Across AJET Japan

Transcription

Across AJET Japan

FEBRUARY
2002
February
AJET Across Japan
AJET
Across
Japan
WHAT ’S INSID E
7 Studying Japanese
9 Thar She Blows
14
Short Story
23 AJET Elections
www.ajetacrossjapan.com
AJET Across Japan
VF EBRUARY
2
2002
From the Editor
Playing with Fire
February is an unscrupulous month. Concealed between
New Year’s and almost the end of winter, February hits most JET
participants with a tremendous emotional punch. Seven months
of highs and lows are counted up, experiential negatives and positives are quantified, a paper gets signed, and the next five months
are faced with a whole new perspective. The new opportunity to
continue into a fourth year for some JETs simply hands over a
few more victims to the dreaded ni-gatsu. I hope that the February issue of AAJ might provide you with some relief. There’s an
interesting renewal-related short story from Kelley Rich and a
thought-provoking take on culture shock and whale meat in the
rice bowl from Rod Overaa. Whether or not you intend to renew,
please remember next year’s leaders and vote in the AJET elections. Platforms will be published in the March issue. And perhaps you can relieve some of that decision-making stress by writing a submission for the AAJ. As always, feel free to contact me at
ajetacrossjapan@yahoo.com. Good luck.
Dear Fellow JETs,
I am a second year ALT in Nara Prefecture
and am writing to ask your assistance in turning a
fundraising endeavor into a classroom project with
attainable real-life humanitarian goals. My first experience with the Non-Profit Organization Kokkyo
Naki Kodomotachi – Children Without Borders –
was when I spent a small portion of my summer
holiday visiting the KNK sponsored children’s shelters in Vietnam. The children I met –
pre-teens sold into prostitution
or forced to deal narcotics often by their own parents –
these kids didn’t ask for a thing.
For them, a tin of crayons was
all it took to bring hundredwatt smiles to their faces. It is on their behalf that
I present the following request.
5
Fishy Culture
Shock
9-11
Short Story ThaiStyle
14-21
The cover photography features Yanaizu,
Fukushima’s Kokuzon Hadaka Mairi. The
picture was taken by Dana Chapnick.
paign is a chance to turn a charity event into a classroom project with the simultaneous goals of increasing international awareness among your students
as well as raising funds for the most abused children in neighboring Asian countries. Students are
asked to go out into the community and collect
five-yen coins, stringing them on ropes twenty at a
time. The go en coin has a special significance in
Japanese lore-- to find one’s destiny and bring good
fortune to the recipient.
Imagine if your destiny was
to bring good fortune to an
underprivileged child in another country. The money
from the 5 en ropes will
directly help these children
in need.
Letter to
the Editor
As cultural ambassadors in Japan, one of our
primary goals is to bring the outside world into
the local community. The Yujo Go En Dama cam-
For KNK, the goals of this campaign are the
joint aims of education, cultural exchange and humanitarian aid. For JETs, one of the greatest challenges we as educators face is presenting material
in a way that is both interesting and accessible to
continued on page 3
FEBRUARY 2002
AJET Across Japan
3
continued from page 2
our students. This project will provide a way to achieve all of these
goals. Consider my own experience.
EDITOR
Ann Culp
ON-LINE EDITOR
Owen Grieb
ADVERTISING EDITOR
Leika Hancock
Earth Bennett, Angela
Broeckels, Dana Chapnick,
Mark Flanigan, Ginevra
House, Derrick Johnson,
Rod Overaa, Kelley Rich,
Brett Robson, Andrea
Smith
AAJ is published at the beginning of each month. The
deadline for A A J article
submisions and Letters to the
Editor is the 10th of each
month.
AJET Across Japan is produced for the benefit of all
AJET groups and AJET members. AAJ is an open forum.
The AAJ Editor will accept submissions and edit based on
space availability. All submissions and letters should be
sent
to
ajetacrossjapan@yahoo.com.
Advertising should be sent to:
aajadverts@yahoo.com
On-line inquiries should go to:
grieb@cts-net.ne.jp
Letters to the Editor:
ajetacrossjapan@yahoo.com
After prompting students to create a list of needs in Japan versus that of developing Asian countries, the result was the poignantly
skewed picture of ketais and computers versus food and shelter. Students were allowed to reach their own conclusions about why this
project is necessary, thereby instilling an intrinsically motivated desire to get involved. Following these classroom scenarios in which
students created flyers and posters, we went out into the community
together, encouraging assistance from shops and restaurants, libraries
and Lion’s Clubs. Jars were filled, ropes were strung and, in the end,
a combined effort led by JETs in eighty schools across Japan,
¥900,000 in go en coins was raised within a two-month time allotment.
In the coming months, specific details of the next Yujo Go En
Dama campaign will be circulated to all JET Participants in Japan.
