hey - look over here
Sunday, October 26, 2003
1:45am
I've discovered that they broadcast international news stations (including ABC and the BBC) after midnight on Sunday mornings...It's dubbed over in Japanese, but if I listen really close I can make out small bits of the English behind it...WHAT is happening in the Middle East?! ? They're showing Arabic news programs as well. I've never seen news this honest. I just watched 10 minutes of footage from a U.S. soldier under fire. Blood was splattering on the lens and he was trying to wipe it off but just smearing it all over. People were missing limbs and suffering all over the ground. It was like Vietnam had moved to the desert.
I hear a flood of lightning fast Japanese and all I can pick out is "Amerika-no" (America's) "Amerika-no, Amerika-no". The Brittish don't even try to hide their distaste towards us in their broadcasts. It's all over their faces.
I feel a little bit out of touch. I don't know exactly what's happening. Is the news always this strong in Japan or is the situation really getting that much worse? They just showed a highlight from a news brief (from what country I don't know). But it read that America was "sanitizing it's news".... This is true isn't it?
It's such a strange feeling knowing that America is doing all these stupid things and being the only American woman in a rural Japanese town (where they still talk about Hiroshima). I know that a lot of people hate "America" now. I put it in quotes because it's just become this lump concept: Bush and war and Hollywood and capitalism and sterilization and egoism....this is all "America". I had a long talk with a guy from Scotland the other day about how I wished people could judge individual Americans on an individual basis, because we do not all fit the global stereotype. It's very sad. I can't hate America, that's my culture. But I do hate it's stereotype. And I do hate it's leader. I know hate is a strong word. But war is a strong concept. It makes me mad that I am judged based on those things. I try everyday to convince people that "America" is not just like that. But all I seem to have done is convince people that "I'm ok cause I'm not like most Americans". I try to say "No, it's not just me! There are many more of us." How do you convince people of that?
I guess you have to show them. So hey America: get up and go somewhere! There's a whole world out there. Learn another language! Take a chance, venture out of the tourist traps and talk to real people! Otherwise, I'm afraid the world will continue to hate us.
Monday, October 20, 2003
8:26 pm
Hey - I just got back from dinner with a few of the senseis from the Elementary school. We had a 4 course meal at a �Western" restaurant called Grey.
So the first thing they brought out was raw squid (beautifully arranged in �Japanese-interpretation-of-French" style). One of the teachers must have called beforehand though because my plate had thinly sliced, cooked beef. I thought that was a really nice gesture. I�m trying to enjoy the wonders of Japanese cuisine, but I have to say that raw squid is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever eaten. And they love it here! I�m glad they now understand that I just can�t stand it and don�t ask me to eat it anymore.
Next they brought out a small bowl of eggplant, tomatoes, onions, pasta noodles, spices, and mozzarella cheese. The others didn�t seem too fond of it, but I thought it was probably the best thing I�ve had in a week! Then they brought out some egg tofu soup with a half open clam floating on the surface. The main course (get this!) was meatloaf sitting in ketchup, with sides of French fries, carrots, and a small, simple salad. It was laid out so carefully and artistically, with such an air of gourmet importance that I found it quite amusing. Another thing I find interesting: a hamburger in Japan is called �hanbagaa" and meat loaf is called �hanbaguu". Anyway, it couldn�t be a meal without the essential bowl of rice. And we finished with ice cream and fruit drizzled with raspberry sauce that was reminiscent of Cafe Brazil�s in Dallas. Ah - Cafe Brazil ...
�Twas a tasty meal for sure.
And speaking of meals, I�ve started eating school lunch with the kids. It�s a very different experience from eating in the staff room with the secretaries. I like it. The kids have figured out that I really can�t understand much of what they say, but they still like to show me their loose teeth and pull me by the sleeve to see their latest artistic creations and pet bugs. Before every meal, Japanese people will put their hands together at their chins as if praying, and say �itadakimasu", which means, �I�m about to receive". None of the children will start eating until everyone receives their meal and this phrase is said. There is no cafeteria. Everyone eats lunch in their classroom. The students put on white aprons, hats, and small face masks, and serve their classmates their lunch. When they are finished, everyone dumps the extra crumbs off their plate, and puts away their own dishes. Then a group of students carry them back to the kitchen while others wipe down the desks, and pass out the cups and toothbrushes. (because everyone brushes their teeth after lunch). Oh and after the meal is finished, Japanese people always say, �gochisosamadeshita", which means, �It was a feast!"
