Exchange Student Program The Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement
with 96 universities in the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into this agreement with the Soka University in 1988, and De La Sale in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are dispatched.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in
Asia, many Soka University students came here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is launched in Kalayan
College where Dr. Abueva, a friend of President Ikeda, serves as principal.
File 017: December 2007
Eriko Mori
(De La Salle University)
Hello! I am Eriko Mori, 4th year student majoring in English Literature
at Soka University.
Since May 2007, I have been studying at De La Salle University in the Philippines
as an exchange student, and taking up a course on literature.
Unexpected result of the interview
with my friends
“Eriko Mori— De La Salle University, the Philippines” – When I first saw
this posted on the bulletin board, I was honestly speechless for I had
been expecting to go to another country as an exchange student. I cried
again and again, and kept on thinking why I was chosen to go to the Philippines.
The country was totally new to me at that time, and I didn’t even imagine
what the people there was like.
Then one day, my mother with full conviction, told me: “You have your own mission in the Philippines; that is why you were chosen as an exchange student there. You should shoulder the realization of peace in South East Asia.” The words were exactly what I wanted to hear and what I was looking for. These words gradually opened my eyes and gave me a reason to come to the Philippines: for me to find my own mission.
My Life in the Philippines
with my Filipino friends
with my friend in Banaue
Granted that I had the conviction in coming over here, my life in the Philippines
was harder than I expected it to be. This is because it was my first time
to leave my family for a long time. I felt lonely practically every day
at the beginning of my life here and I thought ten months was endless.
As such, the beginning of living my life here was full of tears.
Studying here also made my life so difficult. I took advanced classes in Soka University, but I realized it was not enough here. Also, I was tortured by a sense of inferiority. Moreover, I had difficulties in joining the class’ frank conversation because of the frequent use of Tagalog. My frustrations was that, “I can attend the class, but I cannot participate in their activities and the discussions with my classmates.” The loneliness and the inferiority complex were the main “walls” that I had to overcome.
I chanted daimoku very hard, and read Sensei’s speeches many times over to overcome the loneliness and hardship that I felt. “Why did I come here?” “Why did I have to get separated from my family and study alone here?” “Why doesn’t my situation change for the better?” So many questions like these often came up to me and tortured me while I was chanting; although I inherently know that there’s a purpose for my being here, thinking over these questions deeply and finding the answers was also a way for me to find my mission.
To overcome my walls, I started to take some actions through the wisdom I derive from chanting daimoku: I made friends step by step and opened my mind to them little by little; I kept on studying hard and tried to understand things well, and tried not to give up along the way. Gradually, my loneliness changed into my power to take the initiative, and my sense of inferiority gave me a new way of thinking that my mind was somehow being tested whether it could be stronger or not.
Among my action to get over the walls, I have one thing that I kept on trying to do — it is “having dialogues” with my friends. Ikeda-Sensei said, “Dialogue is the lamp by which we dispel the darkness of their own dogmatic self-righteousness, lightening and making visible for each other our steps and the path ahead.” At first, it was so difficult to hold dialogues because of my poor English and the loneliness that struck me so suddenly. As such, it was just “mere conversation” most of the time. However, little by little, I could get closer to my friends’ minds.
When my friends and I shared our dreams for the future, I felt their eyes and heart brighten up and they opened their minds. Also, I found myself unconsciously trying to express myself in English, even if it was not grammatically correct. Through this experience, I was sure that our relationship broke the wall of nationality and even the wall of religions. I still try to talk with my friends and encourage them as best I could.
Having friends all over the world makes us cosmopolitans who can accept the difference of others and build better relationships with people all over the world. Of course, it is still difficult to hold dialogues in English, but I’m sure that we can still be cosmopolitans nevertheless.
My Determination
with Kotekitai members
Here in the Philippines, I joined the regular practices of the Diamond Kotekitai as an instructor. Every time when I practice with them, I get the power to go on with my life. Although they are still quite young, they have strong will and they support each other very well. Through their kindness and broadmindedness, my feeling toward the Philippines definitely changed. That is to say, I came to like the country.
To find my own mission, I will keep on chanting so I can break down my walls and help me keep up in realizing my human revolution. I won’t forget everyone who supports me and everything that helps me in my endeavors along the way. Besides, I won’t forget to return my appreciation to all my friends, family, and Sensei. For the sake of the future, I will try to do my best so that I will become a person who can contribute to world peace!