In the meantime, if you would like further information about KNK
or the Go En Dama campaign, please consult their website at
www.knk.or.jp or consult the AJETVSIG site at www.geocities.com/
ajetvsig or contact me at go_en@hotmail.com.
We hope that by the time the material is received and the
deadlines are in place, JETs will be eager enough to spearhead this
campaign within their own communities. As you know, there are
over 6,000 JETs in Japan. Together, there is so much that we can
do.
Rachel Jones
Nara
AJET Across Japan
4
Chair:
Angela Broeckel
ajetncchair@yahoo.com
Vice Chair:
J.D. Sparks
ajetvc@yahoo.com
Treasurer: Benjamin Hedrick
ajettreasurer@yahoo.com.com
Block 1 (Akita, Aomori, Hokkaido,
Iwate, Yamagata):
Brian Clarke
ajetb1@yahoo.com
Block 2 (Fukushima, Miyagi,
Niigata, Tochigi):
Dana Chapnick
ajetblock2@yahoo.com
Block 3 (Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama):
Kamala Burks
genkiblock3@yahoo.com
Block 4 (Chiba, Kanagawa, Tokyo,
Yamanishi):
Emily Friedman
ajetb4@yahoo.com
Block 5 (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Nagano,
Shizuoka):
Brendan Keenan
Block 6 (Fukui, Ishikawa, Kyoto,
Shiga, Toyama):
Erica Yelensky
Block 7 (Hyogo, Nara, Osaka,
Wakayama):
Omar Karlin
Block 8 (Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi,
Okayama, Shimane, Tokushima,
Tottori):
Alonzo Surrette
Block 9 (Fukuoka, Hiroshima,
Nagasaki, Saga, Yamaguchi):
Kiesha Speech
Block 10 (Kagoshima, Kumamoto,
Miyazaki, Oita, Okinawa):
Gabriel Johnson
ajetb10@yahoo.com
CIR/SEA Rep:
Catherine Dawson
ajetcirsea@yahoo.com
Database Administrator:
Nicholas Dimascio
ajetdba@yahoo.com
News
VF EBRUARY
2002
The
Voice
Hello JETs and welcome back from your Winter Holidays!
I hope this edition of AAJ finds you well and rested after your
time off from work. Some of you traveled abroad and took advantage
of the location of Japan in reference to all of the Southeastern Asian
countries, others of you jaunted out to Europe to explore the culture
there, some of you stayed home here in Japan, and others went home
for the holidays. I sincerely hope that wherever you spent your vacation you had a chance to re-focus and regenerate your energy for the
coming year.
This next year in the JET Programme offers many improvements that will benefit everyone involved. One of those changes
concerns 3rd year JETs — this year 3rd year JETs are able to apply
for a 4th year on the JET Programme either as an Elementary School
ALT or as an ALT Advisor. It will depend on the prefecture how
many 4th year JETs they intend to hire. The requirements on becoming a 4th year include:
- A good understanding and use of the Japanese language (equivalent to that of an entering CIR on the JET Programme); and,
- A high work performance at their host institution.
If you are interested in staying a 4th and possibly a 5th year on
the JET Programme, and you are a 3rd year JET, please make sure to
read the February CLAIR newsletter. This newsletter will contain
the information you will need to know for applying to these positions.
So, there you have it! Again, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ
THE FEBRUARY CLAIR NEWSLETTER!
If you have any questions after reading that, as always, send me an
email at: ajetncchair@yahoo.com.
Keep warm in this cold weather, and keep the spirit of AJET alive!
Angela Broeckel
AJET National Council Chair
ajetncchair@yahoo.com
ajetacrossjapan@yahoo.com
FEBRUARY 2002
News
AJET Across Japan
5
The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival
My favorite and last drinking story...
Andrea Smith
Nagano
Although technically rated one of the best
three coming of age festivals in Japan, I have been
to Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival only twice (once I
was so intoxicated I’m not sure it counts). Nozawa
Onsen is a small ski resort village located in Northern Northern Nagano. The fire festival involves gallons of free communal sake (also known as Satan’s
water), flames, smoke ash, a 3-story wooden structure, straw traditional costumes, police and firemen
who could take the prize for highest alcohol in blood
content, and have I mentioned the fire and flames
yet? So basically the event is total insanity not to
mention the attendance of dozens of Nagano JETs
(whose appearance somehow adds to the chaos). I
am all for non-drinking events but if you are a professional boozehound like myself or are a cultural
festival demon or you simply are “eviiiiel” and want
to witness blackmail worthy drunken-ness acts that
Nagano JETs are guaranteed to perform than this
is the festival for you… (some of them will be
SWEATING as they read this, I love it).
