21st Annual International Understanding and Cooperation Essay Contest
Elementary School Competition Winning Work

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Grandpa's Fourth Daughter

by Mai Uemura
Fifth Year Student, Tsuru Shiritsu Tanimura Daiichi Elementary School

My Grandpa was on a Newar local newspaper in Nepal. The content reads, "The member of the Hikiba Volunteer Association who had made contributions to the Nepalese education, Yoshinobu Hiroshima has passed away. Rest in Peace."

One day after school I visited Grandpa's home. Just like usual, I entered the house after saying Tadaima. Then, a lady with dark skin dressing in blue folk costume appeared in front of me, saying Namaste as she saw me. Her smile and the white bright teeth left me a lasting impression. I was shocked and nervous because I had not seen any black person standing this close to me. My little cousin played well with the lady, but I was a little bit scared and I could not start any conversation. I ended up shying away and staying alone. I was very frustrated with myself and lonely at the same time.

The girl's name was Sunita. She worked as a teacher in Nepal. Sunita came to Japan to study about Japanese schools. She stayed at my Grandpa's home for three months during her studies at elementary and junior high schools. Even though I was shy at the beginning, we started to understand each other and became friends as time went by.

Sunita had been back to Nepal for several years until this March when my grandpa got sick and was admitted to the hospital. When Sunita heard about the news, she was very worried, calling us from Nepal asking, "How's Dad feeling?" Finally Grandma's friends, who were also volunteer members, gathered and raised funds for a ticket for Sunita to come to Japan. Finally, she made it to Japan.

"I thought I could never ever come to Japan again", said Sunita with tears in her eyes when she arrived in Japan. After I heard that, I realized how much Sunita loved Tsurushi and Japan, and I was so touched about how much she appreciated my family. I received an olive green kurta as a souvenir from her. I was so happy, so I put it on right away and it fitted perfectly! I felt a flow of warmth in my hearth because she knew my size and my favourite colours.

Sunita had been helping out at home since she arrived so that Grandma could take care of Grandpa. Once when Grandma's friend took Sunita to Fuji Five Lakes, Sunita return home in the middle of the trip because she said, "Dad is worried about me."

Grandpa passed away several days after Sunita came here. Everyone cried. I cried and Sunita cried too, for many times. Everyone felt terribly sad.

Two days later, Sunita had to go back to Nepal. When parting at the parking lot in the morning, Sunita and Grandma hugged each other and cried for a long time. It was so hard for her to get on the car and leave us behind. Was it because she missed Grandma? Or was it because she worried about Grandma? At that moment, I truly felt that Sunita had become Grandpa's daughter.

Grandpa was entrusted a lot of community work. Everyone must have trusted him a lot. He also volunteered to work as a lunch box deliverer. He always helped people in need. But now he had gone along the wing and jumped into the sky, and I was left with a vacuum in my heart.

Nonetheless, Grandpa has left us a family member in return. She is Sunita. Sunita has gone back to Nepal and we can not meet her for a while, but she has become our important family member. Sunita, the girl just like Grandpa who is so kind, sincere and hard working, is Grandpa's fourth daughter.