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My husband Abe, Mr. Miyamoto and I went to Brazil this fall to participate in the conference they hold each year in Sao Paulo.

Overall, my Reiyukai Brazil experience was excellent. The people were very hospitable, food was good, and Daniela the English translator was just amazing. I was impressed by the organization of the two day event by the Youth Committee. Leaders' energy levels were fantastic. It was also interesting to hear how Reiyukai has impacted people's lives in different ways. I was impressed by the size of Reiyukai Brazil's membership in comparison to Reiyukai Canada.

There was definitely a language barrier between myself and many others at the event, but we managed communicating through gestures and drawings. One of the things I really admired about Brazilian Reiyukai members and leaders was they were very patient with their out of town guests like myself who did not speak a word of Portuguese. Some of them from Campo Grande spoke very good English, but were modest to claim they did not.

There was a minor downside to the trip though and that was the weather. The first day I arrived in Sao Paulo, it was cold, windy, and rainy. I only had a luggage full of t-shirt, shorts, tank tops and sandals. I tried to bare the cold, but had to give in with the purchase of a winter furry bomber jacket at the local mall. A visit to the mall was a real cultural experience for me as I was able to see all the different nationalities that made up Brazil, the food they ate, and of course what they wore a majority of the time. In a short time, I learned that Brazilians love pao quejo (cheese bread) and lojas (shopping). I learned how to say I don't speak Portuguese, Nao fallo Portugese. Most important of all, I learned how to embrace differences and learn from other members of Reiyukai. I believe that this experience has made me richer and I wish to implement some things I have learned by telling them to our members and my friends.

Lastly, I wish to thank Mr. Miyamoto for giving us this amazing chance to learn, gain new experiences, and respect, more than ever before, all we have in our lives.

“This was the best trip of my life”, I said to my friends after coming back from Brazil. They all were curious to learn why. Was it fun? Did I visit many interesting places? Went to many clubs? Was I swimming a lot on a beautiful coast of Brazil? They all were amazed when I said, although all of that was interesting - none of it made it the best.

I had an honour to visit Brazil and participate in Reiyukai Brazil events for the second time. Even though I previously learned a lot - this trip, indeed, has given me much greater insight. I already knew many Brazilian people and my knowledge of Reiyukai was greater. I was relaxed and open to hear and learn, and I also had a chance to introduce Mr. Abe Milde, Leader of Reiyukai Youth Club of Canada with all the office staff and my old friends.

Our trip started in Rio de Janeiro where we had a short, two-day visit. Right after, on November 13th, we came to Sao Paulo. Mr. Mauricio Reggiori was very kind to offer to host both Abe and I. We are profoundly grateful to him for opening his home to us. Our stay in Brazil was much better because of that. In the evening of the same night, we had a dinner with several Reiyukai Brazil members and instantly made some new friends.

November 14th was the official beginning of the conference. In the afternoon hours, we had a meeting with all the participants from Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Everyone had a chance to give activity report and talk about their own country. Abe and I were talking about Soup Kitchen, Food Bank, Speech-Essay Contest, Cultural Dinners, Potluck Parties, and other events planned for the future. It was very educational for me to hear what presenters from other countries were saying about their activities or ways to make them happen. Very inspiring one was from the Japanese representative. I found her approach and way of thinking very useful upon my return to Canada.

After the meeting, we all went for a dinner. “Churrascaria” is a buffet-type of restaurant with all sorts of different and exotic food, also serving Brazilian barbecue. Servers bring all different types of meat to the table and you choose what you like. Delicious! Of course, at the end of the evening, I felt as I am going to explode!

Events of November 15th started with reading and were followed with gathering. Year and a half ago, during my first trip to Brazil, I was still confused about the meaning of gathering, and was more of an observant then the active participant. Only after I came to Canada, I understood how important it is to have them and discuss all the problems and events among each other.
This time I felt as I completely belong there and that I am gaining so much only by listening to people talking. I learned that Brazilian people have many different problems (such as collecting membership fees) but not with getting new people. It is quite the opposite in Canada. It was so wonderful for me to be able to speak about our own problems. We are not concerned with membership fees and our members are also good, very close friends who readily help each other. What we try to do, and what is sometimes the hardest, is to put Reiyukai’s philosophy into action through regular Soup Kitchen events, Food Bank and other humanitarian events. It is not always easy to find people who will readily help our humanitarian activities.

