43年後の大同窓会！～そして航海は続く～
準備の段階から同窓会の副実行委員長として多大なサポートをしてくれたシンガポールのTan Soon Hoeさんは、シンガポールの元同窓会長で、SSEAYP International(東南アジア青年の船事後活動組織)の重要な役職もされた方でASEAN各国の連絡担当の人も決めて的確なアドバイスをしてくださったりと、とても心強かったです。
Tan Soon Hoeさんよりメッセージが届きましたのでここでご紹介させていただきます。
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Gratitude brings 60 former PYs & family members of 7th SSEAYP reunited after 43 years
PEOPLE
Former PYs of 7th SSEAYP organised a successful 25th Anniversary reunion in Thailand in 2005, thanked to the local Thailand SSEAYP Alumni, ASSEAY Thailand. When Ms Naoko Tanaka floated the idea of having a 43th Anniversary reunion in Tokyo with a Gratitude theme, i.e. with all the Administration Staff to be invited to show our appreciation for their great effort In coordinating the 52 days SSEAYP in 1980, all the country representative responded with great excitement and enthusiasm.
ACTIVITIES IN POST-SSEAYP PROGRAMME
2 Zoom Meetings were called by Ms Naoko in Dec 2022 and Jan 2023 as our initial planning conferences to agree on the outline reunion plan. There are immediately followed by many email exchanges and overseas calls to confirm details, including program and payment method.
On 25 April 2023, 56 PYs and family members from Thailand, Philippine, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan turned up in Hotel LE PORT KOJIMACHI as planned, including 15 administration staff and 5 helpers and volunteers from IYEO. The reunion participants have a warm welcome by Ms Naoko Tanaka, the Reunion Organising Chairperson, followed by a very motivating speech by Mr Tatsuya Nagasue, President of IYEO.
The Toast by Mr Takeo Yamamoto brought back the many memories we shared onboard MS Nippon Maru, followed by Country representative updating batch-mate current profile, including message from Malaysia PYs whom are unable to attend due to Hari Raya period when family visit took top priority. Mr Witaya Pintong closing remarks marked the end of our reunion lunch with all participants singing the Nippon Maru song, without have to refer to the lyrics flashed on the screen. Mr Aki shared his history of Japan as tour guide when he conducted the Garden tour and we closed the first day with small group dinner for enhanced communication.
The reunion host designed a day tour in Ashikaga Flower Park for us on 26 April 2023, accompanied by friendly guide made up of JPYs, including Administration staff Hayashi-san. We felt the warm hospitality with the standing master of ceremony for the entire reunion, Kaori san, She flew back from US just for the reunion as requested by Naoko, the lady who was PY in 1980, NL 1995 and a former President of IYEO, a SSEAYP icon for many PYs. In between the Reunion Lunch and the 2 garden tours, there are pocket of small group activities, e.g. night tour, shopping trip, meeting of friends who happened in be in Tokyo during the reunion period. I had an enjoyable evening meeting young “old” friends from IYEO whom I shared my fond memories when working with SI secretariat staff.
PROMISE TO MEET AGAIN
Any Reunion is considered in-complete without the participation of the local alumni association, our sincere appreciation to IYEO, of which Ms Naoko had served a term as President, for supporting our 7TH SSEAYP Reunion 2023. The Reunion ended with a common promise to meet again in next SIGA 2024 to be hosted by ASSEAY Thailand, an annual reunion by SSEAYP International(SI), while all former participants committed to start their own communication network or chatgroup made possible by Facebook, LINE and WhatsApp. While some stayed back in Japan with planned tour to prefectures, we all agreed to meet again in 2024 SIGA if possible and committed to be there in our 45th Anniversary to be hosted by PPYs in 2025.
Tan Soon Hoe
