1/16/2012

My Dream of Barrier-free Travel

Sonya with a stone lantern
Sonya's comfortable saloon
Special Drive
On a free day after the Honolulu Marathon, Rieko and I decided to go to the Hawaiian Jewelry Studio to make a silver ring. At first we couldn't find out which studio gives a private lesson for a hand-made silver ring, and my dear friend Sonya kindly searched for the information on the website. Sonya is running a travel agency with her husband, and she often takes tour groups from Hawaii to Japan. I met her in 2010 and guided them around Japan for nearly two weeks as a tour guide. Since then, she has been very kind to me, telling a lot of travellers' taste and preference. I have learned a lot from her.

How kind of her to come to our hotel by car to pick us up! On the way to the studio she showed us around the area which is not included in the ordinary tour route. We passed in front of the house where President Obama was born and raised, and the Elementary School where he attended. That area was full of churches, schools and the facilities for the elderly, and physically and mentally handicapped people. All of these buildings are surrounded by greeneries and the atmosphere looked calm, tranquil and peaceful.

Our group members who took part in the Marathon, especially the three mothers of autistic sons and daughter (they are already over 25 years old) say how they wish to visit the facilities and make a friendly exchange with the persons who have the same handicap as their children do. I knew they really wished to do this since 2010, so I asked Sonya if it's possible to realize their wish. Smiling back, Sonya told me that she often visits these facilities as a volunteer. How lucky I am to have this friend! She says if they really want to visit, she can arrange for a visit. Oh, I am looking forward to realizing their dream, participating not only in the marathon, but also in the friendly exchange with Hawaiian citizens with the same kind of handicap. Barrier-free communication beyond the border of countries may be realized!

While we were talking, we arrived at Sonya's house. It is located in a quiet residential area. I found an elegant building with a nice garden. The size of her house is by far bigger than our ordinary Japanese houses. I pushed Rieko on a wheelchair into the house. She has a nice big kitchen and a comfortable-looking saloon. Japanese taste could be found here and there, such as a scroll of calligraphy or a stone lantern. I felt that though they live in the way of the Hawaiians and speak in English, they have the same blood of ours. I felt much closer to her. The climate of Hawaii is so mild and this residential area looks so comfortable that I really wished I could have a chance to live in Hawaii for some time.


Hand-made Hawaiian Jewelry
Leaving Sonya's nice house, she again took us to the studio for our private lesson to make a ring. The owner and instructor was a beautiful Korean lady. Both Rieko and I are complete beginners of making a ring, so we didn't know how to use the tools, such as a fret saw to cut a piece of silver sheet, a hammer to strike or a gas burner to weld. The instructor was very patient and kind to our odd way, and after two hours we successfully finished our silver rings. Another lady, who was a little more patient, Sonya, waited for us, watching us and sometimes taking our pictures.


My Dream
When we left the studio, it had already gotten dark. Sonya kindly sent us back again to the hotel by car. On the way back, I could talk a lot of my dream of receiving foreign guests with disabilities to Japan and giving many chances to let them see the beautiful nature of Japan, And to let them know our culture and way of living, and have nice friendly exchanges with Japanese people with disabilities.

Rieko and I could enjoy a non-touristic half day tour in Hawaii, thanks to Sonya. Sonya, I don't know how much I could thank you for your kindness! I'll never forget!

The instructor (left) and Rieko (right)

Wearing a finished silver ring


It's so nice to be able to see a place from the eyes of a local person. Both you and Sonya are kind hearted people who think so much of others. It's wonderful to have people like you in this world. I think you wrote this very well and had very few errors. Thank you for writing and I look forward to seeing more of your work and efforts. We have a saying, "Pay it forward!" which I feel some what applies here. When someone does something nice and altruistic for you (as Sonya did), with no expectation of return, you instead pay the goodness forward on to someone else. I think you both have this wonderful mentality and make the world that surrounds you a much better place. :)

Take care!

Sarah  (sarah)


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