In the evening, after the full day of activities, Reiyukai youth had lots of fun with brilliantly organized entertainment where participants from each country were also involved. Some would be singing, dancing, or performing a sketch. Since Abe and I are horrible singers or dancers (really!), we decided to explain why we are proud to be Canadians. Everyone was laughing, especially because of Abe’s excellent interpretations of a beaver, a bear, or a hockey player. And, thanks to a new friend we made that afternoon, we even had our own Celine Dion there! One of the Brazilian Reiyukai members, Alberto Prokopio, was singing Celine’s song instead of us. After enjoying so much everyone’s presence, it felt right to stay and sleep at Reiyukai Centre that night.

The next morning we started our day with readings and another gathering, followed by speeches from the most important people and guests. Again, I realized that I was learning something new from every word I have heard. Speakers were so charismatic and motivational. I didn’t want this day to end.

And then...
The biggest impact on me had finals of the Speech-Essay Contest. Twelve high school students - teenagers were chosen to participate in the finals of the contest. Well, first I thought it will be very similar to what we do in Canada.
And, technically – it was. Except for the speeches I have heard that day.

I was looking at the most amazing people I had ever had a chance to meet.
Stories heard of lost brothers or sisters, parents who were murdered or committed suicide, and all the hardship this young people had to go through, left me sobbing like a little child. I was deeply disturbed with everything I have heard. I felt their pain deep inside. My heart would shrink more and more with every word that came out of their mouth.

I was left shocked.
Speechless.
My heart was hurting.
I still have no words to explain this feeling. But I know it will always stay with me. That one afternoon has changed my life for ever! To me, those were not stories I only read about. These people were standing in front of me, so courageous, with such a devastating history behind them, and yet... so strong. Ready to go on and do something with their lives.

I am from Yugoslavia. For ten years I had war in my country and I was suffering a lot. But if I would put all of that on a side for a moment, I can say that I had a pretty normal life. Always a wonderful family: the most amazing parents and older brother on my side. I was protected by those closest to me. They supported me, financially and spiritually. They supported my decision to come to Canada and begin a new life on my own. It was not always an easy life, I thought. I had financial problems; my heart broken; hardly enough time for university studies because I was working and supporting myself at the same time. But I think all of that is pretty much the same as for everyone else in Canada.

I felt that all of it - was nothing! That people of western world are not even aware of what they have and how much they should appreciate it. People here search for money, education, cars, homes, love... They sometimes take their own life because they are depressed.

We do have many homeless people but at least they get financial and other support from the government and other organizations like ours.

Overall, we are far away from the position of many Brazilian people.
And it feels like no one here sees that. No one realizes what we really have.

We forgot to appreciate big things in life.
We forgot to appreciate little things in life.
We forgot to appreciate LIFE.

After the Speech Contest portion ended, it took me a while to pull myself together. I looked at Abe, and his eyes were full of tears. We both knew – this is something we will never forget.

The winner of the contest was chosen and we all celebrated this. International members, including Canada, gave gifts that presented their country. And the conference ended.

Buses filled with people who were going back to their home towns. I was standing there, waiving. I realized that my FAMILY became bigger. And that all those people are part of it now. And that Reiyukai brought us together.
Buses left. I felt a bit lonely...

That night, I closed my eyes with feeling of such gratefulness. For the opportunity given to have these experiences and learn about other people. And Reiyukai. But also to learn about myself. About life. And to appreciate it even more than before.

In the next few days, Mauricio was our host and guide in our travels to Campo Grande, Bonito and Pantanal. That, too, was amazing and unforgettable. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about this country and officially fall in love with BRAZIL and its PEOPLE.

After coming back to Canada, I could not stop myself from talking about my experiences. I want all the members, all my friends to know how lucky they are. I wanted to recreate the feeling I had in Brazil.

I wish people can open eyes and change their lives for better. I wish them to learn to be happy with what they posses, because sometimes, it is much more from what many other people have. I wish them to appreciate their families: parents, siblings, spouses. It is not a given thing in life for everyone. And they are so lucky to have that! I also wish people will take active role in their own lives, and will then to start helping others. There are many people who need help and there is no time to lose.

Brazil was my revelation.

My life is changed for ever and I am grateful for it. I know I will never forget to appreciate all the events of my life – good or bad. They are there for me to learn and become a better person. They are there to give me a chance to do something good for someone else. And if we open the gates of our own souls, there will be so much awaiting for us. We must not miss this opportunity to become better people.

