Jacob's Story

Jacob Dobbs was a short-term exchange student who spent part of the summer of 2001 in Japan. Jacob was sponsored by the West Jacksonville Rotary Club. Here is his story:

Kishiwada: The experience of a Lifetime

On the afternoon of June 26, I stepped off the plane into a world I’d always wished to come across, the land of the rising sun. The vast land of Japan was a sudden rush of cities, buildings, and experiences I would encounter. As I met my new exchange sister, Erina Mitsuhashi, I became overwhelmed with joy of what events were to come. 

The first days were mainly unpacking and adjusting, which helped me greatly settle in and meet the family. There was Erina (23), her parents, and her 2 brothers Kenta and Kazuma (17 and 21). The first week, well, I’ll just have to say, involved a lot of bowling and sightseeing. After meeting a college student from St. Louis named Justin, I learned a great aspect of Kishiwada (or Japan in that nature) was a cell phone. "You do not actually live in Japan until you get one".  With this, I bought one and it proved to be very useful everywhere I went. Not only could I email family at home, but keep in touch with my mom, who was at that time in Nagano. We visited some of the major castles in that area, like the Kishiwada castle (historic museum) and Osaka-Jo, where I found teenage Americans weren’t very common. An embarrassing moment of children suddenly crowding around me left and right occurred, with tiny little voices echoing down the halls. 

At this time I became more familiar with my family, and a greater bond formed. It seemed we were always joking around. Also, I found my okaasan (host mother) and I had a common interest: hip hop dancing. She took me to her sports club where I breakdanced with a group of people, which drew a crowd. She is always a laugh and so much fun to be with. My otousan (dad) was very humorous and nice, he loves golf, and after a long day it was always a joy to spend time with him. Kazuma was a DJ, which I became fond of, he was recently married to Shinobu, and had a beautiful baby named Yuna (I’m an uncle!). And then there’s Erina, she is the sweetest sister I have ever met, not only because I have an annoying 6-year-old sister, but because she always gave up her time to be with me. I felt so attached to Japan, and the people, I never wanted to leave! 

I was toured through most of Osaka’s best malls, which was an exciting experience. I found out in height I blended in with the crowd compared to the HUGE other Americans I saw. Besides its very hot climate, Osaka was turning out great. I loved the food, the environment, and the culture; it all seemed too much to bear! 

Not only did I spend some time in Osaka, I spent 3 days in Nagano with my mom. She was invited by her previous host family to attend her host father’s funeral, which was very sad…I stayed with her family, and gave my prayers to him. 

Arriving back in Osaka, another looooong night of basketball with Erina and her friends, eating at a restaurant named "Casa", and bowling till 4 in the morning was endured. Fortunately, I was just in time for the presentation of the "Danjiri".  The Danjiri is a big symbol of "good rice harvesting" which is run throughout the town. Kenta, the youngest, has carved Danjiri for Kishiwada with the rest of the team. He also plays flute while it is being pulled. This became very dangerous, for the Danjiri fell quite a few times...

Even though I did not attend a school in my visit, my studies with Erina greatly expanded my knowledge. I learned so much in that month and I am grateful for every second of it. At first, I knew little Japanese, barely enough to get me around. But, in trying to communicate with my host family other than Erina, I was determined to study. Well, the results were enormous. Some other exchange students I met were amazed with how much of the language I learned in the short period of time. I told them I just had the incentive and the ambition to go on. 

The Rotary meetings in Japan were abundant, I attended three meeting and made…well…three speeches. There were many students, and it seemed only the students who lived in Japan for a year or more made their speech in Japanese, and then there was me. I presented my banner, received about a zillion banners back, and went on with the fun stuff. 

Ah yes, the fun stuff, like Universal Studios Japan. I was surprised with how much it resembled Florida’s, but I think the Japanese ET was a pretty big difference. It was funny because in the beginning, you receive a passport with your name on it that you turn in. At the end of the ride, ET farewells in saying "Bai Bai! Erina, Masayuki (her boyfriend)," all these other names, and it seemed to struggle with my name. 

I attended a Hanabi "firework" festival  near the end of my stay, which was another wondrous event. I wore traditional clothes, especially those flat wooden shoes with the two pegs underneath. This was cool, but it seemed I was the only American to do this, which aroused frequent looks of surprise. 

My stay in Japan was the best experience of my life, and I owe it all to the members of the Rotary Club who supported me, and the Mitsuhashi family. It IS a lifetime experience, thank you sooo much for giving me this opportunity, I am looking forward to maybe visiting Japan again, and currently thinking of attending a college there. The memories obtained will never fade away, I will always be very fond of my Japanese host family ... no ... I mean MY FAMILY.    

Jacob Dobbs