Every week at Nico Toma is a different experience. As a group that plans and puts together activities for hospitalized children, one week we would be packing items to sell at their bazaar and another week we would be helping to serve food at their annual Sakura caf\u00e9. I wasn\u2019t quite sure what to expect each week, but that was part of the fun, and the volunteers were always energetic and welcoming. While helping them prepare, we had many opportunities to talk with fellow volunteers. They were naturally curious about the places we came from and we also discussed the differences between American and Japanese culture. I also got the chance to talk to some volunteers about their experiences volunteering with Nico Toma and why they decided to become involved. Many of them had been part of the group for years and years, and from working with them, I could feel a strong sense of solidarity.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve volunteered back in the States before, but never in this kind of setting. It was hard to see the children attached to tubes and machines knowing that there\u2019s nothing we could do regarding their illnesses. I couldn\u2019t help but wonder what a childhood would be like that was spent going in and out of the hospital. However, I\u2019ve realized that children are children wherever you go, energetic and mischievous (one boy snuck back for seconds!), who enjoy playing with other kids and playing games on their DS. Seeing everyone smiling and enjoying the caf\u00e9, I hope that we\u2019ve been able to do what we can to bring some joy into their lives. Overall, volunteering at Nico Toma was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Every week at Nico Toma is a different experience. As a group that plans and puts together activities for hosp … \u7d9a\u304d\u3092\u8aad\u3080