After almost five months of exploring Asia, I decided to take a break and immerse myself in Kyoto for a month. My mission was to dive deep into Japanese culture by volunteering at a kindergarten and a cat café. Living with rescued cats and spending most of my days with children aged 1 to 5, especially those with autism, turned out to be a transformative experience.
But it wasn’t without its challenges:
The volunteer house was plagued by insects, and it seemed like they had a special affection for me. For a few days, I was covered in very itchy bites and considered quitting the project. Miraculously, the insects eased off, and I could focus on my work again.
Communication was a constant struggle. Only a few teachers knew a bit of English, everything else was in Japanese. I had to rely on guesswork and a slow Google Translate to understand what was happening.
Navigating Kyoto’s unique and intricate culture was unlike anything I had ever experienced. For the first time since I started my journey, I missed my life in Germany and sometimes even my job.
Despite being often unsure about my contribution given the lack of communication, it seems I did have an impact. I felt as teachers and children around me were becoming kinder to me with each passing day. When I realised that they even organized a lovely farewell presentation for my last day I could not believe my eyes. The principle of the school asked me to stay longer or to come back at some point of my life. This warm reactions came as such a big surprise that I could not help but crying like a child again.
Here’s what I believe helped me succeed in such a complex environment:
Stay authentic and true to yourself. If you feel doing something (like singing a childhood song) do it, even if others might not understand it. The children's curious faces when I sang these songs are memories I’ll cherish forever. My language barrier turned into an opportunity to connect with them on a deeper level.
To truly appreciate new experiences, like immersing in a completely different culture, you must suspend your usual way of thinking. Usually we don´t see things as they are but as we are. Observing without judging is key.
Patience with children and people pays off. Giving them time to open up can lead to surprisingly rewarding connections.
Our upbringing definitely have an impact on how we relate to others, especially those that look different from us.
Around the age of three, cultural behaviors start overshadowing spontaneity.
Children with autism spectrum disorder offer unique perspectives. One of them, for instance, loved staying upside down to watch the world. By doing so he looked like the happiest child on earth. I personally learned a lot from them, and the joy from truly connecting with them was unparalleled. I might write a dedicated post about it at some point.
What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Abandon any assumptions and live in the here and now.
Our instinctive reactions to pain or frustration (like scratching an itch or running away) often make things worse.
By controlling our minds, we can adopt more effective behaviors that promote togetherness and healing.
Embracing the impermanence of everything, including pain, makes it more bearable.
A joyful song can lift any bad mood if you dare to sing it out loud for long enough.
I wish we could all reclaim the spontaneity we had as children. Life would be simpler and more joyful, with no cultural or language barriers, just pure amazement and curiosity.
And you? What would you like to reclaim from your childhood?
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