I must digress and get a little cultural on you
to provide some pertinent information. The Nozawa
Onsen Fire Festival is a coming of age ceremony for
the men in this small ski village. It is always on
January 15th and there is always metres and metres
continued on page 6
Hello everyone and welcome back to winter!!! For those of you
NOT buried in the snow, consider yourselves… hmmm, unlucky? I
don’t know, this white stuff is pretty spectacular and all the fun we get
to have! Snowball fights, building snowmen, skiing, snowboarding,
snow shoeing… the list goes on!
The
Beat
If you ARE in the snow and you’re finding yourself a bit bummed
out and not really up for the mountain sports… no worries, there’s plenty of other stuff to do during
the winter season in Japan. There are heaps of festivals and New Year’s markets! All you’ve got to do is
ask someone and you’ll be whisked off before you know it to a quadrillion different festivities! Just check
out the latest festival in my area!!!
Z
Now that’s what I call interesting! If you don’t have anything that
spectacular in your town, go visit someone who does! Just don’t get
those winter blues and sit alone under the kotatsu! (Did anyone ever tell
you those things are cancerous? Long exposure is definitely not a good
idea!)
As for AJET, the big news is this: ELECTIONS, ELECTIONS,
ELECTIONS!!! If you haven’t seen all the announcements and articles… turn the page please!!! We
want YOU on the AJET National Council! So get your motivated, genki, wanna-make-a-difference, self
into action and submit that platform!!! Hey, there’s another thing to do if you wanna stay inside! Write
a platform for the AJET NC Elections!
OK, that’s it for now. Until next month, take care of yourselves and find some interesting festivals
in your area… and by all means, take photos and share your experience with the rest of us at AAJ!
Dana Chapnick
AJET Block 2 Representative
AJET Across Japan
6
News
of snow on the ground, the trip up (or down) to
see the amount of snow here is worth the drive
alone. Throughout the week the male town folk
build a 2-3 story wooden and straw structure
that is shaped like the top half of an hour glass.
The arrangement has gotta be stable so that all
the would-be 35 year olds in the town can sit on
the top for hours in the cold night of the 15th.
Drinking sake from huge traditional wooden
bottles are their only means for achieving
warmth. These dudes are hardcore. The danger
area is roped off which includes the big wooden
structure at the bottom of the hill, two big stacks
of wood (about to be bonfires) placed in the middle of the hill and the slippery ice slope in between. Hundreds come to gather behind the ropes (including the BBC two years
ago) to await for the hours of hilarity that are about to ensue.
The Nozawa torch, which is made of wood but resembles a dozen tied up
pieces of straw, is lit and then carried from the source (which is some traditional
house in the heart of Nozawa). When the bonfires are lit with the torch, each male
in the village takes his turn lighting his torch and charging down the icy slope to
attempt to light the structure on fire. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old men of the
village are hanging out at the bottom of the structure, holding onto ropes suspended from the top of the structure. Their mission is to protect the 35-year-olds
perched on top by batting the incoming fire torches with sticks. This continues
for a couple of hours while mass amounts of sake are consumed, and the crowd
cheers on. For those foreigners who dare to take their turn at it, smoke fumes are
inhaled, skin and hair become ash-soaked, ski jackets are burned and surprised
happy-drunk Japanese faces are encountered throughout the charging ordeal. A
special props should go out to the designated drivers, otherwise known as the
people who will tell hilarious stories about how to herd the drunk JET sheep into
their car while not losing track of the other drunk losers in the snow. In fact, that
is the scariest bit of all. Every couple of years a local gets drunk and alone enough
to fall asleep in the snow and suffer hypothermia. And one last tip besides dressing
really really warmly. Whatever you do, DO NOT try out your new Japanese if it
is nomitai (which means I want to drink), especially if you are a foreign girl who
roams from friends during events such as these and you respond well to a crowd of
hundreds cheering you on as 7 old Japanese men line up to pour sake down your
throat; your fate may become hours of toilet hugging fun. The best festival in
Japan is on January 15th every year and definitely the place to be decades from now
when you need to know where to go when you want to teach your grandkids how
to ski and your kids how to party Japan-style.
VF EBRUARY
2002
FEBRUARY 2002
Level
UP
Z
Studying Japanese
Brett Robson
The Yamasa Institute
JETs have a wonderful opportunity to develop
Japanese language skills, unfortunately due to many
very good reasons, and some not so good reasons;
the majority go home with little to show for it. Perhaps the biggest reason is a lack of direction, knowing what and how to study.
I meet many eikaiwa and JET Programme
teachers, and as I work at a Japanese language school,
I’m often asked for advice on studying Japanese. In
this article I’ll concentrate on beginner level. In
future articles I’ll look at other issues including the
Japanese Proficiency Test and full time study.