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
7:35pm
Today after school, the senseis (myself included - I still feel weird calling myself "sensei" - like I'm about to go help the karate kid "wax on wax off" or something....man that was a cultural faux pas eh?) anyway, we had a confidential meeting to discuss the �problem kids" of the school. I still don�t know anybody�s name, but they had photos of each kid that they blew up on a huge screen so we could all size up the troublemakers. I sat in silence as one by one, they proceeded to show most of my best English students.. Is there a connection? I don�t know. These, for the most part, were the kids who answered questions first, who remembered all the vocabulary, who weren�t too shy to say �Hello" back to me when I greeted them in English, and who would actually ask me, in or outside of class, how to say random things in English (and teach me the Japanese!) If you ask me, these are some bright kids - And I think they probably act up sometimes in class because they are BORED. They aren�t being challenged enough. Whenever I suggest a new game to the teachers, over 70% of the time, they will say it�s too difficult for the students. They don�t even want to try new things.
I asked Yamada sensei what was wrong with these kids, and she wrote a few English notes (with the help of the electronic dictionary) in the margin of her nicely stapled �problem-child notebook"
One child was:
- egotistical
Another was:
- Late
Others:
- �He is not a moral being" (this comment for the 2nd best English student in the school - what does that mean?)
- "He comes to school by his mother�s car - not walk.
One little girl they said had stolen money from her grandmother�s wallet. Ok, I agree that that is pretty bad, but I�m not used to teachers being responsible for correcting what goes on in the child�s home. But that�s the way it is here. I�ve heard that sometimes, if a parent cannot discipline their child, they�ll call up the kid�s teacher, who then comes by the house to �fix" things.
I just don�t know. One of the boys that they talked about didn�t give me a great first impression (mocking anything I said in English), but one day, while I was helping a class pick up litter from a nearby park, I saw him walking alone with a long pole he�d found on the ground. He was thrashing it at some grass, and I just said hello to him. He mocked �hello" in a girly voice, and I just turned around and did the same thing back to him. Then he was quiet and I walked beside him, neither of us saying anything for a while. Then all of a sudden he started talking to me really quickly in Japanese. I didn�t understand, and asked him to repeat what he�d said. He did and I caught the word �Olympics" I later realized he was telling me he wanted to be in the Olympics and throw poles or spears, or whatever they�re called, in field events (I can�t even describe it in English) but you know what I mean right?). Then he decided to show me how efficiently he could pick up litter by sticking it with that pole and putting it in the trash bag. He patiently repeated several things to me when I didn�t understand, and tried to use simpler phrases and gestures so I�d understand. Maybe there�s something I don�t know, but personally I don�t think he�s a bad kid - just restless and in need of a challenge.
Another boy I saw walking in a group while I was riding my bike home from work. I passed by and said, �See you tomorrow". The so-called problem kid said, (in Japanese) �Wait! Katie sensei! What does that mean" I stopped and translated it, and he seemed to log it away into memory. The he started pointing to trees and power lines and flowers and asking how to say each of these things. He actually wanted to learn. A bad kid? I just don�t know. I guess �good" and �bad" are culturally defined as well.
Quote of the day:
"We stand in our own shadow and wonder why it's dark."
Zen koan
Wednesday October 8, 2003
8:55pm
I think I gained a new respect from the students and townspeople today, and all because I dressed up like a baby and sang �chew chew chew it yourself" to the tune of �row row row your boat...." Who'd have thought?
First of all, let me explain that this was not an idea of my own. Today was Yabase Elementary�s annual, much anticipated music festival. The students and teachers have been preparing for at least a month (that I was aware of). I had no idea it was such a big deal when they asked me to participate. I said sure, I�d love to help, and the next day there was a lengthy musical score waiting on my desk. I asked what this was and they said I was to play the organ for the 6th grade performance. I said, �I can�t play the organ"
They said, �You can."
�uh...no, I can�t"
�You can do it . Gambatte (which means go for it or good luck)
�But I�ve never played it. I can�t even read this music."
�Practice.
