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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE February 4, 2008
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| January 8, 2008 |
A Slice of Peace Boat Life II – Communication Coordinators – The Key to International Interaction |
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Communication coordinators (CCs) are the key to international interaction onboard Peace Boat. Fourteen volunteer CCs who are fluent in Japanese and either Spanish or English are onboard the 59th Global Voyage to act as interpreters for guests, staff and participants, both onboard and in ports. The CCs on the 59th voyage are very diverse, representing four nationalities and a variety of backgrounds, including hotel management, diplomacy, academia, music therapy, teaching, and of course, interpreting. What they have in common however, are their language and communication skills as well as a passion for the ideals embodied by Peace Boat. According to Coordinator of Communication Coordinators (CCC) Oaku Yuko, ‘It’s not only the language skills that are important. We look for people who harbor a desire to communicate with people from different backgrounds. They must also be adaptable and flexible and have a thorough knowledge and interest in global issues.’ We spoke with two CCs to get a closer look at the experience of being a CC onboard.
Bethan Jones is a 26 year old interpreter from Wales, and is one of two native English speakers working onboard as a volunteer interpreter. She majored in Japanese, her fourth language after English, Welsh, and French, at Oxford University and then went on to complete an MA in Interpreting and Translation at the University of Bath in England. ‘I learnt Japanese because I like learning languages and wanted to learn a language that was a bit unusual and challenging,’ she said. To hone her Japanese skills, she spent two years in Japan as a Coordinator of International Relations on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. While there, a friend told her about Peace Boat and she decided to apply. She has found the experience onboard both challenging and rewarding. ‘It was difficult to interpret about things I didn’t know about before such as military sex slaves – you have to start from scratch and find out about the subject,’ she said. ‘Also, having to be a tour leader has been interesting – it felt like a lot of responsibility, more than just being a CC, but it was also a really satisfying experience,’ she added. |
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Working in an intense team environment while onboard was also new to Bethan and gave her a chance to be self-reflective. ‘I’ve realized some things about myself, such as how I work with other people and have recognized my own strengths and weaknesses, actually mainly weaknesses!’ she said with a grin. Her time on Peace Boat has been a formative experience, and she wants to take with her what she learnt when she returns to the UK to work as a Japanese interpreter. ‘I’m going to try and be more aware of what is happening in the world when I get back to the UK. I’m not confident that I can go as far as actually taking action, but I definitely want to keep informed.’ Her message to readers is: ‘My mother always told me to “work hard, have fun and be good.”’
Nishimura Hideyuki, a 32 year old man from Tokyo, brought his wealth of life experience with him when he boarded Peace Boat as a CC on the 59th voyage. After graduating with a law degree and then an MA in International Relations from George Washington University in the United States, Hideyuki worked as a diplomat for the Japanese government for several years in both Washington D.C. and Pakistan before moving into the banking industry. He learnt English through the school system and also by studying and living in the United States. Although Peace Boat has been a different experience for him, he has found it stimulating. ‘This is a great experience – I experienced more things than I had expected, and it was a very good chance to have hands-on experience in interpreting. There are so many handmade projects, lectures and workshops and so there are many opportunities to help and give your opinion. You feel like you’re a part of it and are one of the main players,’ he said. He has also had an interesting time in ports where he joined a range of programmes as an interpreter. ‘You can experience many places and can learn about problems facing these places as well as have direct exchange. It’s been an amazing experience. Those things cannot be bought with money,’ he added. |
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Over the past three months, Hideyuki has come to deepen his knowledge of environmental and human rights issues. ‘I became aware that as an individual, I can do a lot to save energy and in terms of human rights, I can join human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch.’ He also rediscovered prevalent problems from his own society. ‘I am thinking again about the issue of minorities in Japan, such as Korean residents. These issues and problems are very deeply rooted in the insular Japanese mentality. After getting off this boat I would like to know more about these particular issues,’ he said. He would also like to travel some more and study Spanish before starting his interpreting career. His message to readers is, ‘I believe in the notion that “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It is only you who can decide your path, not another person. You should be in the driving seat all the time!’ |
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