Marie Gregory, Contributor

Takako (right) and Dashoniel of the Jamaica Christian Boys' Home share a hug. - Contributed

Takako Nakamura said Sayonara to Jamaica last month after a two-year sojourn. She returned to her home in Okinawa, Japan, where the special word of greeting is 'Mensorey', the equivalent of the Hawaiian 'Aloha'.

The change will not be too dramatic. The Okinawa islands are very similar to Jamaica in climate, flora, beaches and coral reefs. Though much smaller than Jamaica and, in fact, is a string of islands the largest of which gives its name to the group, the population is around 1.3 million people. An American base and a thriving tourism industry swell the numbers greatly.

Pictures of Okinawa could could be taken for Jamaica. The white sand beaches, undersea coral reefs, palm trees, flowers, especially orchids, could be mistaken for Ocho Rios or Negril.

Laid-back lifestyle

The islands are part of Japan, but a long way, more than two thousand kilometres, from Tokyo. The distance allows for a separate culture, food and even language usage. The lifestyle in Okinawa is laid back, time is not tyrannically observed. When Takako went to university near Tokyo she had a shock, life seemed so hectic. When she arrived in Jamaica, she felt very much at home!

Immediately as Takako graduated from university, she became a Japanese volunteer. She was assigned to the Ministry of Education in Kingston, as part of a health promotion response team dealing with HIV/AIDS guidance and counselling.

She helped in the dissemination of information about HIV/AIDS assisting at workshops in schools for students, teachers, principals, guidance counsellors, school nurses and PTA representatives. She often had to talk to children about her work and about Japanese culture.

Schools different

The schools were very different from those in Japan. Many primary schools she visited in Jamaica had around 60 students in a class. This is twice the number found in a Japanese school. Yet, the Jamaican students were very attentive, curious and energetic which would not be the case in Japan! The newly-arrived Takako found the language difficult to understand but the students were helpful and she soon learned.

One of the greatest pleasures of Takako's two years in Jamaica was her voluntary work at The Jamaica Christian Boy's Home on Oxford Road, Kingston. This was nothing to do with her official job. She often passed the home in the bus and was curious about it, so one day went in to see what was happening.

Thus began one of the most rewarding aspects of her time here. She was able to help the boys with their homework two or three times a week and made firm friends there.

Always at ease

As she travelled around Jamaica linking up with Japanese volunteers in Montego Bay, Port Antonio and other places, she found Jamaican people unfailingly friendly and helpful. The overcrowded minibuses were a challenge, but she was always at ease in the country bus stations where people hepled her to find the right connection. She does not think Japanese people would be so helpful.

Portland and Negril were favourite parts of the island, ackee and salt fish as well as patties and jerked chicken her favourite foods, but she never developed a taste for rice and peas! She learned to prepare ackee and salt fish herself as well as dumplings and returned to Japan well armed with Blue Mountain coffee (highly expensive there) as well as jerk seasoning and hot pepper sauce.

The food in Okinawa is different even from that associated with Japan in general. Residents of Okinawa have a long life span attributed in part to the particular sea weed that forms part of their diet. They use a lot of pork and many vegetables.

Grateful

Takako is greatful for the opportunity she had to live in another country. It gave her another perspective on life. It was far away from home, different, but with sufficient similarities.

Her parents had not wanted her to go so far. They, along with her grandparents, older brother and younger sister were concerned about her. The weekly phonecalls were reassuring and, now that the time has come to an end, they are proud of her. She hopes to revisit Jamaica perhaps two years from now and to bring her mother with her.

As she looks back over the two-year stay, Takako has mixed feelings. She enjoyed the time but thinks perhaps she could have done more. The experience will be a good foundation for her future career as she plans to do primary school teaching in Okinawa.

She is aware of social problems there too as, in her rural part of the island, children are often left with grandparents while parents go off to seek better opportunities. She would like to be able to help such children, building on skills developed in Jamaica.

The return journey to Japan took Takako to Cuba for a brief visit then it was on to Tokyo via Mexico.