Kinosaki, cross-cultural experiences, and blog linkage

This weekend I went to Kinosaki with three friends, Tara (another ALT, from New York), and two Japanese friends, Mayumi and Aiko. We had a really great time. I will post very soon with pictures and details about the trip. We had some very Japanese experiences and generally relaxed all weekend and learned new Japanese words (Tara and I) and new English words (Mayumi and Aiko). The trip has left me feeling very happy, relaxed, and content.

During the trip, so many very interesting cultural differences came up, when we realized we had different expectations or ideas about certain situations, and through talking. Mayumi and Aiko both had a lot of interesting questions about American culture. One thing we were talking about on the way home was our homelives, as in what we do at home, what our homes are like, and a lot about shoes in the home (or not, as in Japan). It turns out, it is not so different at all, but we each had very different expectations of the other. I think when we learn about the daily lives of people from another culture we usually learn about quite traditional ways of living. For example, I learned in Japanese class about Japanese families eating on the tatami mat at a low table and generally spending a lot of time on the tatami mat floors. Both Mayumi and Aiko said they spend almost no time on the floor, and actually Mayumi said they very rarely use the tatami room, except on very special occasions with visitors. Her family has a couch in the living room and eats at a western style table, and in general their house is quite western. This is not really so surprising when I think about it, but it made me realize that without realizing it, I had a very traditional image of Japanese daily life in my head, even though many Japanese people today are not living like that. Interestingly, the ideas that they had about American daily lives were a little different, in that they were not more 'traditional' than we actually live, but more based on American movies and TV shows, like most ideas people have about other countries. I really love learning about people's ideas about America and American life, and talking to them about the reality (at least for the part of America that I'm familiar with), and also talking to them about my ideas of their culture and hearing the reality. It is so interesting and generally very very amusing. There were a lot of Japanese people staring on the train....and most of the weekend possibly....

I was looking up a couple things online about Japanese culture and I came across a blog that a woman who lives in Tokyo writes called Here and There Japan. She posts about everyday things in Japan, including many cultural insights. Its written with a focus on children so most of her entries are very short and simple. I really love looking at it! She shows you the kinds of things that you usually would not learn about unless you came and lived in Japan. Also, I like that she seems to notice the very small things, which I also like to notice. Check it out if you are interested!

I meant to post a few sentences and ended up going on a bit. Maybe I should start proofreading and editing these entries.....not today though.

More to come soon about Kinosaki!

Take care,

Katie

Anthropology

For any anthropologists reading this (and everyone else)....

A friend of mine posted this video of a girl singing a song she wrote about anthropology. She says she was recently asked to play it at the AAA meeting in December. That's because anthropologists are awesome!

A note on shipping to Japan

So, I have had several people asking for my mailing address and rather than explain to each person what the shipping situation is, I thought I would just explain here for anyone interested. This is just what I've gathered from advice and my research to ship some of my things over for the best deal, and the short experience I've had with it thus far.

The two best options for shipping from the US to Japan are the US Postal Service (USPS) and Yamato Transport. I have heard of Yamato Transport being referred to as basically the UPS of Japan, but they also have a great overseas shipping service (at least to the US) that I am not sure whether UPS has or not.

First of all, if you are shipping anything normal letter/card size, USPS is the way to go, Yamato only does packages.

Now, on to packages. USPS international package shipping prices are here.

Basically, you can ship the average flatrate box (that you get at the post office) of up to 20 lbs. for $42 (11"x8.5"x5.5") or $54 (12"x12"x5.5"). As the size of box and weight goes up, the price increases vary, so I'll leave it to you to figure out pricing for other packages sizes.

With Yamato Transport, they have a service called Besso Takkyubin to ship from USA to Japan. If you are shipping a small package, it is no cheaper, and possibly more expensive than USPS. However, if you are shipping a large package, it can become much cheaper. A large box from Lowe's (61cmx45.7cmx45.7cm or 24inx18inx18in) was shipped to me for about $117 through Yamato. It contained clothes and backpacking gear, though I am not sure of the exact weight.

So, my suggestion is that if you're planning to send something, it might be worth the time and effort to arrange with others who plan to send something to ship as a group in a larger package and split the shipping.

If you would like my address and don't have it yet, feel free to send me a message and I'll pass it on to you!

I was on the news!

Here in Nara there is an organization called JETNet, that is run by JETs and organizes events for Japanese people and JETs to participate in together. Nara prefecture is the only prefecture in Japan with this program. Others have tried it, but its never worked out for some reason. 

