Shingu-cho is a medium-sized town, situated in Ibo-gun (county), in the southwestern area of Hyogo Prefecture known as Nishi Harima. Way back when, when daimyos and castles were prevalent here, each region around a castle was like a little country to itself. So each area usually still uses its old "country" name to distinguish itself. We live in the Harima region. (Nishi is the word for west.) As part of being little isolated countries, each one developed its own culture, food and dialects. In Shingu alone, there is several different dialects: Osaka, Kobe, Shingu, Himeji, the regional Kansai, and a very hard to understand Banshu-ben, which Mr. Majima delights in using around us. The population is about 20,000. It's a rather agricultural area, with the main industry here being somen (noodle) factories. Not too far from here, though, is Spring-8 and Harima Science Garden City, an oddly Western sight amongst the craggy mountains. So there's a little of this and that here.
Shingu is almost completely swallowed by the mountains and straddles the Ibogawa River. I had heard that this area is supposed to be one of the most beautiful in Japan, and I think it's true. It's not too rural, though. There are a few convenience stores, some grocery stores, and even a bookstore with video rentals (many in English!) not too far from where I live. And the location is rather convenient for shopping, if you are so inclined. The Kishin Line runs right through town and goes to Himeji. Along the line is Tatsuno, where I love to find great deals at Jusco and Daiei. In Himeji, shopping is divine but everything closes at 8. But from Himeji, I can access Kobe (30-45 min.), Osaka (45-60 min.), Nara (1.5 hrs.), and even Kyoto (2.5 hrs.), almost on a whim. So I enjoy a rural setting while having access to technology and convenience.
the Muratas, the Shiotanis, and our Chinese friends the Cais
Then there's my families. I say families because that's what it feels like when we get together. The Shiotanis, with their daughter, her husband, and their grandson Rikuto, are the first family I met here. We always get together for this and that, including the kenka matsuri (quarrel festival) that we went to in Himeji. (See pics!) The Muratas live near them, with their parents and their two children. We all go to karaoke often, along with Ushitate-san (see pics above). It was with Mr. Murata that I got involved with the Mitsubishi band and played a Christmas concert with them. The Majimas (I have no pics with them yet) are always having me over for dinner and such. Recently, we spent New Year's together. Mr. Majima doesn't speak English, so it's a great opportunity to practice my Japanese. Their older son lives in Tokyo, but their other two children live at home (they're both around our age). Then there's the Cais and their two young daughters, Matia and Claire. Mr. Cai works at Spring-8. We often have "international" dinners (see pic above) with them. It's really great to talk with them (they speak great English) and find out about them. They have traveled all over, including living in France, with Mr. Cai's work as an engineer.
I work at Shingu Senior High School, which is a vocational school for nursing and home economics. There are about 500 students, and about 15 of them boys. This makes for an interesting challenge in teaching. Japanese teenage girls are like American teens ten times over. They're always doing hair, makeup, sleeping, anything but English. Outside of class, though, they are the most endearing people you'll ever meet. And they're so indivual, despite the group-oriented society they live in. They are hard to teach, though. They're much more disruptive than boys in the classroom. It just makes it more worthwhile when you do get through to them.
But what's it like to live and experience Japanese culture? Well, I can definitely say my perception of people and the world as a whole has changed dramatically. There are so many things that happen that I just never expect. Oh, of course, there are the things I came here for: the festivals, the tea ceremony, karaoke, etc. But basically life here is like life anywhere else; humans trying to survive the everyday stresses of life through friendships.
More to come! Check out the online journal! (under construction)
Check out my online journal to see what my day to day life is like or check out my experiences here:
The festivals:
Obon
Kenka Matsuri
Oshogatsu
The tea ceremony
Bunkasai
Halloween
Christmas
Himeji Hachiman Shrine
September 2000
