1st Augus
t (Friday) - We bade our final goodbye to Noboru during our usual Friday gathering. Noboru’s original assignment was to do his Overseas Training Program (OTP) in East Timor. But due to the unstable political situation two years ago, Noboru was advised to stay on in Australia to do his OTP here, which he accepted.
He was then assigned to the SVD parish of Macquarie Fields, NSW. There he worked with Mike Knight (parish priest) and Viet Nguyen (assistant). His specific assignment was to do youth work together with Viet. He said he found it hard at first to communicate with the young people because of their Australian lingo. But friendship and being young himself, overcame all barriers. The youth helped him to communicate. While doing his OTP, he also earned two Certificates at the TAFE: English 3 and English 4 that qualify him to work with the youth. Here Noboru is seen with an apron while on duty as cook in the kitchen. (Photo taken by Michael Nguyen, SVD).
Over-all Noboru found his OTP a rewarding experience. Besides learning English, he struggled with the differences in culture; for instance, in Japan, they don’t shake hands nor hug. They just make a deep respectful bow. Eventually, he also learned how to give and receive hugs in Australia. When he gets back to Japan, he will continue his studies in theology there!
t (Friday) - We bade our final goodbye to Noboru during our usual Friday gathering. Noboru’s original assignment was to do his Overseas Training Program (OTP) in East Timor. But due to the unstable political situation two years ago, Noboru was advised to stay on in Australia to do his OTP here, which he accepted.He was then assigned to the SVD parish of Macquarie Fields, NSW. There he worked with Mike Knight (parish priest) and Viet Nguyen (assistant). His specific assignment was to do youth work together with Viet. He said he found it hard at first to communicate with the young people because of their Australian lingo. But friendship and being young himself, overcame all barriers. The youth helped him to communicate. While doing his OTP, he also earned two Certificates at the TAFE: English 3 and English 4 that qualify him to work with the youth. Here Noboru is seen with an apron while on duty as cook in the kitchen. (Photo taken by Michael Nguyen, SVD).
Over-all Noboru found his OTP a rewarding experience. Besides learning English, he struggled with the differences in culture; for instance, in Japan, they don’t shake hands nor hug. They just make a deep respectful bow. Eventually, he also learned how to give and receive hugs in Australia. When he gets back to Japan, he will continue his studies in theology there!
Sayonara, Noboru san! ~