You can read more about JETNet here, on the website:

  http://www.pref.nara.jp/bunkak/kokusai/jet-index.html

I participated in my first JETNet event a couple weeks ago. We went 'hiking' in Asuka, a little picturesque town about a 30 minutes train ride

 from Nara City. It was Japanese style hiking, so mainly on paved paths. There were about 60 JETs there and about 70 Japanese participants. It was sort of a scavenger hunt, where the path took us by many shrines, temples, and historical sites that we had to answer questions about. Some questions were in Japanese and some in English, so each team had to really work together. 

Heavy clouds hung around all morning, and as we sat eating lunch in the park about halfway through the event, the rain broke free. We all ran for shelter under a large gazebo and had to end the event early. 

All the teams were tied, so we had a big round of janken (Ro-Sham-Bo, or rock paper scissors) with representatives from each team to decide the winners. One of the young girls from our team played a good game of janken but didn't come out victorious.

After that, we all walked the 20 minutes back to the train station under umbrellas and tarps as the rain poured down on us and then parted ways and caught our trains home.

It was a lot of fun and a great way to spend time with people from the local community. The next event is in December and is Christmas themed. I'm very excited for it!!

The Asuka event was featured on the local news. Its in Japanese of course, but you can check it out here with these instructions from Marlene, our French CIR that is the Chair of JETNet currently. You can see me, in my purple sweatshirt, around 1:54 and 2:02.

"You can see it here, only with Internet Explorer: 

http://www.webtv.pref.nara.jp/

For those who are not familiarized with japanese yet: you have a big square and a lot of smaller squares down the big one. Right under the big square, the smaller one on the left which says 2009kanji10kanji17kanji, is the one that will interest you. Click on High or Low depending on your connection speed. And enjoy.

With any other browser: download it with these instructions: 
- Copy/Paste the direct link into tab or window (this one :http://www.webtv.pref.nara.jp/kensei_f/../wmv/kensei20091017h.wmv )
- Save page as...
- Got it on your computer !
- Enjoy !"

Autumn in Japan

Lately I keep hearing that Autumn is the best season in Japan. I always thought that spring was the favorite with its sublime sakura (cherry blossoms), but for now its all about changing leaves, chestnuts, pampas grass, mikans, persimmons, and the rice harvest. 

I've always been a fan of the fall, and growing up on a rice farm, the smell of fresh cut rice in the air and the lingering odor of smoke bring back childhood memories and make me feel at home.  I love the crisp cool air in the morning that returns in the evening after hot, sunny afternoons. I love the strong sweet aroma of autumn blooming flowers as I bike by. I love seeing the landscape's palette change day by day as splashes of red, orange, and yellow color branches and carpet the ground.

Most mornings I bike my way from my apartment in Saidaiji to Miato Junior High or Miato Elementary across the Heijo Palace Site, or 平城宮跡 (Heijo-kyu-seki). Tall pampas grasses sway in the breeze, the train rushes by, the palace gates, newly remodeled for Nara's 1300th anniversary next year stand tall and majestic against the skyline. I pass by some of my students, shout hello to them, and see them double take and bow hello. The braver ones shout greetings back and giggle, and others slow down and look the other way, terrified that I'll try to actually converse with them.

At the school gates, I am greeted by several mothers from the PTA or the principal (校長先生Kouchou-sensei) and some teachers. We exchange 'おはようございます’ (ohayou gozaimasu! or good morning) and I park my bike. As I enter the school, I change into my indoor shoes and store my shoes in my cubby. Entering the teacher's room, I call out good mornings again and receive a chorus of them in return along with nodding. Even though there are still times when I feel a little awkward proclaiming my entrance and exit like the other teachers do, its something I really appreciate. Everyone is greeted to the work place and it fills me with a sense of camaraderie with the other teachers. There are many times when I feel like I'm on an island in the teacher's room, when I have no idea what's going on or what is being said, and I feel totally isolated. Somehow though, these greetings make everyday feel like a new day and they serve as a reminder that I'm part of the team and that we're all in this together. Throughout the day, many more of these types of greetings are exchanged. As teachers leave the teacher's room for class, they often exchange words that I was taught in Japanese class are used for coming and going from home, like 'Ittekimasu!' (I'll go and come back) and 'Itterasshai!' (Please go and come back), and 'Tadaima!' (I'm home) and 'Okaerinasai!' (Welcome home). It makes it feel like we're a team and we give each other encouragement as we step out of our safezone of the teacher's room and into the children's domain. They also often say 'otsukaresama' which means something like thanks for your hard work or thanks for working hard together. I hear this alot when I pass teachers in the hall or when I return from class and try to say it to them as well. I think that these small gestures make a big difference.  Everyday is not wonderful and I've had many moments where I just feel distanced from the other teachers and the school in general due to communication and cultural barriers, but little things like this pull me back into the group and motivate me to keep trying and remind me that I am not alone in this.

