Fiji Says BULA!

Do you say hello with a bright smile when you see a foreigner on the street? Most people will usually turn their eyes away soon. They try to have nothing to do with them. I have never understood why a lot of people in Japan do so, not only to foreigners, but also among Japanese. We hardly have interest in another person. Is it usual? Is it natural? I think this custom is sad.

I went to Fiji during this summer vacation. It was completely different from Japan. First of all, Fijian's or Indian's appearances were completely different from Japanese. They have black skins, very big eyes, and naturally curly hair, so I was really different among them, but they never treated and looked at me as a stranger. And they never ignored me and felt I was a nuisance when I asked them something. In Fiji, I got lost many times, but I didn’t feel alone and I didn’t feel sad, because people in Fiji were always very friendly. They said “Bula!” with bright smile when I passed each other. Bula means hello in Fijian. They always said it even if I didn’t look at him or her. They sounded the car horn and smiled at me when they were driving cars and I was walking on the street. Sometimes I could hear that people said “Konnnichiwa” to me, and sometimes we continued the conversation. They asked me, “How is Fiji?” “Do you like Fiji?” or “Where are you from?” What is more, some people gave me their e-mail addresses and asked me to send e-mail. I was surprised at their positive behavior, but thanks to it, I could feel that this country welcomed me and this country's people admitted my existence. This country was really warm and peaceful. I think the reason is in this greeting custom.

After I came back to Japan, I thought about the importance of greetings. What is the importance of greetings? What is the meaning of greetings? I think there are many meanings of greeting but I think it is for admitting and acknowledging our co-existence. You exist here now and I exist here now.

Greeting is a wonder, isn’t it? When we are greeted, our hearts become warm. It’s only a word, but the word of greeting can change the day. When we say “Good morning,” someone returns “Good morning.” I don’t know why, but we can be happy, can’t we? I think to the person who can greet properly, surrounding people open their hearts unconsciously.

I think that even a chance acquaintance is preordained. It seems like an accident, but perhaps, the person was our family or friend and we had met again and again in the ancient previous incarnation. It is what is called “soul mate.” It doesn’t matter whether reincarnation is real or not. If people all over the world think like it is so, war may disappear in this world. In a closer scene, if our feet are stepped on in the train, we will not quarrel. “Ouch! Who stepped on my feet?” You look back angrily but what would you do if it were your friend?
Cherish the greeting with strangers. Actually, they are longtime friends. And the way that we can reconfirm that is with greetings like good morning, hello, and thank you. Greetings have wonderful power.