An operation called "Mission Speak up!" was faced off at the United Nations University. Anna, the National Leader of Canada and also an Ex-PY, made a good speech about difference in discussion style among countries and mentioned "JPYs (Japanese Participating Youths) do not participate in discussion." referring her last SWY experience. I thought it was a typical stereo-type for Japanese and I didn't like it. I remember that I said "I will change this stereo-type" to Daniel next to me after her speech. Somehow I knew that I could do this and I felt it was my personal responsibility to show we have various people even in Japan.
The task of Mission Speak Up is very simple; Just speak up when you have a good idea, and contribute to discussion. I think that my mission was done successfully, because I spoke up almost all occasions when I had something to convey. For example, I had never sat silent in course discussions having 40 people, free-discussions with 15 and other discussions. Additionally when we exchanged our opinions in letter groups, i.e. evaluation of every port of call, I made known frankly what I had thought of each visit. Furthermore at Morning Assembly I went up to the stage and made speeches at least 10 times in order to complete my volunteer activities and make this once-in-our-life-time journey more valuable.
Of course, those who spoke up were not only me, but some other JPYs. For instance, Tyrano tried to speak up in Course Discussion and Koishi challenged her best in Sexuality Seminar. Ringo did great jobs at PY Seminar and Farewell Party; at the former chance she sounded extremely nervous, but at the latter she filled her duty with confidence.
Some OPYs(Overseas Participating Youths) also helped JPYs participate in discussion. Cara was kind enough to always ask us "Do you understand? Do we speak fast?" Jenny, as well, sometimes asked for our opinions in Course Discussion like "We don't hear from JPYs, does anybody want to say something?"
Despite these efforts, however, I have some complaints about JPYs' few contribution to discussion. I thought that I should do something in order to change the situation. I asked Emo for some advice, because after joining her Facilitation session I thought she had a remedy or two to lighten the problem. We concluded that we ought to raise awareness again. Then at morning assembly I went up to the stage and gave a pep talk to promote JPY's participation, and then put on a flyer on the bulletin board which said that JPYs are encouraged to express their opinions because OPYs expected them and OPYs are supposed to slow down, which would enable JPYs to join discussion.
Sharing the benefit of leading this mission, I will present a couple of advice to future PYs, especially but not limited to JPYs, who are from countries where you are not so encouraged to speak up.
Make maximum use of this right, which we do not so often in Japan because we are not socially encouraged to do so even though we learn this fundamental right in school. In this program the more you speak up, the more you are recognized as a motivated person.
For example;
This is a request from Eric and Evo. Let's assume we are going to a cross-roads. If a signal on each road is blue, cars at each way are entering the junction and would make accidents. A "Yes" means a blue light. Please do not make it blue carelessly, because it will cause accidents. People stop if the signal is red, and they go further if it is blue. Please show your light properly, then everything goes on smoothly.
Do not stop talking until you are convinced. I felt "Silence means agreement." on the ship.
This is a story about Eric and Livia. We did a strip-show at Morning Assembly one day, and we got a complaint about it. Eric had suggested it. Livia was a group leader and a bit upset because she thought we went so far. Each side insisted on one's opinion and never compromised, because each believed s/he was right. At last Livia left saying that she needed time to think. She neither just leave with no words nor go to silence because she was not convinced. I thought it was not bad that each side believes s/he was right and continued to talk until they are settled, rather than going silent which I usually do to keep group atmosphere from collapsing, because that would have more chance to lead a better solution for both sides.
When you open your mind to other cultures, we have many things to talk about, even religious and sexual matters, which we think are taboos and difficult to discuss. It would be an interesting discussion since our ways of thoughts are quite different from culture to culture, and thus there would be lots of gains from discussion. Especially people on the ship are so open-minded that they are the best people to talk about these issues with.
Finally, for Japanese participants of the next and following SWY programs, I would like to ask something. Would somebody continue this mission at SWY19 and following programs? We are here to speak up and exchange opinions, not here to sit quiet and waste their/our time, aren't we? A lot of OPYs would like to know how we Japanese think. Please respond to their expectations and contribute to discussion. It will be also a first-step for JPYs to show more and more leadership in this international society.