Nothing beats full time study. Attending a
residential summer or winter course is a great way
to quickly boost your proficiency and should be
something to consider if you stay on for a 2nd or
3rd year. Full time study after you’ve finished JET
is also a good option. Of course I’d have to recommend our own school www.yamasa.org but there
are other schools worth considering. Be careful of
programs that gear up for a summer program. Many
employ part time teachers that are, at best, inexperienced, at worse unqualified. Accommodation is
also a major headache for potential students.
It can be very difficult to find a teacher locally
but it is possible to study by yourself. If you follow
this plan you can have quite reasonable ability in
one year. You will need help perhaps from a friendly
teacher or your students. Many International
Centers have notice boards of people looking for
“language exchange”. I don’t think it’s very useful,
you are best off with someone who speaks very little English. Using your students is good motivation for them, they will see your efforts and hopefully that will encourage them.
Beware of spending too much money on books
▲
AJET Across Japan
7
and dictionaries. You probably don’t
need a kanji dictionary and you could
get by without a dictionary at first, my recommended texts have all the definitions you need.
There are lots of books written in English about
studying Japanese, for instance the Power Japanese
series; avoid these like the plague. A good rule of
thumb is that a book primarily written in English
is a waste of time. As you get more advanced you
will need a grammar reference.
Hiragana and Katakana
You have to learn hiragana and katakana. Some
people struggle with this but it is a very important
step. Drill yourself with index cards. Get your students to write words on the backboard and read
them, of course they will write rude words. There
is plenty of opportunity to read katakana in supermarkets. There are several books available that teach
kana, but at best they are a waste of time, and at
worst are bad for your learning (because they teach
the kana out of order). Several kana look very similar, for instance hiragana RU/RO and SA/CHI, so
you might need to work out a way to remember
them.
Text book
Do not use a book that contains romaji, Japanese written in the English alphabet. If you do,
your pronunciation will be crippled forever and you
won’t be able to use a Japanese dictionary. I recommend the excellent series Minna no Nihongo which
is written in Japanese and is not the same book as
“Japanese for Everyone” - see below for details. This
series has supplemented the Shin Nihongo Kiso series.
There are two volumes, each has a grammar
book, a translation and explanatory book available
in many languages, and a homework book. You
should be able to order it from any bookstore (It
doesn’t seem to be available from US or Japan Amazon). The Minna no Nihongo books have Japanese
as it is normally written using the appropriate kanji
but also has small hiragana (known as furigana) written over each character to give the reading. This
continual exposure to kanji means you will learn
continued on page 8
VF EBRUARY
AJET Across Japan
8
many kanji simply
from seeing them often and as you learn
more you will rely on
the furigana less.
2002
Recommended Text Books
Minna no Nihongo 1 (Text) ISBN 4-88319-102-8 2,500yen
Minna no Nihongo 1 (English grammatical notes) ISBN 4-88319-107-9 2,000yen
Minna no Nihongo 1 (homework book) ISBN 4-88319-135-4 900yen
Minna no Nihongo 2 (text) ISBN 4-88319-103-6 2,500yen
Minna no Nihongo 2 (English grammatical notes) ISBN 4-88319-108-7 2,000yen
Minna no Nihongo 2 (homework book) ISBN 4-88319-140-0 900yen
Study
each
chapter, practice the
new words then read
Basic Kanji Vol 1 (in English) ISBN 4-89358-091-4 2,400yen
the passages and do Basic Kanji Vol 2 (in English) ISBN 4-89358-119-8 2,400yen
the drills with the
students.
Even
though it can take 2 to 3 hours, do the and sick, all kanji you learn early on.
The book I recommend is Basic Kanji, as it teaches kanji in
homework and get your helper to check
it. It can be frustrating at first because a logical order and has plenty of exercise material. Many other
you cannot actually say anything use- books teach kanji in the same order that Japanese school chilful but building a good vocabulary is dren learn, be aware of this if you use other study aids such as
vital. With a reasonable amount of ef- kanji flash cards. Again one or two chapters a week is a good
fort you could cover two chapters a speed. (I give a strong warning against the Heisig system). Kanji
week, although one chapter a week will exercise books ruled in boxes, are available from any book store,
interestingly they very often have Australian themes on the cover.
still bring good results.
Studying at a slow pace of one chapter from the text and
one from the kanji book means after a year you will be finished
Kanji
Learning kanji is not a difficult Minna no Nihongo and know 500 kanji, a good level of Japanese
task as much as a big task. The only which would allow you to hold reasonable conversations and
way to tackle it is to keep at it. There is read a surprising amount of material. Doubling this pace to two
a chicken and egg problem with learn- chapters a week should not be too onerous for the average ALT.
ing kanji. At first you are often learn- Remember to revise regularly.
Remember that consistent study is the most important
ing kanji characters that form words
you don’t know and in your text you point and use your Japanese whenever you can, it doesn’t matter
are learning words that you don’t know how silly you sound. Before you know it people will really mean
the kanji for. However as you advance it when they say “nihongo ga jouzu desu ne”.
you’ll find that your kanji knowledge
Brett Robson is a former JET and now works at The Yamasa
helps greatly in your vocabulary study.