At the end, I would like to thank Mr. Tanaka for the chance to participate again. You cannot even imagine how much I learned and how different I am after this trip! I would also like to thank Mauricio for being such a wonderful host and amazing friend. I would also like to thank all the Reiyukai Brazil staff and members who made me so welcomed again. One more time, I would like to thank Mr. Miyamoto for allowing me to go to Brazil again and have the most important events and experiences of my life.

Thank you all!

Ivana Vuckovic

Upon arriving in Brazil I was amazed at the diversity of cultures that were present there. It seemed that I could find people with backgrounds from everywhere on the planet living in Brazil. This surprised me as I always thought that Vancouver was one of the most culturally diverse places that I knew of. I was really impressed by the friendliness of all people in Brazil and nowhere was this more evident than at the Reiyukai Youth Conference in Sao Paulo.

I was a little nervous upon arriving at the conference not really knowing that many people or even having that much knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese (essentially none) to be able to converse with anyone. But that nervousness quickly faded as I met with the youth leaders and representatives from other countries on Friday afternoon. Everyone was very friendly and receptive to all of the activities being presented. I was interested to find many of the activities are not much different to the activities we have in Canada. I also discovered some new ideas that I hadn't yet thought of to retain and create new leaders. Especially moving was the heartfelt presentation by Yuka Kobayashi of Japan, where she described the challenges of leadership that she faces with her own members.

The next day I was slowly starting to feel more comfortable with my surroundings and began to converse with people as best as I could. It was nice to see such a large gathering reciting the Sutra as the last time I had seen such a large gathering was when I was in Japan some years ago. But what really affected me personally is what happened after the recitation. We were asked to hug the people around us in the gathering. It may have been a simple gesture but it really made a big difference and allowed me to feel a closeness with these people who a day earlier had been complete strangers to me. I no longer felt like a stranger but like someone who belonged there.

The debates that we had that day made me realize that although sometimes the challenges we face can be different many more times they are very similar. I think that is because they are challenges that we face when dealing with people in general. Issues of responsibility, motivation and caring are not only important in our dealings with other members but also in everything we do whether it be at work, at home or with our friends. It was wonderful to share experiences and see things sometimes from a different perspective.

Through these debates and the time spent between them or eating together with the others I met many young people from all over Brazil. Sometimes we talked with the help of someone translating but more often than not we would try to talk with the few words we knew of one another's language as well as gestures and in some instances drawing pictures on paper. I was always surprised at how much I could learn from these young people even though I was so restricted by the language barrier. Most of all I was impressed by the kindness and openness of these people towards their peers and myself a stranger from another country.

That evening I was amazed by the beautiful performances that were presented to us by the people from the different states of Brazil and other countries such as Japan, Paraguay and Bolivia. Our own Canadian presentation was clearly no match compared to the beautiful and interesting cultural displays that I witnessed there. From singing to dancing to acting all of the performances were exceptionally beautiful and opened my eyes to the diversity of cultures within the continent of South America. I was even allowed to participate in some of the dancing yet I'm afraid my partner wasn't too appreciative of me constantly stepping on her toes. Nonetheless she did her best to teach me the proper dance steps. After that we all went to bed to get up early the next morning.

On the final day of the conference we concluded with one final debate and listened to several different presentations. Finally after some meditation many of the members approached the stage to publicly announce the decisions that they had committed to during the conference. It was encouraging to see so many people enthusiastically committing to the goals that they had given themselves.

The next part of the day was the youth speech contest. This was one of the most touching experiences of the entire conference. One after another the speech finalists who ranged in age from the early teens to the early twenties relayed personal experiences of why they were happy to be alive. Each one of these emotionally touching stories of these young people really affected me. In fact I had tears in my eyes through almost every speech that I heard. It wasn't just that some of these speeches portrayed difficulties that I had never experienced but that each speaker felt that life was worth living despite the challenges that they had faced. Not only did these speeches paint a vivid picture for me of some of the challenges facing people in Brazil and elsewhere in the world but they made me appreciate the life that I live in Canada.

After the speeches the finalists were rewarded and it was time for people to leave. It seemed like I had just gotten to know these people and now it was time to say goodbye. As I waved to people leaving in buses I reflected on what I had learned during the conference and on how lucky I was to have met so many nice people. I can only hope that some of them will one day be able to visit us here in Canada. Till then I will cherish the memories I have of them.

