I fail at blogging. I've been here for a half a term, and I've managed to complete less than probably about five posts in all. A friend from Carleton finally inspired me to begin posting again. (Even if it's just a short haiku even once in a while or something.) Just so to let you all know what I've been up since the last post:
-Japanese Hardcore/Punk Show
-Hiroshima and Miyajima
-A Community Field/Activity Day (ιεδΌ）
-Field Trip to a Japanese Prison
-All You Can Eat Pork Dumplings (YEAH I KNOW-INSANE RIGHT?)
-Volunteered in an Senior Citizen Day Center
-Clubbing in Shinsaibashi on Halloween
-Universal Studios Japan
-Mexican food in Namba
-Weekly Church group meetings (also atypical, but it was a host-family related activity)
-America Town (Amemura: Which was bizzare. I imagine it must have been what it's like for mainland Chinese to venture into the Chinatowns across the world. It was a very odd, somewhat stagnated part of American fashion/culture that these stores happened to capture)
The events that I'm looking forward to most (at least the one's I've planned so far)
-My Mom comes to visit and we'll take a trip down to Wakayama
-I'll be meeting my boyfriend in Tokyo!
-Sake Brewery in Kobe
-Byodoin in Kyoto!!!!!
-The Autumn leaves in Kyoto!
As you can see, these haven't been planned out very well, but at least I'm starting to have a backbone of the things that I would like to see/do in my remaining weeks in Japan!
Hopefully I'll be able to write more extensively soon!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Peace Osaka and Hiroshima
I took a look at my calendar today, and nearly had a panic attack; I cannot believe that I have already been living and studying in Japan for just over a month. It seems like just yesterday that I was in a Korean airport waiting out the five-hour layover of a 26-hour flight itinerary before I was finally permitted to enter the country that I’d been dreaming about for the past 15 years or so.
These blog entries have been pretty half-hearted and driven primarily by guilt. But I realize now that I should be using this blog much like a diary, keeping track of the various adventures I embark upon. Well, that was a little bit too much of an overstatement-how about I just don’t want to look back about 3 years from now and have no recollection of how I spent the four months of my life in a foreign country. Now that I have, to some extent, pieced together some semblance of a schedule, and I bought an electrical adapter, I can more routinely post. Thus far, I haven’t really picked a direction for this blog. It’s more or less just some random observations on lesser-known details of Japanese culture interspersed with details of my personal life and greater existence. It seems like it should be pretty low maintenance, so I think I’ll run with it. HAH.
Because I’m feeling particularly motivated, I think that I’ll continue on for a little bit longer...
This past weekend, I went to Peace Osaka, and Osaka Castle, located in, of course, Osaka. Peace Osaka is a politically controversial museum, because it narrates both sides of Japanese involvement in World War II. Here is what was written on a pamphlet at this peace museum.
“In the course of the Second World War, the destructive power of more than fifty air raids left major sections of Osaka completely demolished...[a] countless number of Japanese people lost their precious lives, became wounded or fell to illness. At the same time, we shall not forget that Japan was responsible for the great hardships suffered by the peoples of China and Other Asian-pacific regions…and the peoples of Korea and Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule.”
This museum hopes that by sharing the firsthand experiences of the devastating consequences of war that it can cause war to become less of an abstract concept in the mind of people, and instill a more fervent desire for peace.
I will say, from first-hand experience that this museum certainly achieves its goal. I left utterly depressed, and with a smoldering sense of hatred. But what did I hate? Did I hate my own people, Americans that had caused torn apart civilian families through near constant air raids? Did I hate the Japanese that literally enslaved their neighbors? Did I hate the European countries that permitted this entire mess to begin? There was so much pain and suffering, that no country could escape that period of time with a spotless conscience. I soon came to the realization that the reason I was so immensely confused and torn was due to the museums brilliant layout. It essentially guides the visitor, in this case me, to feel that hating one country or another for their past actions is inane, futile, and can only result in more injury; however, hating war, and realizing that war itself is the true enemy is a more worthwhile state of mind.
After leaving the Peace museum, I ambled over to Osaka Castle, which was only about 15 minutes away. Upon first sight, I was impressed and intimidated by such a massive and impregnable looking structure. I was later disappointed to find out that the structure was merely a museum, and a reconstructed concrete museum at that. The original structure had been burnt down and since rebuilt several times.
I did enter the museum, only to find many relics that related to war and to the feudal era of Japan. There were many samurai related articles, particularly those relating to the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. In some ways, I felt a bit obscene walking from a peace museum over to a museum dedicated to a period of history defined by conflict, conflict that is almost always glorified in some ways.
This coming weekend, I’ll be venturing into to the Southern part of Japan to see Hiroshima and, as long as I’m down there, Miyojima. Given my experiences this past weekend, I’m really quite apprehensive about how I feel about travelling to Ground Zero. To be honest, I’m not really looking forward to it. Each day seems to be leading up to this trip. I’m doing readings, and watching documentaries, each leaving me with a little less faith in humanity than the last. This may be one of the most important places I go to see while I’m in Japan.