Institute, www.yamasa.org in the International Office, as one of
A good example is the word for altithe multi-lingual staff assisting Yamasa students coming to, and
tude sickness, kouzanbyou. It is comstudying in Japan.
posed of the kanji for high, mountain
Peer Support Group
PSG is a telephone support line for JETs
operated by fellow JETs. This service is operated
every night from 8pm to 8am. The toll-free
telephone number for PSG is 0120-43-7225.
Red, orange,
yellow, blue,
gay, straight,
bisexual, Jewish,
Muslim, Hindu
help CLAIR learn
how JETs share their
culture. Answer the
AJET Census.
23-25
FEBRUARY 2002
AJET Across Japan
9
Rod Overaa
Miyagi
There’s something fishy about school lunches
in Japan. Or, more precisely, something distinctly
cetacean. At least there was last Thursday, as I sat
down with my fellow teachers to partake of
the kyuushoku so graciously provided for us each
day. At the time, nothing looked out of the
ordinary—a small salad of spinach, kelp and
grated carrot, some small chunks of meat
coated with sesame seeds, milk, tea, and the
obligatory tin of rice. I wouldn’t have given it
a second thought, had not my kocho-sensei
asked if I was enjoying the meal, glimmers of
impish mischief dancing in his eyes.
“Oishii,” I replied, crunching a morsel
of the mystery-meat between my molars.
“What is it?”
“Kujira desu,” he replied, smiling through
silver-capped teeth. Kujira, I repeated, mentally
thumbing through the highly abridged JapaneseEnglish dictionary in my head. Then I had it.
Kujira. Whale.
Now believe me, I’m no vegetarian. I’m
the kind of guy who can go to the State Fair
back home, pat the cows on their tufty heads,
stare into their soft baby browns and then
order a Big Mac an hour later, with no
compunctions. Cows, pigs, fish, chicken—
they’re all fair game in my book. Hell, it
wouldn’t surprise me if your dictionary had
my picture in it, right next to the word “omnivore.” And as things stand now, eating whale
is probably a hell of a lot safer than eating
Japanese beef. (I’m pretty sure we would’ve
heard about an outbreak of “mad whale disease.”) So, the sudden tempest of queasiness
roiling in my tummy hadn’t been caused by
some niggling moral scruple about eating the
flesh of dead animals.
Neither, I realized, was it a simple matter of personal taste. I don’t begrudge the
Japanese people their anago or unagi (varieties of eel) just because the thought of eating
such creatures causes my stomach to do back-flips.
I don’t have a problem with people eating octopus
or squid, either, though I personally find the rubbery texture of the little devils abhorrent. (The
way I figure it, if my teeth actually bounce off of a
piece of meat, it’s Nature’s way of saying, “Hey,
Thar She Blows!
Culture Shock Served
With a Side of Rice
you shouldn’t be eating that.”) People eat all kinds
of things that I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot fork.
That doesn’t necessarily change my opinion of
them. So what was it about the idea of eating whale
that bothered me so much?
There’s a joke currently whizzing through
cyberspace about two scientists who are discussing
the difference between biology and sociology. “If
the baby looks like the father,” cracks one of the
scientists, “that’s biology. If it looks like the mailman,
that’s sociology.” The parallel should be obvious.
Although there is undeniably a cultural component
at work in the Japanese practice of whaling, when
you boil it down, they’re just putting food on the
table. Human hungry, human eat. Biology, pure
and simple.
My reaction, on the other hand, was purely
sociological—that is to say, driven by a set of beliefs, values and attitudes instilled in me by whatever broad-based culture the United States might
be accused of having. Setting aside for the moment
the issue of endangered species, we Yanks believe
that whales—along with their relatives the dolphin
and porpoise—are highly intelligent creatures. In
fact, many Americans believe that whales are (next
to humans) the most intelligent life forms on the
planet, smarter even than the much-ballyhooed
chimpanzee. (Support for this idea can be found
continued on page 10
AJET Across Japan
VF EBRUARY
2002
10
from page 9
to vomit. Why? Because my cultural values dictate that we humans shouldn’t go about murdering intelligent, self-aware beings.
Especially not with gut-rending
explosive harpoons.
So there I was, watching my
Japanese coworkers blithely
crunching away on their Moby
McNuggets, when I was struck
by another realization, one so
chilling that it caused me to drop
my hashi onto my lunch tray with
a clatter. This was what all those
JET Program lecturers had been
constantly droning on about—
first in Seattle, then at the Tokyo
Orientation, and yet again in
Sendai. This was the dreaded
Sword of Damocles looming ominously over the head of every firstyear JET. This was what I, after
four months in Japan, confidently
believed I had somehow developed an immunity to. This was
Culture Shock.