Its not always a struggle though! There are great moments when a lesson goes just right,  when a student or a teacher really tries to speak English, when other teachers have the time and willingness to sit and talk with me and we start really getting to know each other, when students run up and hug me or tell me they'll miss me when class is over, when teacher's tell me how happy they are that they can communicate with me and tell me they've started studying english again because they want to talk to me more...when I'm biking home from a great day at work, smiling to myself, nodding hello to runners in the palace site, watching the sunset behind the palace gates...

Every day is a new experience here. I am learning so much, about Japan and people and myself, and still there is so much more to learn. So far, this has been more difficult for me than any other experience I've had abroad, and ultimately I think this will make it more rewarding. 

A hundred times a day I notice little things that I want to remember and share that I think give insight into Japanese culture, or are just funny quirks of the teachers and students I work with or the community I live in. I'm trying to keep better track of them and write them down so I can share them with others and also perhaps gain some larger understanding when I can look back on them all together. For example, I got my first haircut in Japan last week. My friend Aiko, who is studying English and doing well, but still has a lot to learn, took me to the hairstylist she goes to. She helped my fill out an application for a card for the shop, which included questions about my allergies, how I style my hair and for how long, and my blood type. Then she had to go and Aizawa, my new hairstylist, took me over to wash my hair. He speaks almost no English, so we had a lot funny moments, nervous laughter, and apologizing over the next couple hours. I sat down in the chair, and he lay a fleece blanket over my legs, leaned my chair back to the sink, and placed a cloth over my face. I was trying not to laugh and didn't understand, but my best guess is that the cloth is to keep it from being awkward when the hairstylist is leaning over your face to wash your hair. When he was done I got up to walk to the chair and heard a chorus of 'Otsukaresamadeshita!' (the polite from of 'Thanks for your hard work' basically) from all of the hairstylists in the shop. During the time I was there I realized they all say this each time a customer in the shop stands up. Hairstylists don't get tips in Japan either. I think the little differences like this, for something commonplace like getting your hair cut are so interesting, and also are the kinds of things you only learn and experience from actually living in a new place, in a new culture. You generally can't learn those things from books. I want to remember the feeling when experiencing and noticing these things for the first time before they become everyday to me. 

That's all for today.  I'm off to do some cleaning, lesson planning, and study Japanese. Tomorrow I am heading to Osaka with some friends to get the rest of our Halloween costumes in preparation for the big JET Halloween party next weekend. All next week is Halloween for me, as I'm doing Halloween lessons for all of my classes, as well as going to one of my teacher's homes who runs her own English classes to help her throw a Halloween party for her students. I'm really looking forward to it as Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I even bought a pumpkin that cost about $20 so I can carve it, show it to my students, and set it outside my door at night. Expensive, but worth it to share some of my culture, and make myself feel a little more at home.

I hope you are all well and that you have a great Halloween too!!!

Much love,

Katie

Japan! (Finally)

Konnichiwa from Japan! 

It is officially my 65th day in Japan and I am blogging for the first time here. It is a bit overwhelming to consider detailing all that I've experienced since coming here, so I won't go into all the details, but hopefully from here on out I'll do better at keeping you all up-to-date.

A rough outline:

-August 2nd: Arrival in japan

-August 3rd-5th: JET orientation in Tokyo. We were staying a really nice hotel in Tokyo, the Keio Plaza, where the orientation took place. This means, I barely left the hotel except one or two quick trips to the convenience store (conbini) and one day where I walked around the neighborhood for about an hour to check it out and buy a watch. The orientation was full of workshops, seminars, loads of speeches and ceremonies, and parties, all of which was quite overwhelming with jet lag. 

-August 5th: Travelled to Nara with the other new Nara JETs from our Group B arrival and orientation (about 15 of us) on the shinkansen (aka the bullet train)! As you know, it goes REALLY fast. I actually had to pull the blinds downs on my window for the part of the trip because I was feeling a bit nauseous and I don't generally ever get motion sickness. When we arrived in Nara, exhausted after the long orientation and being jetlagged and waking up at about 4:30 a.m., we had a short orientation specific to Nara. Then our supervisors showed up to meet us for the first time and we had to all introduce ourselves in Japanese. I can't really explain how uncomfortable I felt at this point. I was so exhausted, physically and mentally, experiencing all the stress of being in a new country where everyone speaks a language I don't understand, dressed very formally, incredibly nervous about meeting my supervisors and making a good impression after learning so much (but also so little) about Japanese customs and expectations, and now was going to have to introduce myself in Japanese for the first time ever. Our supervisors came in the room, we survived the introductions, and within 10 minutes I was in the backseat of a car with one of my awesome new supervisors (I have two), Masako. Still a bit formal and nervous, I felt immensely relieved. It turned out, of course, that they were really nice and seemed to want more than anything to make sure I was comfortable and get me home to my new apartment so I could rest and relax. 

