Ms. Yuka Izeri is the winner of the Osaka-San Francisco Sister City Association's speech contest. She will be coming to San Francisco from August 27th to September 17th.

She is a freshman at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies and she spent 11 months studying in Missouri as an exchange student. In addition, she is active in music circles, playing piano and singing gospel and acapella. More Bio Information.

"Perception Gaps "

On September 11, 2001, when the terrorists' attack occurred, I was in the United States of America.

It was just a month after I began attending a high school in a small town Fulton, Missouri. I was at school library doing my homework during the study hall period. Suddenly, the television was turned on. Everyone's eyes became glued to the screen. At the sight of the collapsing buildings and the bodies flying through the air, students screamed. A teacher said to me, "You may have to go back to your country, Yuka; a war may break out soon." I was so scared because I could not fully understand the news. From that day on, President Bush appeared daily on TV in order to encourage the people and to stand against terrorism, repeatedly saying, "We shall never give in." His words united the citizens more firmly. In my neighborhood, I saw many more American flags than before. At school and church, we met for discussion, prayer, and homage to the deceased of the fire fighters. For us in Missouri and throughout the United States, it was clear that we were the victims.

However, when I returned to Japan in July, 2002, I was shocked to realize how little I had known. There are some reports that in Afghanistan, more people than "Nine Eleven" were killed in air raids. I had never heard of any such reporting in the States. It dawned upon me that I had only thought about the United States.

Back in Japan, I saw a TV program which was a youth debate on "Nine Eleven" between young Muslims from Egypt and young New Yorkers. Muslims insisted, "The U.S. culture is threatening the Islamic world." Some New Yorkers were very upset and even excited about the attack, saying, "Islam easily choose violence." But, others were hoping for world peace. I could understand the anger and hopes of both sides.

That was when I learned that perception gaps exist even within a country. They exist between Muslims and Americans, and also, among New Yorkers. There was a perception gap between myself in the States, and back in Japan.

Living within a certain set of values, people are apt to have only one particular perception in viewing things. The media may report only what is convenient for the country. And sometimes, we tend to listen to only what we want to hear. It is important to try to see things from different perspectives in order to maintain a neutral viewpoint. If we do not make an effort to remove our stereotypes, then we may lose sight of the truth.

To make the effort on my part, I am majoring in Urdu, which is the official language of Pakistan. Studying about the Islamic world has been so intriguing to me. I believe that learning other languages and cultures helps people to see things differently. Also, I work as an alumni volunteer in an U.S. based organization named American Field Service, which exchanges students all over the world. Some day, I hope that I can understand, and help people understand, different value systems.

Our world today needs mutual understanding and cooperation, doesn't it? Let us always realize that what we think is right or true may not always be reality. When you face perception gaps, please remember my favorite words: "It's not wrong; it's not right. It's just different!"