Once I admitted that I was
suffering from my first official
case of Culture Shock, I was faced
with the dilemma of what to do
about it. Sure, I could take the
Head-in-the-Sand approach,
avoid sullying my tongue with
the unclean whale meat and try
to pretend that This Isn’t Happening. But frankly, that seemed
like a bit of a sell-out, a compromise of my cultural values. (Fe-
in certain scientific
studies,
which suggest
that “whale songs”
are actually highly
sophisticated languages. These
languages appear
to be group-specific, and are
passed down from
generation to generation.) I had—
albeit in ignorance—been eating the flesh of a
sentient being, and it made me
want to vomit. (Female ALTs
who have decided that it’s just
easier to fetch that cup of tea for
their supervisor than to argue the
point might have some idea of
what I mean.) Conversely, I could
leap up onto the proverbial soapbox and decry the evils of whaling until everyone at my school
hated my guts and wished I
would just go home. That didn’t
seem too constructive, either.
After a great deal of introspection, I finally decided on a
less dramatic approach. First, I’d
do some research, to learn a little
more about the Japanese whaling
program. Secondly, I would ask
other ALTs and a few Japanese
people for their opinions on the
issue. That way, I figured, I could
give myself the benefit of a more
balanced perspective, and gain
some keener insights into the foreign culture that surrounded me.
Or, failing that, I would at least
be able to condemn an entire race
of people for their barbarism from
a more informed position (which
was almost as good). Here’s a sample of what I learned:
Commercial whaling has
been banned in Japan since 1988.
Whaling is currently only legal
under the direction of the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research (www.whalesci.org). This
organization—part of the Japanese government’s Fisheries
Agency—currently operates two
whaling programs, one in the
North Pacific and one in the waters off Antarctica. The Antarctic research program allows for
the taking of 400 minke whales
per annum. For the year 2000,
the Northern Pacific fleet was legally permitted to take a total of
160 whales: 100 minke whales;
50 Bryde’s whales; and 10 sperm
whales. The fleet came up only
2 sperm whales short of reaching
this quota. Quotas are subject to
annual revisions, as populations
of various whale species increase
or decrease over time.
Intense scrutiny and pressure from the international community has forced the Japanese
government to attempt to justify
its whaling program. In September 2000, Joji Morishita, head of
Japan’s Fisheries Agency, told
AJET Across Japan
FEBRUARY 2002
11
from page 10
ABC news that Japan’s whale research program is
being conducted in order to gauge the whales’ impact on fish populations. According to Morishita,
the naughty whales are scarfing down so many fish
that the livelihoods of Japanese fishermen are threatened. The Institute of Cetacean Research itself offers this explanation: “In order to gather detailed
information the study of internal organs and tissues is essential.” In other words, they cut ‘em open
just to see what’s inside. Whatever is left over is
sold to wholesalers, who then distribute the meat
to restaurants and—bikuri!—school lunch programs.
International critics, however, call attention
to the possibility that the Japanese research program may in some instances serve as a cover for illegal whaling, either in excess of established quotas,
or of endangered whale species. Since the wholesaling of whale meat in Japan is an industry that
averages between $27-36 million a year in sales,
it’s not hard to imagine that there exists a temptation for poaching. In fact, recent DNA testing on
whale meat sold in Japan has shown that what turns
up on your lunch tray is not only the legally-hunted
minke whale, but also blue whale, humpback whale,
fin whale, and dolphin. The latter three whale species are all protected under the Endangered Species
Act, and as for the dolphins, well, they’re just so
adorable! Canned tuna—often criticized because
dolphins are frequently caught and killed in the
fishermen’s nets—seems eco-friendly by comparison.
The first phase of my impromptu research
complete, I turned to interviewing my fellow JETs.
Most generally agreed that whaling is cruel and unnecessary, a throwback to an era when people depended upon whale oil for light and heat. (Of
course, back then, they also kept slaves and wore
really funny-looking hats.) We all forgave the subsistence whaling conducted by those peoples who
still rely upon whales for survival, such as the natives of northeastern Russia and the Inuit. None of
the JETs I spoke with admitted to knowingly partaking of whale meat—though several of them did
turn a sickly shade of green when I brought the
subject up, leading me to believe that they, like
me, had unwittingly eaten some. One woman—
after an enjoyable and satisfying conversation about
the evils of whaling—kindly offered me a candied
grasshopper from a tin brimming with the little
buggers. I politely declined.
I was surprised, however, to learn that the presence of whale meat was a lesser culinary concern for
some JETs than that of other forms of animal protein. Jewish JETs, for example, decried the almost
daily servings of pork in their school lunches. The
worst thing, they complained, was that they never
knew just where the forbidden pig was going to
show up—in the soup, the salad, the sweet potatoes, or even, on occasion, mixed in with their rice.