These blog entries have been pretty half-hearted and driven primarily by guilt. But I realize now that I should be using this blog much like a diary, keeping track of the various adventures I embark upon. Well, that was a little bit too much of an overstatement-how about I just don’t want to look back about 3 years from now and have no recollection of how I spent the four months of my life in a foreign country. Now that I have, to some extent, pieced together some semblance of a schedule, and I bought an electrical adapter, I can more routinely post. Thus far, I haven’t really picked a direction for this blog. It’s more or less just some random observations on lesser-known details of Japanese culture interspersed with details of my personal life and greater existence. It seems like it should be pretty low maintenance, so I think I’ll run with it. HAH.
Because I’m feeling particularly motivated, I think that I’ll continue on for a little bit longer...
This past weekend, I went to Peace Osaka, and Osaka Castle, located in, of course, Osaka. Peace Osaka is a politically controversial museum, because it narrates both sides of Japanese involvement in World War II. Here is what was written on a pamphlet at this peace museum.
“In the course of the Second World War, the destructive power of more than fifty air raids left major sections of Osaka completely demolished...[a] countless number of Japanese people lost their precious lives, became wounded or fell to illness. At the same time, we shall not forget that Japan was responsible for the great hardships suffered by the peoples of China and Other Asian-pacific regions…and the peoples of Korea and Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule.”
This museum hopes that by sharing the firsthand experiences of the devastating consequences of war that it can cause war to become less of an abstract concept in the mind of people, and instill a more fervent desire for peace.
I will say, from first-hand experience that this museum certainly achieves its goal. I left utterly depressed, and with a smoldering sense of hatred. But what did I hate? Did I hate my own people, Americans that had caused torn apart civilian families through near constant air raids? Did I hate the Japanese that literally enslaved their neighbors? Did I hate the European countries that permitted this entire mess to begin? There was so much pain and suffering, that no country could escape that period of time with a spotless conscience. I soon came to the realization that the reason I was so immensely confused and torn was due to the museums brilliant layout. It essentially guides the visitor, in this case me, to feel that hating one country or another for their past actions is inane, futile, and can only result in more injury; however, hating war, and realizing that war itself is the true enemy is a more worthwhile state of mind.
After leaving the Peace museum, I ambled over to Osaka Castle, which was only about 15 minutes away. Upon first sight, I was impressed and intimidated by such a massive and impregnable looking structure. I was later disappointed to find out that the structure was merely a museum, and a reconstructed concrete museum at that. The original structure had been burnt down and since rebuilt several times.
I did enter the museum, only to find many relics that related to war and to the feudal era of Japan. There were many samurai related articles, particularly those relating to the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families. In some ways, I felt a bit obscene walking from a peace museum over to a museum dedicated to a period of history defined by conflict, conflict that is almost always glorified in some ways.
This coming weekend, I’ll be venturing into to the Southern part of Japan to see Hiroshima and, as long as I’m down there, Miyojima. Given my experiences this past weekend, I’m really quite apprehensive about how I feel about travelling to Ground Zero. To be honest, I’m not really looking forward to it. Each day seems to be leading up to this trip. I’m doing readings, and watching documentaries, each leaving me with a little less faith in humanity than the last. This may be one of the most important places I go to see while I’m in Japan.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Language Abilities=not complete fail
I'm really excited that I'm able to communicate, at least on some level, with many of the Japanese people that I encounter. What I'm particularly excited about, is being able to communicate with my host mother!
At first, I felt like I would never be able to communicate with her, because her regional speech was slightly different than I was accustomed to hearing, and she spoke very quickly. But now I'm able to talk to her about things that I've done in school, and about the friends I'm making.
I was also able to listen to a lecture on homelessness and the Burakumin community in Japan, in Japan. I was able to understand perhaps about 70% of the lecture. I was extremely happy, especially because much of the language and vocabulary used was not vocabulary that I've encountered in my textbooks-most books don't actively bring up social issues and discrimination in Japan.
This is really exciting to me, especially because I was not confident in my ability to speak Japanese. In fact, while I was packing for my trip, I pretty much had a meltdown and broke out the books for some emergency study time! I'm happy because I'm also improving, and I can even feel people responding to my Japanese differently! Well...I do have my first major test tomorrow, so I should probably head home to study!
At first, I felt like I would never be able to communicate with her, because her regional speech was slightly different than I was accustomed to hearing, and she spoke very quickly. But now I'm able to talk to her about things that I've done in school, and about the friends I'm making.
I was also able to listen to a lecture on homelessness and the Burakumin community in Japan, in Japan. I was able to understand perhaps about 70% of the lecture. I was extremely happy, especially because much of the language and vocabulary used was not vocabulary that I've encountered in my textbooks-most books don't actively bring up social issues and discrimination in Japan.
This is really exciting to me, especially because I was not confident in my ability to speak Japanese. In fact, while I was packing for my trip, I pretty much had a meltdown and broke out the books for some emergency study time! I'm happy because I'm also improving, and I can even feel people responding to my Japanese differently! Well...I do have my first major test tomorrow, so I should probably head home to study!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Fujisan
I realize that the last post was a bit vague, but I find that I'm left with very little free time, and even less time where I have access to internet. When I do have both, I find that I'm more interested in posting on facebook than on my blog, which is kind of a shame. Sorry!
