Going through the boxes of mementoes in my closet and the garage, I came across some things from 1990 when Cindy and I were newlyweds and living in Shizuoka Japan.
Here's a picture of where we lived. We lived in the lower left of the map, just to the left of the mountain right on the coast. At the top right, you can see Mt Fuji, which we could see from where we lived.
In one of the boxes, I came a across a talk I wrote for the commencement ceremony for the foreign students at Shizuoka University. It was a very formal affair. I was selected to represent all of the foreign students, and I had to read the speech in front of the University president and other big wigs and somebody from the Ministry of Education (the Japanese government agency that funded our year in Japan). Probably nobody but me will find it interesting but I had fun typing it in and trying to translate it. Translation follows the original.
答辞
夏休みに、日本最高の山であり、日本のシン
ボールでもある富士山に登りました。四時間
以上も苦労して、やっと山頂に到着しました。
とても疲れました。もう二度と登りたくはあ
りません。しかし、ご来光は感動的でした。
日の出は僅か十秒ほどで終ってしまいました
が、ぞれは深い印象を与えました。
静岡大学での留学の体験もあっという間にお
わてしまったように感じます。けれども、振
り返てみますと、一年という短い時間でした
が、すばらしい思い出がたくさん出来ました。
この思い出は私の宝物です。けっして、忘れ
たり、捨てたりはいたしません。
ホラ、外人だ、と小学生にいわれたと、静岡
から見た富士山、留学生のスキー旅行、先生
とのマンツーマンの勉強とお話、千代の富士
と大乃国の引退、唯一人のアメリカ人として
全くわからない和製英語を先生に聞いて笑わ
れた授業、一階の電気屋さんに洗濯の排水を
流してしまった時に笑って済ましてくれたこ
と、鈍行で広島まで行た旅行、妻のシンディ
と浴衣を着て揃って安部川の花火大会に行た
夜、雪がなくて少しい淋しかった静岡の冬、
クイズ番組が多くて面白い日本のテレビ、ド
ラマが馬鹿らしくて日本のつまらないテレビ、
いつもとても親切に助けて下さった教務係の
方々、日本人のやさしい心、相手を考える日
本の習慣と言葉使い、などなどは私の思い出
あります。
こんなにためになる勉強と、経験をさせてい
ただいたことを心より感謝しています。また、
文部省の研修生として勉強できたこと光栄に
思っております。研修生を代表してお礼を申
し上げたいと思います。
わざか一年間だけでしたが、おもいで豊かな
一年だったといえるでしょう。まだまだ未熟
な私たちですが、日本の習慣、日本の文化、
そして日本人の心を少しは理解できるように
なったと思います。そして、自分のことも理
解していただけるようになったと感じます。
帰国しても心は日本に残るでしょう。帰った
らホームシクになるかもしれません。
このすばらしい機会を与えて下さった文部省、
静岡大学ならびに静岡県民、そして日本の皆
様に心から感謝したいと思います。
最後に、皆様の御健勝と、静岡大学の一層の
御発展をお祈りいたします。ありがとうござ
います。
一九九一年九月十七日
ガス・ハート
Formal Reply
During summer break, I climbed Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain and a symbol of Japan
itself. After more than four grueling hours, I finally reached the summit. I was so tired. I don't
ever want to do it again. But the sunrise was impressive; it only lasted about ten secounds, but it
left a deep impression.
My experience as an exchange student at Shizuoka University feels like it lasted just a moment
too. But when I look back, even though the time was so short, I made lots of wondeful
memories. These memories are treasures. I'll never forget them.
Gradeschoolers yelling "Hey, a gaijin!", the view of Mt. Fuji from Shizuoka, the ski
trip with the other exchange students, studying and talking one-on-one with my advisor, the retirement of
Chiyonofuji and Onokuni (famous sumo wrestlers), the class period when everyone laughed at me, the lone
American, because I was completely baffled by their "Made in Japan" English, the time when we flooded
the electronics store below our apartment with our laundry water and the owners just laughed it off,
riding the "slow train" all the way to Hiroshima, getting dressed up in yukata and going with my
wife to the fireworks show at Abegawa, the snowless, and so slightly lonely, winter in Shizuoka,
Japan's interesting television with all kinds of quiz shows, Japan's boring television with
ridiculous dramas, the people in the department office who were always so kind, the kind heart
of the Japanese people---these are my memories.
I am truly grateful that I was given this opportunity for such useful study and experiences. Moreover,
I feel honored to be selected as an exchange student for the Ministry of Education. Let me express
thanks on behalf of all of the exchange students.
It was just one short year, but a year filled with memories. We are still inexperienced, but I think
we have come to understand, at least a little, the customs of Japan, its culture, and the heart of
the Japanese themselves. And, in turn, we too feel that we have been understood.
After we go home, our hearts will still be in Japan. Perhaps we'll feel a little homesick.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Ministry of Education, Shizuoka University, as well as the
citizens of Shizuoka prefecture for providing this wonderful experience.
Finally, I pray for everyone's health and the continued development of Shizuoka University. Thank
You.
Sept. 17, 1991
Gus Hart
