January 15, 2008

Bitter memories at Coming-of-Age Day


When I turned the TV on getting up yesterday morning, I saw the news of a coming-of-age ceremony. Women dressed in beautiful kimono were reflected in the TV.

I recalled bitter memories of a coming-of-age ceremony.

When I was a college student, I was elected a representative of the citizens in my city. My role was to present new adults the bouquet in the ceremony.
In those days, I belonged to the volunteer group of the city, and was often participating in various events that the city office sponsored. Therefore, I thought the choice as a representative of the citizens, and I was proud of that.

That day of ceremony, the city hall was filled to capacity. I dressed up and waited to be called by the chairperson back in the stage.

After a while, the chairperson said, "Ladies and gentlemen. Now, I introduce the person who represents the citizens. Mr. …"

The chairperson called a different name from my name. I noticed that he made a mistake in the pronunciation of my name, both my first and last name. I was already a complete another person.

Because there was no other way, I went out to the stage, and presented the bouquet to new adult's woman.

It often makes a mistake in my name because it is unusual. But, why did not he confirm my name beforehand though he was a professional chairperson? And, the coming-of-age ceremony became a bitter memory for me.

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