of sadness, but because of tears of happiness.”

Morning in Jakarta a little overcast, lately almost every day rainy. Yes, like myself, I cried this morning. But not crying because of sadness, but because of tears of happiness. I never expected to get this feeling. This message I got from Shiga sensei (my mother in Japan) when I did my internship and homestay program in Kyoto, Japan. A feeling that strengthens me to say on the path of my dreams. How others who even us are not in the same blood, motivate me very well. Accepting me with cultural differences.Allowing foreigners to enter their lives. Shiga sensei teach me that all of us have mistakes and failures in our life. Mistake is not only about bad things. Because of mistakes and correctness can makes us growing in those way.

She was a teacher of elementary school, one of private school in Kyoto. From her I could see how teacher in Japan did their activities everyday. How they are very passionate in their way becoming a teacher. What impressed me was she arranged my Indonesian class in her class. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that because we didn’t have a good time to do that, so I can’t go. But, the last night of my homestay in her house. We did some conversation about teaching. She decided to take a dream about being Japanese teacher for another country especially in Indonesia and she gave me motivation to do the best in Indonesia, so someday I could come back to her house and arrange Indonesian class in her class. Not to forget, we will also go sightseeing to pay back the time that we don’t have before, because of the short time that we had together. I gave my pop up book to her about Indonesia, my handmade hand-doll, and blangkon. I was worried about staying at her house because of our cultural differences and a little time of meeting only at dinner time after she get back from her school. I know very well, she did the best to make me comfortable. Even she only had a short time, she really showed me that she did the best. Because of her, I learnt that direct communication is the best way to understand each other because of different culture that we have. Yes, I did mistakes not only once but more. I made her worried and sad. I was trying to understand but it was failed. Good communication can save you. I still remember, when she drove me to the bus station, we did conversation again about dreams and life lessons. Her life story sounds like a sakura blossom in the winter. My heart was crying. I really thank Harada-san and team to for having me at their house.

Besides, I also had a good time with Shigemura family, Okasan and Otousan colored my heart also my mind about how important to have dinner together, support each other in the family and also have a good time to do hobbies or some vacation together. What I learnt about education was, education is not only about school, get high education until university or others, but the best important point of education is family. Family is how education takes place and it takes me back to my first goal about doing some experiences in my life, I want to do my best in my age now, educate myself first because I have a family that I want to save. I want to be a great friend for my children and a great part for my family.

I do believe it’s not a sayonara, we can surely keep contact each other. I decided to keep this networking for a long time. Indonesia is my house, my land that I want to do the best. However, now I have a family too in Japan, I love them even we were not born in a same land.

Don’t worry much, make a plan, and do it. I have a rich experience because of this program, maybe it’s not just program but it’s how we create a new family and being wise and a learner. What the most important is we understand who we are, we accept, and be ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today I have a strength and love in my heart. I am ready to do more for myself, my dream, and  Indonesia. I love all what happened in my life. God, how lucky I am!


​Dyah Ayu Intan Ratnasari
Peserta GMB Japan Youth Leadership Homestay Program – Japan 2018