“Sending Out Kodo’s Monthly Newsletter” by Michiko Chida
On the 10th of every month, the dining room at Kodo Village turns into a workspace as we prepare to send out the latest Monthly Japanese Newsletter “Kodo” to Kodo no Kai (Japanese Friends of Kodo service) members. The 1st-year Kodo apprentices always do this task, and this year they are joined by the new “Community Development Course” trainees. The envelopes are prepared by Kodo staff members and the apprentices insert the newsletter and flyers, seal them, count them for each region, and carry them to the front door to be picked up for shipping.
This month, we have sent out these 3 items. On the front page of the newsletter, you can see Kenta Nakagome leading a workshop during a “School Workshop Performance.” There are two other pamphlets: the Earth Celebration 2014 Programme and information about the guests for this year’s Shiroyama Concerts.
“Who is that chatting instead of working?”
“Are you reading the articles instead of working?”
“Do it quickly and neatly!”
“Each newsletter will be delivered to someone who supports us!”
“If you work that slowly, we’ll never be finished!”
“Please observe how (the staff) Kiyoko, Naomi and Sachiko do it!”
These are just some of the things you’ll hear us saying to them every time.
When the apprentices go to pick up a bundle of envelopes, they say “I will do the Kyushu area!,” “I will do the Kansai area!,” and so on. I am sure that they feel so happy to connect with their own local area through this task. It has been 2 months since they came to Sado Island. They must be thinking about their hometowns a lot these days. So we say to them, “If you finish each one quickly and neatly, then you can take the time to read the name and the address on the envelope!”
The 1st-year apprentices and 1st-year trainees will continue to work hard on the 10th of every month, sending our newsletters around Japan. Now you can picture them hard at work!