Nippon Maru - Ship for World Youth Leaders - SWY29

Olá, Salut, Hola, Salam, Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Kon'nichiwa, Hujambo, ‪Kia Ora, Mālō e lelei, Vitavu! :)

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Jet lag is destroying me but #SWY29 has been remarkable!

For approximately two month I gave myself to ocean life, to a new routine, trapped on a ship with 200+ new faces from around the globe, sailed one quarter of the earth together, from Japan: Tokyo, Fukui, Yokahama, Solomon Island: Honiara, Vanuatu: Port Villa, Aotearoa New Zealand: Auckland to Fiji and back to Tokyo. An extraordinary mind blowing experience.

I’ve traveled a lot, I even lived abroad, crossed continents, seas, rivers and oceans, but SWY has been by far my all time favorite yet rich experience... and the most tremendous one to my heart.

The Kingdom of Nippon Maru,

Nippon Maru, was not just a normal Ship… it was home and home is where the heart is. A ship full of magical encounters and voices. It carried me through an enchanting life journey. I have been trying so hard to put my thoughts into words and I never thought that it would be that difficult to express what we have experienced and learned along our Journey, - probably I’ll need months to process it-. It was a dream, and we lived it. As much as hard it was to wake up from it, as much grateful I’m that SWY happened and it was only the start.

You have to live it in order to feel it. Ever since I’m back, I have been in denial and been avoiding everything. With my thoughts… I’m still somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on the 4th floor outside on the deck, listening to music, watching the sunrise and it’s breathtaking nature scenery... I saw flying fish, whales, fishing birds, dolphins, abandoned Islands and even pirate ships on our way.

Every second has a bittersweet memory to be revived. And every encounter has a story to be told. It is impressive how people from different ethnicities, colors, nations, cultures, languages, traditions, religions etc etc etc can be strongly and deeply connected. The longer I stayed on Nippon Maru with these beautiful souls, the more I recognized that these are people of great dignity, humbleness and enduring spirits. It was wonderful how to compromise and appreciate each other in this diversity. Surprisingly, we shared a lot of similarities, even though we are geographically ‪disconnected. But all of a sudden there were no longer high walls and boarders between us. The common language we shared was smiling, kindness, love, care, acceptance and respect!

I left everything behind, my whole life, my family, my friends, my work, my comfort zone and took only my believes, values, my conscience and principles to the ocean with a welcome open door for a change, new beginnings and encounters. I landed on Nippon Maru as a whole new born. I was ready to learn and it felt so natural and peaceful. I was ready for a challenging yet remarkable chapter in my life!

There were days where I had my ups and down’s, disappointed or even sad and others were I’m happy and extremely blissed. But most importantly, there was always someone who would lend me their ears. I learned to express my self openly and freely without the fear of what people might think. It was absolutely fascinating how people would accept you for whom you are! 

Yet it hurts to be sooo far away. It feels as if I’m ripped away from the place I found kindness, moments of eternity, pure beautiful souls, peace of mind, love, friendships and my self.

The beautiful PY’s were people who don't judge, but cared for you and accepted you as a human, no matter from where you come from or even what your believes are. They would always stand by your side and support you. It was absolutely incredibly beautiful.

It felt so hard waking up in my own bed, my room... without the 7:30 am wakeup call... without my cabin mates... without the announcements... without the temperature check... without the restaurant’s alarm ring...  the absolute silence I felt in my house, feels as if a piece of me was ripped away.

There is so much to reflect and yet sooo much inside me that still can’t be expressed. Maybe I’m still in denial. I miss our craziness, the kind hearts, our laughers, our long late nights under the starts, K Groupu, Singing, dancing, sharing food, Ice Cream time, our meetings during meals, crossing the equator, and who could forget the influenza time! Temperature check, Seasickness, our cabins, sleeping during Seminars, institutional visits, Umi lounge, Deck, utility room, Wakeup calls, Morning Assemply’s, NYC Days, Port of calls, Announcements, Admins, dolphin hall, etc etc etc...the list goes on... and memories will still be reflected.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for being accepted to SWY program. Thank you is not enough to the Cabinet Office, government of Japan, to the Japan Embassy in Cairo and the Ministry of youth and sports of Egypt for giving us the opportunity to experience an unforgettable yet magical lifelong journey. And an everlasting gratitude to SWY Admins, our beloved facilitators, SWYAA, EASWY and Homestay family for their endless support and bearing with our impatience. Arigato Gozaimasu!

This is an announcement to all PY’s, to my beloved SWY29 Family, one of the hardest things I have been through is our goodbye! I’m speechless to the beautiful warm-hearted messages, letters, poems, quotes and memories you left in my Journal. I could hear your voices through the lines. Our memories are locked deeply in my heart. You have all changed me and taught me life lessons that I’ll forever carry with me. You made me strongly believe in the beauty and power of the human being. Even the ones I barely talked to, I’m really glad we were on board together, and even though the time didn't give us the chance, but I’m sure we will get there in a away or another. Thank you for giving a meaning to my life and making it richer. We are thousands of miles of air, rail, land, seas and oceans apart... yet our treasured memories will follow me wherever I go. I cherish you for the rest of my life! Aishiteimasu tremendously!

I will leave you here now with our Maori song that has been companying us through out our voyage. -It is calling for love, faith and peace among us-.  

“Te aroha

Te whakapono

Me te rangimarie

Tatou tatou e”

SWY passed too quickly, but what feels like the end, is often the beginning! Right? ;) Don’t be sad because it’s over, smile because it happened <3

Endless aroha sending you all across the oceans, from North to South, East to West and all in between. Until our path cross once again!

Sayōnara,

Nesma Attiatalla

K Groupuu

RT

Cabin 359

Egypt’s Assistant National Leader


xoxo

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