Anyways, this past weekend I was able to climb to the top of Mount Fuji! In Japanese, this mountain is revered as being a sacred natural being, so it is addressed as Fuji-san, just as one may address a stranger or person of higher stature.
It may not have been the most physcially demanding mountain that I have ever climbed, as the conditions were certainly favorable, but it certainly was the most impressive. I was actually able to see the sun rise above the clouds, and it was so pretty that I wouldn't mind doing it again. However, as a Japanese cotowaza or saying goes, "You are wise to climb Fuji once and a fool to climb it twice." I guess once was enough-for now.
This weekend, I think that I'll be bumming around in Osaka, and I may be able to go to a very interesting Karaoke place or something.
Best!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Finding humor in the Mistakes I make!
I'm doing my best to live by Japanese standards, but it's far more difficult than one might expect. For example, I eat to loud, I don't say good morning loud enough, I don't say good morning early enough and so on and so forth. At first I was rather distraught by the sheer volume of mistakes I was making, but now I've come to view them in a different light.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Culture Shock
Let me start by saying: It has been my dream, for as long as I can remember, to come to Japan. I didn't care if it was to study, travel, or reside in Japan. As long as I was able to go, I would be happy. When I entered college, it was never a question whether or not I would go abroad to Japan, it was just a matter of how long, where, and when. I had spent two years studying the language, and countless (well, not really countless because I'm only 20) more studying the culture, and history of Japan. I finally made it to Japan, and I'll be here for the next four months!
I've been in Japan for nearly two weeks now, but it seems like I have been here for so much longer. I've already attended a full week of classes, moved in with a host family, opened a bank account, gone shopping, visited one of Kyoto's many temple's, hit up an izakaya, and done purikura. It's safe to say that my scant two weeks here have been chock full or adventures and learning!
My preconceived notions of Japan would are far from the truth. Not only are the people here not ninja's, they also aren't part of an intergalactic crime fighting team hell bent on saving the entire universe. Even the more mundane preconceptions, such as the Japanese eat tofu and rice at every single meal and read manga on the trains, don't seem to be true. However, for every shattered daydream stands a new piece of cultural understanding. Not all Japanese soups are meant to be slurped, nor are all young Japanese males obsessed with anime, manga, and video games. In fact, there are far too many things to write down in this blog that I've already learned, but I was told to shorten my blog entries, so that may be more easily digested.
I've come to fully realize my identity as an American; in America, I have never really felt, per se, AMERICAN. However, here in Japan I realize that there are many irreconcilable aspects of my personality that could only truly be attributed to being born and raised in New York. Also, before coming to Japan, I never understood why Americans were stereotyped as being, fat, loud, and ignorant. But I, being about average weight, with slightly above average familiarity with Japanese culture/language, and fairly considerate for an American college student, have been made to feel like a large, blundering fool that is incapable of doing anything correctly. I'm not sure whether or not it is depressing to look around and see some students making better impressions than I, but far many more desperately drowning (sometimes completely unaware of their scraggly, waterlogged states). Ah well, I can't do anything perfectly (no matter how badly I may wish I could), the only thing I can really do is to pray that the mistakes I make won't be beyond horrible, or anything that the gaijin card can't cover. Wish me luck!
I've been in Japan for nearly two weeks now, but it seems like I have been here for so much longer. I've already attended a full week of classes, moved in with a host family, opened a bank account, gone shopping, visited one of Kyoto's many temple's, hit up an izakaya, and done purikura. It's safe to say that my scant two weeks here have been chock full or adventures and learning!
My preconceived notions of Japan would are far from the truth. Not only are the people here not ninja's, they also aren't part of an intergalactic crime fighting team hell bent on saving the entire universe. Even the more mundane preconceptions, such as the Japanese eat tofu and rice at every single meal and read manga on the trains, don't seem to be true. However, for every shattered daydream stands a new piece of cultural understanding. Not all Japanese soups are meant to be slurped, nor are all young Japanese males obsessed with anime, manga, and video games. In fact, there are far too many things to write down in this blog that I've already learned, but I was told to shorten my blog entries, so that may be more easily digested.
I've come to fully realize my identity as an American; in America, I have never really felt, per se, AMERICAN. However, here in Japan I realize that there are many irreconcilable aspects of my personality that could only truly be attributed to being born and raised in New York. Also, before coming to Japan, I never understood why Americans were stereotyped as being, fat, loud, and ignorant. But I, being about average weight, with slightly above average familiarity with Japanese culture/language, and fairly considerate for an American college student, have been made to feel like a large, blundering fool that is incapable of doing anything correctly. I'm not sure whether or not it is depressing to look around and see some students making better impressions than I, but far many more desperately drowning (sometimes completely unaware of their scraggly, waterlogged states). Ah well, I can't do anything perfectly (no matter how badly I may wish I could), the only thing I can really do is to pray that the mistakes I make won't be beyond horrible, or anything that the gaijin card can't cover. Wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)