Dear Chester Buyagno-san,
We are honoured that you have decided to study here in Japan. We extend our warmest welcome to you and hope you enjoy what Japan has to offer. However, we do ask that you pay attention to some key guidelines as you partake in your studies here.
First, we recommend you pack light. This will lower the overall weight on the plane, therefore less fuel burnt. We have heard you plan to donate the same amount of your current clothes to the clothes you buy here towards the Japan Relief Clothing Centre! Rather than throwing it away to release harmful gases in landfill and wasting resources like water and energy, these clothes will help those affected in the recent Sanriku Earthquake and to disaster survivors worldwide effectively recycling your clothes to those in need.
This is something we appreciate here in Japan, since we really value recycling and the notion of a circular economy. So much so it has become our way of life. Like for example we take our waste with us until we can dispose it at home and separate it from whether it is burnable or not, if it is plastic or glass etc. This is because we burn our waste and convert the thermal energy from burning to powering our energy grid. If you manage your waste like a local Japanese, as one of the leading financial backers of the UN, not only would you be helping keep our streets safe and clean, but you will also be supporting our notion of a circular economy to our UN partners and around the globe.
Our paths, streets and rail conveniently connect our country, and we would appreciate if you stuck to land transportation to limit your carbon footprint. You expressed your love of walks and experiencing nature rather than getting cooped up in big cities, including your plans to tour around less visited nature spots like Mt Rokko and Minoh Falls. Not only will that help support local economies but also help our local biodiversity flourish from stork birds and monkeys to beetles and oniyuris, all which are species we work hard to preserve!
Lastly, we really appreciate you have taken the time to learn more about our language and culture in this summer school. We can tell from your application that you are keen in immersing yourself in our culture with respect and curiosity. For example, despite your limited Japanese and your deep fear of embarrassing yourself, your plans to eat at locally owned restaurants to supporting shops like Ethical & Sea and Green Age means you are supporting the working population of Nishinomiya, a place seldom visited by tourists but also helping to support shops that promote eco-friendly lifestyles and the use of sustainable materials and ingredients. We Japanese fully welcome those who put in the effort to speak our language and engage in our culture with respect and look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely
KGU ~
