My experience joining the ARI retreat was wonderful. I was born in the city and spent my whole career in the office, in front of computers, documents, and machines and dealt with many people. I dressed formally and tried to look different with my office uniform. Yet, one phase of my life changed when I joined the ARI retreat. Working within the ARI compound is very different. It was my first time to feed chickens and cows, get eggs and clean them, carry heavy things and dig soil. It was hard work but fruitful! This helps me to understand how hard it is to get foods like eggs, meats and vegetables! All I know, everything is present in the market or groceries. If I need something, all I have to do is go to the store and buy it. I forgot how other people worked hard for it and ARI taught me about this. They remind me of those things.

ARI staff and participants are accommodating. Everyone is in the same boat trying their best to meet their goals and objectives. All of them are smiling and full of energy as do their own task everyday. All of them are working together, hand in hand, in order to fulfill their daily task. What a nice atmosphere! Being with them even for a short time leaves joyful memories to treasure. They break the walls between us. I saw how dedicated and hardworking they are. I saw their discipline. I felt the respect of being one of them. Our laughter seems to be the best music that I will remember my whole life. It was nice to work with them and eat together. We really appreciated the food that we ate together. I saw the teamwork, the cooperation and the concerns of each and everyone. How I wish, my staff will be like that and our department will always work as one.

Alighting from the ICU bus last November 26, 2006, I felt a special light peaceful feeling. After spending four days at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI), I was recharged and ready to face challenges again. The approach used by ARI inspired me. It encompassed all faiths and focused on the oneness of all people in prayer and work. ARI lived its motto: That We May Live Together. People from all walks of life and religion tilled the soil, harvested crops, grew livestock and poultry, cooked and ate them, cleaned up after, studied and used organic, cost-effective, and environment-friendly agricultural techniques, and worshipped together. The farm work I was exposed to was only a small part of the entire work needed to be done in a farm, but it was hard work. Growing up in a city made me ignorant of the toil it takes to have food on the table. Working the soil and with animals made me realize that we must all do our share to preserve our environment and be thankful for its yield for we are alive because of the bountiful nature that surrounds us.

Growing up in an agricultural setting, farm activities were not new to me. However, I never really took part of the actual work where I came from and working in the city for the last ten years made me somehow forget the basics. The experience at ARI was very memorable. It also made me see first hand how hardworking the Japanese really are. In the Philippines, with sunshine the whole year round, it is not difficult to grow plants. But in Japan, considering winter and all, it must be very laborious, but I see the sheer determination of the people at ARI and also from other farmers surrounding ARI. One can really sense their pride and dedication to the principle that abounds ARI; that we may live together.

Listening and singing the theme song of ARI brought tears to my eyes. It was such a simple song with a simple message, but, the message is oftentimes neglected by everyone with the advancement in technology. "Take my hand which has laboured in the soil, together we will stand for together we must toil....to build a world that will still bear fruit tomorrow." I learned a lot at ARI, to "wake up early", and to work together with people from different places.

I have been away from my country for almost four months now and my experience at ARI made me feel like I am "home away from home". I grew up in a rural area, where most of the people maintain farm land as their source of livelihood/subsistence. Hence, the retreat brought me back home for a short period of time and provided a respite amidst the fast-paced life in the city.

Aside from that, I also work for an agricultural state college back in my country. I often see our laborers till the land and tend the livestock of the college in order to generate more income for the school. The ARI experience made me realize that the language of heavy labor does not require higher learning or the application of modern tools and technology, it only needs devotion/true commitment. I also learned that to survive is not to compete against each other but rather to work together and live in harmony with our environment.