- - - - - - bear in mind also that this was 12 days before the performance - - - - - - - - - -
So this conversation went on and on, but always came back to where we started. And I actually tried to gambatte and teach myself how to play. But as the date drew closer, it was causing all too much unnecessary stress. So I just told them flat out and repeatedly: No Way! Until they finally got it. And after that, they let me CHOOSE my instrument for a performance. Imagine that. So I picked the bongos. They gave me 2 songs to sing as well (with a group) but it took me quite a long time and the efforts of many people to get the kanji (Japanese characters) translated.
Then, literally 3 days before the show, they told me I was going to be in a skit with all the male teachers (why I was the only female, I don�t know..) I was to play the role of Ikura chan, a loud and enthusiastic little baby boy. Ok.
I just received my costume this morning before the festival. It consisted of a large red gingham shirt that looked more like a potato sack that an article of clothing and had a red bow at the neck, a real baby bib that was somewhat strangling, and a white baby sized sailor hat with a penguin on it and an elastic string that tied under your chin. Yessir. I looked mighty fine. So these were my lines:
(Ikura chan - that�s me and my "father" come skipping up to the stage from the back of the gym and sing:)
�chew chew chew it yourself, everything you eat
chew it and chew it and chew it chew it
rice and fish and meat."
Father: Ikura chan, how �bout going to Yabase Elementary�s music festival?
Me: Sounds wonderful! But I�m hungry now
Father: Me too! Let�s have a breakfast shall we? (the dialog with me was all said in English by the way, and I told him at least twice that there was no �a" before breakfast, but he still said it)
Me: Okay!! (with a big smile and loud voice)
Then we basically said hellos to the other characters and improvised small talk as we pretended to sit down to eat.
I decided if I was going to look so silly, I might as well act the part and hamed it up a bit. And the kids were calling me Ikura chan and applauding me in the halls afterwards. So I guess it was a good thing after all.
The skit was based on a comic called Sazae san, which is comparable to our Peanuts or Blondie. It came out right after the war and was extremely successful. The writer was a woman who just made jokes about everyday life in Japan. The school�s librarian loaned me an English version and it�s pretty good stuff, packed with Japanese culture. You can learn a lot about Japan from Sazae san. I recommend it.
More more thing, if you're a shy person and want to get over it, join JET!!!!!!
Sunday - October 5, 2003
7:55 pm
It�s been a good weekend. I actually feel somewhat rejuvenated and ready to take on another week of crazy little Japanese kids. (well, maybe..) God I love weekends. I don't know what I'd do without them. Friday I went to a jazz concert. The pianist was literally jumping out of his seat, the bass player was constantly bobbing up and down and throwing his leg out in the air. And the drummer had a great 1964 Ringo-ish quality to him. The two horn players seemed to love the art of anticipation and would constantly leave the audience asking for the next beat. You rarely see such a display of emotion among people here (well at least outside of the bar that is - )
So then Kim (my predecessor and fellow JET) and I went over to the Shin�s house and had some late night nabu, which is yet another dish you get to cook yourself at the table (the Japanese are all about that). Basically everybody throws tofu and mushrooms and veggies and meat and whatever you want into this big boiling pot and pick it out with your chopsticks at your leisure. It�s quite fun. Anyway, we stayed up chatting till the wee hours of the morn.
Saturday I was supposed to go to a Monet exhibit but I didn�t wake up until 2pm! I haven�t done that since I was in the states, and it was so nice.
So once I got myself reoriented, I made the hour train trip to Tottori shi and met up with a group of JETs for dinner and a ...bowling tournament. Yes. It was the ALTs (assistant language teachers - that�s me) vs. the CIRs (coordinators of international relations). Anyway, the CIRs ended up winning the much-treasured tambourine of victory. sigh. Maybe next time kids. So then we went to Viva Shiva (my favorite place to eat) and had some excellent vegetarian Indian cuisine.
Today I hung out with Sachiko, one of the younger teachers from my school. We went to a lake beside Mt. Daisen and were greeted by several horses (not too common a sight here). Everyone though that I, being from Texas, knew all about horses and said I had to have my pic taken with one.... I�m just thankful they didn�t ask me to jump on it�s back and make it do tricks or something.
Then we went to this gorgeous flower park and I got to check out some amazing plants I�d never seen before. I�m going to make a link for flower pics a bit later I think. But here are a few for now...
After that we made a stop by this little heaven that Sachiko called the �sweets castle". It�s full of people selling traditional Japanese sweets, but the best part is, you can sample EVERYTHING! So I didn�t hold back, and had a little of everything. And of course I couldn�t leave without buying a few boxes of pear cookies for the road..
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