Over the last year and a half, I had been contemplating taking courses outside of my field of studies. Every time, I decided to take an extra course I was worried about the tight schedule of my existing courses from my designated faculty. However, I was always tempted to take the GRM courses, one of the main reasons for choosing GRM courses, especially Field Work Practice 1 was to avail myself of an opportunity to interact with students from different areas of study at Doshisha University and learn how to conduct group work with students from diverse academic backgrounds. 

After going on the field trip, I had various eye-opening experiences. The first place I discovered was Kumamoto`s Aso bridge which was heavily damaged by the 2016`s earthquake, (See Picture 1) it was a very unnerving experience to be at the places where disasters have created havoc and affected people`s lives, socially and economically. Seeing Aso mountain`s landslide and the ruins of Aso bridge was personally unnerving for me because normally we only talk about disasters and see them on TV but when we go through sites that have been heavily impacted due to earthquakes or natural disasters, it opens up our eyes and makes us realize about the intensity and danger of the natural disasters. Secondly, the Aso Volcanology Laboratory and a visit to the Tokai university campus were thought-provoking, I had a chance to listen to a very informative lecture by professor Ohkura who explained in detail, the geographical structure of the Aso and Kumamoto region, and also got a chance to hear about his first-hand experience of being trapped in Volcanology laboratory when the massive earthquake occurred in 2016. It is nerve-wracking to think how people experience the fear of being trapped during a disaster with very little time to escape and act swiftly. Similarly, the guided tour around the Tokai university campus also showed the devastating impacts of the 2016`s earthquake, what was truly upsetting was not only the geographical damage but also the damage to the social life of the people. The tour guide`s first-hand experience of being trapped in the landslide was truly upsetting. (See Picture 2) One thing I learned from Professor Ohkura and the tour guide`s experience is how quick actions in times of natural disaster can save lives. If the tour guide`s mother was not rescued by Professor Ohkura on time, she might have lost her life and just like them, there must have been many people affected during the earthquake, whose life could have been saved if immediate help was provided. 

On the second day, Professor Matsukawa`s lecture on how local governments respond to natural disasters was an added lesson that I learned a lot from, it taught me how as a community we can help each other in times of danger, and how significant the role of government is when tackling situations like the national disaster. Furthermore, the Kumamoto castle`s visit with a guided tour also provided a deep insight into the effect of earthquakes on national assets like the castles. I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed history of the castle, its geographical structure, and how it was rebuilt on various occasions. Moreover, the last trip to Fukuoka Disaster Prevention Center was another valuable experience, where I could learn how to act calmly and promptly to mitigate the damage caused by the events like fire or earthquakes. 

Lastly, the presentation itself was the best way to wrap up this trip through our insight and the task of choosing a city where there might be a major earthquake in the near future. The lectures by Professor Ueda and Professor Hayashida on how to conduct group work were very constructive in making us understand and learn how to conceptualize the things we have observed through this field trip and turn them into productive and successful group work. One of the best parts of our final group work presentation was the diversity among group members. I thoroughly enjoyed this enriching experience of working with students from diverse areas of study, and as a result, we came up with a very fruitful and well-organized presentation with a combination of natural and social sciences, which itself indicated the success of this group work practice course. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this course, and the whole experience of the group work was truly fulfilling.