Verity Sarel
If you are reading this and considering whether or not to take part in this programme, I can tell you now that you should; take courage, push yourself and go for it! This programme has given me self-belief, independence and a true passion for travelling. No matter how far you travel, you will always make incredible memories and never regret the life experience!
I was fortunate enough this summer to be able to partake in the Lions Youth Exchange camp in Japan. It was the most incredible country and the lifestyle was truly inspirational.
I spent 3 weeks living with a host family. My host parents were the most welcoming and generous people. When I arrived at Osaka Airport I was slightly nervous to whom would be waiting for me, but, as soon as I spotted the Japanese couple smiling brightly at me and holding a notice with ‘SAREL VERITY’ (in Japanese the family name is written before the first name) I knew I was in safe hands. The kindness of my host family really came to shine when I found out that my luggage had not arrived at the airport. This news caused me to panic slightly, knowing that I had no clean clothes or toiletries with me and that I’d have to wait 2 days for it to be delivered. In response to this, my host parents instantly drove me to a 24hr superstore and bought me PJs, toiletries and everything I needed- they always went the extra mile to make me feel comfortable.
Even though the could not speak English, we managed to communicate through sign language and, of course, Google Translate. They tried very hard to understand me, sometimes it got a little confusing but we always ended up laughing about it!
I visited many places with my hosts including temples, 2 skyscrapers with 360 views of the city, an elementary school and an aquarium. We had a weekend away visiting my host family’s daughter, in the countryside of Kumano, it was so refreshing to be out of the city, rural Japan was so green and crisp. The countryside offered some amazing landscapes, including that of the rice fields, the mountains, valleys and waterfalls, as well as this, I was lucky enough to see the Japanese coast with its rocky terrain and sapphire seas. My favourite sight of the country had to be the 90℃ natural springs in which we boiled eggs. When we arrived at the natural spring we popped into the restaurant in the village and purchased 2 bags of eggs and put them into the boiling spring for 5 mins- the heat was extreme on that day too, 43℃ air temperature. These temperatures were bearable for a short while knowing that you could escape the heat in a nearby air-conditioned building. The cooked eggs were collected and taken back to the restaurant to eat with lunch- delicious!
For a couple of nights, I stayed with another family, they were very welcoming and showed me how to wear a Kimono and write my name in Japanese calligraphy. They were also talented at origami; I folded a paper crane, boat and a parasol with traditional Japanese paper.
Japan impressed me in many ways, however, I do not think there was anything more impressive than the wonderful food. Sushi, sashimi, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, ramen, bento box and tempura were just a small selection of dishes on offer, all of which were full of colour and flavour. I also developed an expensive palate for fish after trying eel, sea urchin, octopus, shrimp, salmon and conger… the list goes on, I will never forget the fresh, delicate tastes of the seafood in Japan, a healthy lifestyle that I now try to and integrate into my own diet at home!
My last 10 days in Japan were the best days of my life so far! It was such a great feeling meeting all the campers because we all had experiences to share, in fact, I learnt so much more about Japan by talking to them. There were 17 international youth campers, they were mainly from Europe but we also had a Taiwanese, Mexican and Canadian; everyone was friendly and there was a great group dynamic!
Our days were full of activities on camp, this included visit to a Konpeito (a Japanese sweet) factory, Zen meditation class in a temple, a ferry ride to a famous shrine in the sea, a day at Universal Studio Japan, staying at a temple ecolodge, a day at the beach, taking part in Tenjin Festival and a Japanese tea ceremony. I would say that Tenjin festival was one of the most breathtaking scenes I have ever seen.
When we arrived at the festival we boarded a huge barge which was lined with tables and chairs and in each place, there was a gift bag containing a Lions Club kimono, our dinner, a fan and many Japanese snacks! After settling into our places we set sail down Yodo River, many floating displays containing Geisha dancers, open fires and tombs of sacred Gods started to cruise into the fiery sunset. The parade had begun! This moment was magical, people waved to us from the bridges and the drums echoed along the water as the city skyline became a silhouette behind us- an image imprinted in my memory forever.
Leaving my friends was the hardest part of the trip, I wish I had more time with these interesting, kind and hilarious people! However, we are still in contact and are already planning to meet in Europe!
I cannot express how thankful and grateful I am to the Lions for such a positive and life-shaping experience! I was amazed at the generosity the Lions showed to me in Japan and I hope future people can appreciate what a truly magnificent organisation this is!
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