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Dec 2005 -INDEX- Reports -Yumi, Chief Executive Director's monthly note -Toshi, Chief Techinical Director's monthly note -What's up in Pangaea's Playground? (Activity report) ----------------------------------- Yumi's monthly note ----------------------------------- November is gone like a big thunderstorm. Press Conference was held on 15 that Marunouchi Building which is located right in front of Tokyo Station, and it is prime area for Japanese Business. It was of course to make an announcement for Pangaea Global Kick-off. Then on November 20th, if all of you remember, this was the day Toshi and I promised you as the date to kick off global Pangaea. Unicef set it as World Children's Day. We held Pangaea activities in Shibuya's Uplink, mini theater space, and Seoul's Kyoung Hee University Campus. There were about 50 people at conference, I got nervous realizing I was only 60% when staff showed me a board that said 5 more minutes!! When we finished our presentation, we had Question Time… I thought 5 minutes would be enough usually. But it went on about 20 minutes, and TV casters, editors for newspaper and magazines kept raising their hands. Since we wanted people to actually see or play our newest development including Communicator!! (Yes, Toshi did it finally!) These press people came rushing to us to ask more questions. As a result, we had three news coverages on TV including NHK Good Morning Japan running 9 min. special edition on Pangaea. Also Japan Times, Asahi Shogakusei Sinbun, Tokyo Newspaper, Yomiuri had or will have article on Pangaea. We get so many phone calls inquiring Pangaea, Communicator. In short words, it went very well at the end. They have sent people to Kyoung Hee University also to cover both Japan and Korea t show audiences what Pangaea is doing. And to tell you the truth, until one minute before the Koetsuna, Voice Tag Game starts, some problem with Internet, all connections were dead. Toshi was in Seoul and I was in Tokyo, and on previous night, we exchanged emails both of us feeling very hyped thinking what a road it was since 9.11, and it was then the next day, we are able to show people how much we have done in four years. We both wished the good luck and promised to enjoy the activity next day. So there we were, desperately hoping internet will connect, and it was the moment when I thought I need to cancel Voice game, and do alternative plan, praying please! Whoever it is to made Toshi and I take this tough road, you must help us NOW! Then it came through, and suddenly everything started to work normally. And there were 28 children in Tokyo and 13 children in Seoul all shared their work, have played game together, and met on Web Cam, and exchanged Picton messages back and forth. I almost cried seeing all these things are happening in front of me. Well, I can go on forever, but I will stop with before and after comments about their impression about Korea or Japan from children who participated the activity on 20th. [Before]: beautiful teeth, like to eat hot food [After]: I was happy to know that children in Korea have good impression to Japanese. (10yr Girl Japan) [Before]: Dark image (somewhat negative) [After]: They were bright and very energetic. (14yr Boy Japan) [Before]: don't have much impression. [After]: Picton is universal, and it worked well communicating with Korea. It was a great fun! (10yr Boy Japan) [Before]: I did not have good feeling about Japan due to Takeshima or history issue, but playing with Japanese children, children were not bad, and they are children like all the others. [After]: Like I thought, all children were good, and I was happy. I love to see them again and want to play together like today. I didn't see anything unusual. [After]: I want to study Japanese, and want to be able to speak Japanese, and want to ask Japanese children about the place they live and what they like. (13yr Boy Korea) [After]: I enjoyed learning children in Japan are very healthy and in good conditions. (12yr Boy Korea) ----------------------------------- Toshi's monthly note ----------------------------------- The press conference on November 15th and the Japan-Korea Synchronous Activity as a memorial event for Pangaea Global Kick Off on November 20th have ended with great success. I participated in the event on November 20th at Seoul, Korea. It was very successful though my computer broke two days before the event and we had difficulty connecting the Internet until a minute before the event. The contents at this event were bonding activities such as Koetsuna, a voice-tug-of-war for an icebreaking, communicating through the Webcam and seeing partners' faces simultaneously, and showing each other's House on the PangaeaNet. We provided Korean and Japanese children the first opportunity to exchange emails by using Pictons that enabled them to exchange feeling without using languages. I was very much amazed to see children communicating and seeing a person through one's own eyes even though he/she only speaks one language. Every child was so enthusiastic about sending and exchanging messages in Picton using Communicator that they even didn't notice their mouth was ajar. Looking at children communicating with new friends, I've thought that this communication way without using languages effectively shows the fundamental motive or essence of communication such as wanting to know about a person, wanting someone to know about oneself, and wanting to be liked by all. This event was reported by TV and newspapers and there are numerous inquiries to Pangaea office from press people for interview request as well as from people who want to participate or utilize Pangaea's idea. In particular, there were requests by medical experts for pediatric care and parents who have children with handicap or who have long been in a hospital. To achieve NPO mission of socialization, I would like to respond to such needs as much as possible. As Pangaea reached the first goal that we set four years ago, we are now moving to the next phase of popularization. I hope to keep giving us your supports and advices! ----------------------------------- What's up in Pangaea's Playground? (Activity report by Seiji) ----------------------------------- Stepping to the new stage. The even on November 20th was published by media. Children from 5 different activity places got together in 1 place. The atmosphere was somewhat different from usual. However, in a different setting, Every child did very well. I'd like to thank to all children, participants and researchers of Pangaea. The event gave them an opportunity to express individuality by drawing one's own House and show it each other; to meet with new people who share different languages through webcam. The day also gave them a chance to see who they are. Before and after the event, Children wrote down an impression of a partner's country. Some has changed its impression and some has not. What we share is You and I are The same. The things thought to be different or believed to be different may change. Seeing a person face to face It may give you to feel that You and I are The same. The day was a starting point of feeling those things. Also the day is a starting point to provide ordinary playgrounds that may provide such an experience for more children. Everyone, young or old, who participated the event, and those who keep eyes on us, is The same. and thank you. Seiji ****************************************************** Please check for details at Pangaea homepage. Non Profit Organization PANGAEA: http://www.pangaean.org/ For inquiries, e-mail: info*pangaean.org (Please change "*" to "@".) [Registration/Termination of Subscription] This e-newsletter is delivered to *Registered Pangaea activity supporting members *Pangaea advisors *Pangaea fellows *Registered Pangaea volunteer staff *Anyone who supports Pangaea activity and has contacted to Pangaea President Ms. Mori/Vice-President Mr. Takasaki If you wish to change your e-mail address or to terminate, please contact us from the following site: http://www.pangaean.org/common/english/newsletter/change.html ****************************************************** Non Profit Organization PANGAEA TS building 4F, 2-14-3 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0047, Japan TEL: +81-3-5298-1551 / FAX: +81-3-5298-1552 E-mail:info*pangaean.org (Please change "*" to "@".) Copyright (c) 2003-2004 NPO PANGAEA. All Rights Reserved. ****************************************************** |