For them, lunch had become a spiritual game of
hide-and-seek.
Most of the Japanese people I spoke to adopted
the standard Party Line, that eating whale meat was
okay because only research whales are used. (They
apparently couldn’t see the circular logic here, which
evades the larger question, “Should we be killing
whales for research purposes?”.) Some couldn’t comprehend that this would even be an issue, shrugging their shoulders with a bemused look that said,
“Hey, meat is meat.” Others said that they had no
problem with whaling in principle, though they
didn’t personally care for the taste. A precious few—
I like to think of them as “The Enlightened”—condemned the practice, saying that whaling was no
longer an economic necessity, and was barbarous to
boot. The latter group aside, one thing became
patently clear from my random polling: This was
indeed an issue about which both Westerners and
Japanese had very strong—and very different—cultural attitudes.
Some instances of Culture Shock are undoubtedly worse than others. For example, I hate changing my shoes every time I enter a home or building. It’s a pain in the ass. Worse yet, it makes me
AJET Across Japan
FEBRUARY
EBRUARY 2002
2002
VVF
12
from page 11
feel like Mr. Rogers. I have to consciously stop myself from asking people, “Won’t you be my
neighbor?”. But as irritating as I find this Japanese custom, it registers pretty low on the ol’
Culture-Shock-o-Meter. For one thing, it wasn’t much of a shock in the first place, because I knew
about it beforehand. Secondly, most Americans don’t have a strong cultural bias on shoe etiquette, one way or the other. And lastly, I’ve been forced to adapt to the Japanese way, because it’s
not a policy that’s open to discussion. Like a cigarette smoker, or a kitty-cat with a weak bladder,
the only choice I have in the matter is, “In, or out?”. The problem has been resolved, because I
made a conscious choice to just go with the flow and not get too stressed out about it.
On the other hand, the Culture Shock I experienced as a result of what I now sardonically
refer to as “the whale incident” was perhaps of a more virulent strain, because the root cause of it
cannot be resolved during my stay in Japan, and may not be for decades to come. I certainly don’t
plan to change my own attitudes regarding this issue, and I don’t stand much of a chance changing those of the Japanese people. On this point, we’ll just have to invoke the old saw about
“agreeing to disagree.”
Yet, although I can’t resolve this conflict to my satisfaction, two very good things have come
from the experience. First, I learned a great deal about Japanese culture that might otherwise have
eluded me. If that whale meat had not been served to me, or if no one had bothered to point out
what it was, I never would have gathered all the information presented here, or initiated the
discussions from which I learned so much. This is what international exchanges are all about—
experiencing, learning and teaching about those things that make people different (and hopefully
finding a few things we all have in common, too).
Second, I learned that Culture Shock isn’t necessarily the sinister, disruptive bugaboo that
the guidebooks and JET alumni describe. While my experience certainly qualifies as Culture
Shock, it hasn’t turned my life upside down, or reduced me to a quivering mass of anxiety. It
hasn’t substantially affected my daily life in Japan at all. I have merely had to accept that, for
whatever reasons, some things are just different
here, different from what I’m used to, different
from what I believe.
And if that were not so, there wouldn’t have
been any reason for me to make the trip.
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FEBRUARY 2002
Keeping Warm in Winter
AJET
AJET Across
Across Japan
Japan
13
Ginevra House
Ecosig’s The Echo Editor
a monthly column offered by EcoSIG
Well the cold season is definitely upon us; even here in sunny
Shikoku, the first snow has fallen, the rice paddies have emptied to
reveal their bare concrete skeletons, the mountains look like they’ve just
been through an intensive course of chemotherapy, and my washing has
a tendency to freeze on the line. So, as you sit at your kotatsu with
beautifully warm knees and freezing ears, eating your nabe and drinking hot sake, contemplate a few
eco-friendly ways you can improve your lot.
1. Avoid using the heater-cooler thing stuck on your wall. For a start, it’s stupidly expensive
and totally inefficient. For another, it’s up by the ceiling, so it’s not going to do a very good job of
heating your room (remember all that stuff from science class about heat rising? Well someone here
obviously didn’t). If you must use it, get a silvered mat (available at any good 100¥ shop) to put
above it and reflect the heat down.
2. I know it stinks, and pumps out carbon monoxide, but kerosene heaters are a cheap, efficient and
clean way to generate heat. Just don’t forget to ventilate the room every hour or so. Whatever form
of heater you use, you can use a fan to make the warm air circulate efficiently around the room or
apartment.
3. Get out that kotatsu. With an under cover and over cover, you can be toasty and warm (from the
waist down. Bizarre, how anyone ever came up with this method of heating).
4. Buy a rug, and some warm slippers. The floors in my house are freezing and draughty; having a
rug makes all the difference.
