toyooka

Toyooka International Association
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Greg

The TIA gang, at the Yanagi Matsuri (festival) in August. (This photo taken 8/99)

The Toyooka International Association (TIA) is a branch of the city government which attempts to broaden international understanding and exchange, and to bridge the gap between the people of Toyooka and the rest of the world.

Through TIA, Toyooka has established a sister-city relationship with the Spanish city of Alicante. This bond between the two cities has increased international contact, with a student exchange program, visits from representatives of Alicante, and Spanish cultural events.

CIR To maintain the sister-city relationship, TIA employs a Spanish CIR (Coordinator of International Relations) through the JET Program. This CIR is in constant correspondence with the government of Alicante, and educates the Toyooka community about Spanish culture, through school visits, Spanish language classes open to the public, and various special events. The current CIR, Teresa, also teaches flamenco, as well as the occasional cooking class (Spanish potato tortillas! yum!!) The previous CIR, Maite, is now Teresa's counterpart in the Alicante city government. A new CIR (named Marta) will be arriving around the same time as you...

   ��{�� In addition to Spanish classes, TIA also offers Japanese classes for foreigners living in Tajima. Of course, you don't have to take these classes, but I personally found them very useful and fun. If anything, it's a good way to meet and get to know the other JETs in the area, as well as the teachers, who are kind enough to volunteer their time to teach us. The person to contact in TIA regarding these lessons is Takako Kishida. Her English is pretty good, and she's always more than willing to help JETs with any problems or questions. She can be e-mailed at [email protected]


    �p��b Takako may also approach you about teaching TIA-sponsored English conversation classes (eikaiwa), usually for just one hour, one evening a week (and they pay you!). I taught the advanced level ("free talk") for my first year and a half, but I stopped in order to pursue other things. I recommend teaching these classes, at least for a little while, for it's a really good way to meet people in the community, and to learn about the area and Japan in general.

     ��ۗ�� Aside from flamenco and language classes (Chinese is also offered!), TIA sponsors various events and activities, in attempts to broaden intercultural understanding. These include cooking classes, a hanami (flower viewing) party in the spring, Halloween and Christmas parties, rice planting in the spring and harvesting in autumn, mochi (rice cake) pounding around New Year's, and public forums on internationalization. Also, for Toyooka's annual Yanagi Matsuri (the festival celebrating the willow tree and its use in making traditional Toyooka wicker baskets and bags; pretty much the largest festival in Toyooka), foreigners are invited to dance with the TIA group. It's a lot of fun, and I recommend you join in the festivities in August!

     �֐�� Finally, as a random side note (but in keeping with the "international understanding" theme), here is some essential vocabulary in Kansai-ben, the dialect of the Kansai region. These are words & phrases they won't teach you at Japanese class, here or in your home country! Click on NEXT to view the glossary...

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