Being a volunteer used to be my job without getting paid any money but I enjoyed very much.
It’s already 6 years since I volunteered for Japan America Society Dallas Forth Worth. It was a new year’s event called Mochitsuki（もちつき、餅つき）. Mochitsuki means to make mochi (made by sticky rice steamed and pounded. However mochi is food for a new year so this event reminded me of Japanese new year.
At Mochitsuki you can enjoy Japanese stuffs. Games, music, dance, calligraphy, Ikebana and taste mochi and see how they make mochi.もち、餅
Compared with my first job assisting a sales at a department store, being a volunteer of Japanese culture like Ikebana, tea ceremony, kimono, calligraphy. I felt useful,working for someone where I could use my knowledge and experience.I was a Japanese Culture Consultant.
Also through volunteer, I met so many people and made many friends, which brighten my life and that was really what I wanted to do, sharing Japanese culture. I established my company Motoko Japan LLC last February , I have been busy and I didn’t volunteer.
I wanted to remember how I felt and what my goals were at that time and think for this year’s. The best thing about volunteer is fun and meeting new people!