Local teen sharpens English skills at Risner

  • Published
  • By Ed Gulick
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  For one local Japanese teen the choice was simple when asked where he would like to work for his school's intern program.

Ryo Oshiro, a 16-year-old boy who attends the Kagamigaoka Special Education School in Urasoe City, wanted to intern where he could broaden his English skills and Kadena was the perfect place.

"When I was a child, my parents took me to open gate festivals on base," Oshiro said. "Since then I have been interested in American culture."

Oshiro has Marfanoid Hypermobility, a congenital defect syndrome that causes difficulty in using muscles to move parts of the body. For Ryo, the disease affects his hands, lower back and legs.

The local teen wrapped up a four-day internship at the Risner Fitness Center's information desk Friday.

The work at the Risner hasn't been easy. While Oshiro tires easily from the difficulty of moving his joints and he cannot go up stairs, he still sees the rewards of his efforts.

"My fatigue disappears immediately when I take care of the customer and hear thank you. I can forget those things while I am working here and I can even forget I have a disability," Oshiro said. "I feel I am just a regular person."

After four days of work, Rob Wilburn, the fitness center's director, said he was impressed with Oshiro's work and enthusiasm.

"He [did] an excellent job," Wilburn said. "It's been a joy watching him interact with gym patrons and he has blended in with our group very well."

Mr. Wilburn said Oshiro already had great English skills and with guidance from local Japanese employees, he accomplished a lot in the four days.

"I won an English story competition when I was in junior high," Oshiro explained. "That gave me confidence and I started doing Internet chats to make friends when I entered high school."

As a result of chatting online in English for four or five hours a day, Oshiro aims to study overseas and possibly meet some of the friends he's made in European countries.

When asked about his observations of Americans during his internship, Oshiro mentions that Americans always say hello when they pass someone. It reminds him of the Okinawa spirit in the phrase "ichariba chode" or "once you meet me, you become my family."