Back in Vancouver.
I arrived yesterday and on time to enjoy one really sunny and gorgeous day. Today it all went back to Vancouver's regular routine: I got up, went to work, occasionally staring through the window into a wet, rainy streets.

Vancouver - the same one I left several weeks ago.
But, am I still the same?
I think people always grow and change, even when they don't have a clue that it is actually happening. We do change simply by living through different days and events.
To leave philosophical concepts on a side, my trip to Brazil is something I will never forget. It was not the country itself, it was the people of Brazil who left me enchanted and mesmerized. I was captivated by honesty, simplicity, openness and kindness of people I have crossed my path with. Brazil left me with a full heart.

If you now think that this country was just another tourist destination for a young individual, you are mistaken. Trip to Brazil was organized and hosted by Reiyukai Brazil. As a member of Reiyukai Canada, I had an honour to be chosen to participate in the Youth Conference 2002, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

As soon as I arrived, I saw a friendly face and a hand waving at us. And for the following couple of days, I was overwhelmed by the amazing treatment and kindness from all Reiyukai members and employees. I felt as I was at home with friends I have known for years.

From my new friends, I've learned about country's beauty, history and problems. Like a sponge, I was absorbed by new experiences.

A 'Tea House', Capoeira dance, carnival costumes, people who remain happy and joyous, unique aromas and flavours were all images of Brazil and its rich history. On the other side, ‘Favelas’, minimum wages, “clay” houses, missing children - to list just a few downsides - were what a tourist eye cannot catch at a glance. And it was only a hint of splendours and struggles Brazilian people encounter. I asked myself: how do they do it? How do they manage to keep their spirits up during difficult times?

I think I found the answer in having conversations with delegates from various countries in days to come. I have learned that many have suffered in the past but now seem to find a new way to look at life and feel joy. For some people, Reiyukai’s teachings seem to initiate all those changes. Sometimes help would come just from a mere fact that someone is always there to talk to. Other times, they would drive hope from the experiences of others, or from finding inner peace and answers by reciting Sutra. I have learned that you are never alone with Reiyukai. There would always be a group to support you every step of the way.

That is why the conference is important: through others, we learn more about ourselves.
The first meeting of the delegates was on Friday, April 19, 2002. It was an orientation meeting during which I had realized the extent of excellent organizational skills of our hosts. One of the things I really appreciated was that English translations were offered at all times. That first evening ended with a welcome dinner.

The next day of conference made me understand how diverse and infiltrated Reiyukai Brazil is throughout the country. Buses carrying Reiyukai members from all different parts of the country arrived to the Reiyukai Centre. During “Leadership Training Session” everyone participated in debates and we had a chance to hear what concerns or issues - personal or organization related – Reiyukai members have. In time, it seemed there were no more language barriers.

In the evening of April 20th, all the participants presented various aspects or their cultures through poetry, music and dance.

Sunday was the last day of the Youth Conference where all delegates gave speeches sharing their personal experiences. That was such a unique experience where I felt that everyone in the audience and stage is my friend and I opened my heart to all of them. We were able to embark into the lives of people and “walk through” their pain and suffering. The evening ended with a beautiful celebration: traditional dance performances, prize draws, acting and belly dancing.

Hospitality of our hosts did not end that night. The following three days we spent in Rio de Janeiro. We were treated with traditional Brazilian barbecue, had a glimpse of Brazilian Carnival at “Plataforma”, a private bus tours around the city, strolls of Copacabana and Ipanema. And through all of that, friendship between all delegates grew.

Even though that it was our free time, I took the opportunity to learn more from the Brazilian members. Reiyukai Brazil is deeply involved with community organizing many charity events. When having a barbecue or sport event, they raise money to be donated to the poor or homeless. They would actively involve Youth, expanding their knowledge and therefore creating a better future to all. Old toys or clothes would be collected and given to poor or children without families. A sense of community and teamwork is also noticeable within the organization. They even got Ministry of Education involved with the promotion of Speech Essay Contest. The list seems to be endless.

I realized that the experiences I have gained were not just about interpersonal communication, but also on a global level than can benefit us all. It was about finding new methods of achieving the same goal. We, in Canada, can devise those newly learned methods in attempt to make this world a better place.

I would like to thank all members and employees of Reiyukai Brazil and Director of Reiyukai Canada for giving me this great opportunity to improve myself and transfer my new knowledge to Youth of Canada.