Sentimental Journey

In the past, to travel, to discover and to tell their messages would have been difficult for people. The importance of our lives from the past to now is no change. Thanks to the brave people and the injured people, our lives became a better place to live and also they and the power of nature taught us the importance of our lives. On the Portland trip, I learned these invaluable things.

Lewis and Clark made a great trail on the map of America. It would have been impossible for me to explore with no doctor and it seemed dangerous. But the Corps of Discovery explored without a doctor. Lewis and Clark studied for only two weeks to be doctors. I saw the tools to cure injury or sickness. They were simple treatments and looked painful. For example, when a man got a cavity, it was just pulled out with no anesthesia. Although they had a hard time, they pulled off their mission, and wrote an important page in history.

Next, at the Japanese Memorial, the words were unforgettable that Japanese Americans wrote in their poems. When I imagined their life by reading the poems, I had nothing to say. The only thing which I was able to think was, “I couldn't live as they lived during World War II.” They were evacuated for about three years. There must have been no safety, and for three years they spent their lives with fearfulness and no freedom. “Sure, I go to school same as you. I’m an American.” Even the Japanese Americans who had American citizenship were sent to the camps. Mrs. Kawahara, whom I talked with, was able to go to school after Pearl Harbor until she was evacuated. Her school’s principle said to her, “You can go to school the same as usual. Please don’t worry about Pearl Harbor; you are a Japanese American.” Some people were kind to Japanese Americans but the government was strict toward them. If I were in that time, I wonder if I could have said I was an American. I would wonder who I was or where I was. The real words which are from Japanese Americans who experienced hard times during World WarⅡ made me very emotional.

Finally, the 2^nd tallest waterfall was splendid. I imagined the salmon because there was a spawning salmon and some dead salmon in the water. I wondered how they went up the waterfall. They were injured on the way to reaching their goal by an obstacle. I was touched that the salmon risked their lives to lay eggs, and after they lay their eggs, they die. It shows the importance of protecting offspring of salmon. I want to know why their children set out on a journey? Is it like an expedition or an adventure? At Multnomah Falls, which is a blessing of nature, there were magnificent stories of the salmon’s life.

Through the Portland trip experience, I learned about precious things which are related to our lives. Now, I am living in the midst of plenty; I have developed tools and peace. In this society, to recognize the value of human life is an irreplaceable discovery. I feel grateful to the people who gave us valuable fortunes, and we need to look at our lives more carefully.