I knew this significant Ando Program since last year, my senior, Zone attended this program and he told me that this is a very great training program and he learned a lot. Since that, I was eager to attend and finally I got the chance which given from my professor and joined this year. Before I came to Osaka, I was very nervous because I was afraid that I can’t do a good job as Zone did. Besides, I was not sure that whether I can accustom to the life in Japan or not as this will be a long time stay for 30 days. Although I had been to Japan for several times with my professor, but there is no chance for me to travel because every time is for business meeting and conference. So actually I didn’t know much about Japanese culture and life style. However, after one month stayed, I can say that I really had a very good time and I also learned a lot as my senior told me. It was a precious experience that I had the chance to work in the host company and stayed with the Japanese home stay.
For the host company, I was very lucky to join Obayashi Corporation. The people in Obayashi are very kind and helpful. Although they are very busy and tired with their work everyday, they still willing to spend more time with us, guiding us to visit Ando san’s buildings, helping us when we had problem, and searching architectures information for us. Actually, I deeply appreciated that Obayashi Corporation arranged a very conscientious and systematic training program for us; they divided the training into three sessions: Design Session, Civil Engineering Session and Architectural Session. In Design Session, we had to do a housing design project within a week, which was a very challenge experience for me. Everyday we had to do discussion with them, and actually I learned a lot at that moment. We exchanged our ideas; it let me know more about the Japan architectures, and also difference design thinking between difference countries: Japanese architects and three of us who come from Malaysia/Taiwan, India and Thailand. And I was very grateful that many Obayashi staffs joined our design final presentation, they gave us professional comments and they also very happy to see our works. Further, in Civil Engineering Session and Architectural Session, we visited many under construction sites and I’m very impressed by the construction method, especially the pre-cast system in constructing a high-rise building. It is a mature and advance technique that can improve the quality of architecture and reduce the cost. It shows the attitude of conscientious of Japanese people. In addition to knowing the architectures, construction method, I knew more deeply about the life style of architects in Japan, they are very diligent, attentive, and allegiance to their works; and they are very kind and helpful to people. It makes me respect and like them so much! Before I thought that Japanese people must be very strict but now I totally change my thought, they actually are very friendly and nice.
For my home stay, I had a special situation different from the other trainees. How lucky I am! I had a chance to stay with two host families. It was because that my original host family, Kitae san, all members in his family got flu, and unfortunately I can’t stay with them in the scheduled time. Therefore, I was arranged to go to another host family, Mori san. They are very professional host family; they had been received more than 300 oversea students since 15 years ago. It was touching me when the first day we met and Mori san wanted us to call them “Otosan, Okaasan”. They took us to Himeji Castle and Okaasan explained every detail about the traps design in the castle with her vividly expression. Okaasan also let us put on the Japan costume, Kimono and Yukata, and she cooked delicious Indian food for us. I experienced a very traditional Japanese life and I’m happy to have a father and mother in Japan. Moreover, I was so impressed with my original host family, Kitae san too. They received me the next weekend after they all recovered. I felt myself was in my hometown, Malaysia, when I stayed with them. Actually, they had been lived in Malaysia for three years and they love Malaysia. I can find many Malaysia things include the furniture in their house. Mrs Kitae can cook very tasty Malaysian food, and also home-made takoyaki, cake and bread, I like all the food she prepared for me. I love their two very cute sons and a lovely dog. We also went to famous Mountain Minoo and I felt that I became one of the members of their family.
As we are architecture students, we visited a lot of architectures everyday. Besides from the new architectures and Ando’s buildings, I had visited to many Japanese old temples and shrines through the activities which carried by OFIX and guided by Mr. Gunter Nitschke too. It was a great historical trip when we visited to the ancient city Kyoto. In my impression, all the existing traditional and old wooden architectures implied the good attitude of Japanese people in preserving their historical building. I deeply admired Japanese people for their respect to their own history and tradition. Furthermore, I knew about the Japanese Garden after the lecture given by Mr. Gunter. I can feel the Japanese attitude such as attentiveness, elaboration and calm when I experienced the space of Japanese garden.
In addition to the buildings visit, we also had interchange with Kobe Design University. Although I can’t understand when the student present their design works in Japanese language, but I can figure out what they are done through the wonderful models they made. Their works were very interesting. I like this school because of their diverseness and the complete equipment for every design laboratory. Every student from different design department can share their laboratory and exchange difference design ideas. Their diverseness can make the design more interesting. A part from the interchange with the design school, we also had a chance to meet Osaka Prefectural Government, and expressed our gratitude to them. Actually the most expected visit for all of us was Ando san’s office. Unfortunately we can’t meet him in the scheduled time, everyone had a little disappointed but we were very grateful that Ando san gave us a big book and he still spent his time to sign for everyone. We knew that he was also look forward to meet us but he was too busy. Although we can’t meet Ando san, we still had a good time in visiting his office. I had been to his office two years ago with my professor, but this time I knew more detail about his office situation, I’m so impressed by his attentively take care of the fresh designer in his office, he intended to design the space which can give the opportunity to them to learned more. He always gives a good chance of learning to the young designers.Within these 30 days, I met almost 50 people in Japan. It was a very unforgettable experience for me, especially among the 12 trainees; we come from 9 different countries. We helped each other, making jokes, and many funny things happened everyday. Everyone has their own unique attitude because of the different cultures. Actually, I had a bad luck in the beginning that I broke one thing a day, my laptop was broken in the first day I reached Osaka and my digital camera, and rainbow card also broke. Anyway, I managed to solve the entire problem and everything turned into good because I have many helpful friends there. They always gave me advice and help me, especially Brinda and Wanat who companied me in most of the time. Our friendship will keep forever and never end. I wish all of us will meet again in anywhere in the near future. In this training program, I learned many things which I didn’t familiar before including the Japanese architectures, construction technology and materials, Japanese Garden, Japanese traditional culture, Japanese life style and also fond of Japanese friendly people and tasty food. I’m sure that all the experiences I gained from this program will be very helpful in my future life. I will go to Osaka again and again to meet all the friends. Lastly I want to express my gratitude to OFIX staffs that work hard in organizing this program, and also thank to the Osaka Prefectural Government, host company, host family, Ando office staffs and Kobe Design University.
I also want to thank my professor, Aleppo for giving me this precious chance. Thank you!
