05 March 2025 - Sri Trisnawati

In February 2018, Yuna Murakami, along with four other Japanese students from Nagoya University, visited Lantan Village and had the opportunity to stay with a local family for three days and two nights. During her stay, Yuna shared her stories and impressions about how the students rediscovered the true meaning of humanity. Yuna’s journey, written in Japanese, can be read in this article. Here is the full story from Yuna’s perspective.

Through this ESD study tour, I felt as if I had regained something precious that people in modern society have lost. In today's world, we are constantly expected to be efficient and highly capable, but in the process, we may be losing sight of something essential, our individuality, emotions, and compassion. We call these qualities "humanity." Throughout the tour, we reflected on what is necessary to regain our sense of humanity, engaging in deep discussions on the topic. And during this journey, I encountered many moments that seemed to provide an answer.

The most striking of these experiences was, without a doubt, my time in Lantan Village. The villagers welcomed us with open arms, yet they were also considerate, ensuring that we didn’t feel pressured to reciprocate their kindness in a way that might be uncomfortable. As our professor mentioned, the people of the village are highly skilled at reading emotions and body language. I always felt cared for, which allowed me to feel safe and at ease. Because of this, I could simply be myself. I sang with the children and youth of the village, played games and sports with them, and genuinely enjoyed every moment. These are things I rarely express at university, but in Lantan, I felt like I could embrace my true character and live with a sense of humanity.

Another aspect that left a strong impression on me, something I reflected on multiple times during the tour was experiencing a community where religion is deeply valued. Though I have a religion, I do not practice it deeply, yet I strongly believe that faith can serve as emotional support. Witnessing the people of Lombok gathering at mosques and living by the teachings of Islam made me reflect on how religion provides a sense of comfort and belonging.

Throughout this study tour, I gained insights that could never be learned in a classroom. The homestay experience, in particular, gave me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the "way of life" of the Lantan villagers, something my seminar group chose as our research theme two years ago. I feel incredibly grateful for this invaluable experience. If it weren’t for who I am today, I might not have even considered joining this tour. I sincerely appreciate my professor and the Yui Tool team for organizing this winter journey. 

The warmth of human connection, the sense of security, and the spiritual grounding I experienced during this tour are things I want to carry forward in my life. I hope to keep these lessons close to my heart and slowly make changes in my own way so that both I and those around me can live more humanely.

This journey has filled Yuna with warmth, connection, and a true sense of humanity. If you’re looking for a meaningful experience, come and be part of life in Lantan Village, where kindness, simplicity, and togetherness will make you feel right at home.