After I began to settle in and unpack, I went out to dinner that evening with three other girls who live in my building. We have a really unique (for the JET program) situation here in our part of Nara City, Saidaiji, as there are six JETs living in one apartment building. Three of us are new and three are continuing. 

-August 6th-31st:

Starting August 6th, and continuing for the next three weeks, I worked each day from about 8:00-3:00 at the Board of Education in Nara City Hall. The other Saidaiji JETs and I would all sit in a one small room and work on lesson plans and just talk about life in Japan. In the first week, we met our other supervisor, Tsuruta-sensei, signed our contracts, and made lots of formal introductions with the office staff, the superintendent, and the some of the schools we would begin working at in September. During these weeks, we also spent a lot of time going on errands with one of our supervisors, Masako. Also, the clarify, Masako is more like our 'daily life' supervisor. She is always available and helps us out with all of our daily life issues. Tsuruta-sensei is more like our work supervisor, she works at the Board of Education and handles the scheduling and more formal issues. There is a lot of cross-over though and both are supervisors for our jobs and generally available to help with what ever we need. So, Masako helped us set-up cell phones, internet, rent, bank accounts, and more. I forgot to mention that the day I arrived in Nara she also took me to the grocery store and walked around with me for about an hour explaining everything and answering all my questions. This was so amazingly helpful as grocery shopping in a foreign country can be hugely stressful as many of you know. Especially when it is so difficult to even read words in Japanese in order to look them up. 

During these few weeks, we also went to many seminars with our supervisors for elementary school teachers. Japan is in the process of promoting an English education system in elementary schools called 'Hello English.' Beginning in 2011, english education will be mandatory in elementary schools, whereas now english education starts in junior high. Right now, many of these schools have english programs, but now they all have too and they are trying to make the programs more standardized.

-September 1st-today:

The 2nd term for the school year began September 1st. My base school is Miato Junior High school, but I also often teach at Miato Elementary school. They are a model school for the prefecture in which the government is testing new methods such as integrating the two schools, so currently they share some teachers. For example two junior high school english teachers and I go teach at the elementary school, and the computer teacher from the elementary school team-teaches with home room teachers at the junior high school. 

I teach 5th and 6th grade at the elementary school. The classes are team-taught by a junior high school english teacher (Ogita-sensei for 6th grade and Nakasuka-sensei for 5th grade) and I along with the homeroom teacher. In most classes the homeroom teacher doesn't actually teach much during the english lesson because most don't speak much english. I actually prefer those classes because three teachers is a lot for one class! 

I teach 7th and 8th grade at the junior high school, which is actually called 1st and 2nd grade here. Instead of 1st grade through 8th through 12th grade, they have 1st-6th grade at the elementary schools, 1st-3rd grade at the junior high schools, and 1st-3rd grade at the high schools. For 7th and 8th grade I am team-teaching conversational english with Ueda-sensei. Students have this class 1 hour every week, and they have 3.5 hours/week or english lessons focused on grammar and vocabulary. The conversation classes are actually another 'experiment' so-to-speak. The students don't receive grades for the class and there is no curriculum. We are free to do what we want to get students actually speaking. It has been interesting trying to think of ways to motivate them. The easy way is prizes, which we do, but both of us want to find ways to actually motivate students to want to learn for more lasting reasons than getting a prize at the end of class or the term. Whatever we can do to actually get them speaking is a start though.

On Mondays, starting today, I will visit other schools around Nara, primarily elementary schools. Today, I visited Tsubai elementary, the oldest elementary school in Nara, established in 1872. That actually doesn't sound that impressive when you consider that Nara is about to celebrate its 1300th anniversary next year...It was a lot fun though and the school is located in the middle of the old part of the city.

Well that is all I'll update for today, need to finish my laundry and get to bed. Next time I'll share more about what I've been doing outside of classes as well as what its like working in a Japanese school and learning to live in Japan. 

Take care,

Katie

P.S. Here are the few photos I've uploaded so far.  They're all from August, and there are none from school yet. Hopefully I'll get a lot more uploaded in the next couple weeks!