Integrating in Koriyama - KALMIA

In Denmark, we had our family and friends. In Brazil, we received several invitations every week from an open festive society and in that way got to know the Brazilians pretty fast and because of that, - gained some really good friends.
In Japan, so we are told, it is a lot more like Denmark. People tend to be more reserved.
For us, this sounds like the biggest challenge for our stay. Integrating and getting to know the culture is the fun part of living abroad, - and to do so, you need to be close to the local people, so what to do?
We try to be more progressive! A thing we never considered in Brazil, we did right away here: We joined KALMIA, a local international cultural exchange association.

Not really knowing what to expect on our way down to the signup meeting, we had mixed feelings. Would this be all about other western expatriates getting together for American coffee and danish or would we actually get a chance to get to know Japanese living here in Koriyama?
Our first reaction of what we found in the room of the sign up meeting was something like "no way could this be it!" 10 to 15 persons met us, but not a single western face in the international association. Hmmm... (!?)
Immediately the group greeted us friendly and welcomingly. They guessed we were from Denmark, as the former three couples expatriated from NN also used to be members of the association, and we found out, that the association mainly has members from China, Korea and Thailand which explained why we were the only western looking persons.

As we filled in the sign-up form, they asked what our talents are. What can we contribute with to the association?
Apparently, the members take turns in making small courses or lessons for the other members. This could be in dance, art, cooking etc. It is their way of getting to know each other’s cultures.
So... Our talent!? - We stared at each other. What talents do WE have? :o)
We did not write samba, as she proposed when she heard we have been living in Brazil, neither Danish folk dance!
What we wrote will be our secret for now. We are still trying to come up with something better...

Apart from the culture-sharing classes, the association gives free Japanese lessons twice a week, and arranges trips around the region to hot springs, the mountains or the neighbouring cities.
We are looking forward to get closer to the people there and learn more about the activities in the association.

The picture is a detail from our local shrine.