ADVERTISEMENT
5. Good, old fashioned, sausage-shaped draught excluders placed strategically by the front door can make a
world of difference.
6. Close the curtains in the evenings to keep out those
draughts.
7. DIY double-glazing. Since the real thing doesn’t
seem to have caught on here (not in your average JET
housing at least) why not make your own with sheets
of clear plastic. Be careful to leave some windows free
for ventilation, particularly if you are using a kerosene
heater.
8. Wear a hat and socks in bed. A lot of your body heat
Teacher training in Japan! The School for
is lost through your head. A friend of a friend swears
International Training (SIT), an accredited
by putting a teaspoon of powdered ginger root in his
college of World Learning based in the
socks.
United States, is pleased to offer its 130
9. Having a hot bath before you go to bed is a great
hour intensive TESOL Certificate Course in
way to warm up.
both Kyoto and Tokyo for March and August
10. Eat lots of chocolate. I don’t know if this actually
of 2002. The course covers practical
helps you stay warm, but I find it a great comfort in
aspects of teaching English to adult learners
these long, grim months. I also recommend drinking
and is grounded in SIT’s philosophy of
umeshu (plum liquor) mixed with hot water.
experiential learning.
And if all else fails, just save your nenkyu up and take a
http://www.geocities.com/
sittesoljapan
long holiday in Thailand…
AJET Across Japan
14
Kelley Rich
Somewhere at Sea
Hmm. Six months in
Japan. Feel I ought
to celebrate. Champagne or
something. No wait, forgot,
don’t actually
drink champagne. Ah. Recall
had lovely grape juice and fizzy
water with supper. That should
do. That should do nicely.
There we are then. A triumph.
Time flies so fast here,
especially if you spend much of
it chewing split-ends over
whether or not to renew one’s
contract for another year. A
decision, no less, which must
be made at the six-month
point. Six-month point! Here
I am only just barely able to
recite my phone number in
Japanese and I’m supposed to
know if I want to stay on this
island another eighteen
months? Alas, I resolved to let
Thailand make up my mind.
So where was I. Ah yes,
Bangkok.
The minute I stepped off the
plane, I felt a surge of inspiration as though there were a
great adventure seeker inside
me bursting to get out and
destined to accomplish great
things! So much has happened
since The Big Move and,
thinking of all the possibilities
that lay ahead, I decided this
was an excellent time to
REINVENT MYSELF. Why
not?
Normally I don’t subscribe
to all the New Year’s Resolu-
Feature
tions hooey, but it made an
excellent distraction from other
decisions that threatened to
etch permanent creases into my
forehead. Yes, with a lean here
and a tilt there, why, I
could use my time abroad to
become the woman I’ve always
wanted to be. I could become a
combination Amelia Eardhart/
Pincess Leia-type in no time at
all! As I ventured out of my
hotel in Banglamphoo past the
stray dogs, piercing stench
and strung out post-graduate
dropouts of Western humanity,
I formed a mental list of what
needed to be accomplished.
Self Improvements
(Thailand-inspired):
-Obtain International Man of
Mystery-type boyfriend (to
become husband)
-Improve Self-Appearance in
manner of natural earthy
Citizen of the World-type, as if
riding stallion bareback on
beach in slow motion across
screen
VF EBRUARY
2002
-Become culinary expert and
exquisite (casual chic) chef to
hold brilliant dinner parties at
future home with recipes
derived from enviable travels
around world
-Save Money to purchase
beautiful new home on secluded California beach to share
with boyfriend—>husband and adoring angel-like
children
-Save Money in General, like
for retirement though can’t
imagine
-Have Adoring Angel-like
Children
-Become Skilled Writer/
Painter/Photographer/All
Around Artist-type
-Learn Japanese as well as
French to go with Useless
German to further impress
guests at exquisite dinner
parties in future beach house
-Travel to Over Thirty Countries (minimum), especially
slightly dangerous ones with
squat toilettes and cold showers
in order to vastly Improve
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
FEBRUARY 2002
Feature
Character (stories about which
providing excellent
dinner party entertainment)
-Have Meaningful and
Fulfilling Relationships of all
kinds despite present condition
of relative isolation in charming
yet distinctly rural Japan
the category of Improve SelfAppearance in manner of
Classic Chinese Movie Star with
trendy chopsticks-in-hair
look.
These were not New Year’s
Resolutions; they were New
Year’s Life Assessments to be
accomplished, like college, in
approximately four years time.
Or five. Who’s counting?
The tour itself didn’t actually
begin for another day so with
more time to explore the city
(shop), I combed Bangkok for
exciting opportunities to Improve Character (through
shopping) as well as interior
design of quaint Japanese
apartment temporarily distressed by contrasting Westernstyle (junk-type) acquisitions.
That’s how I discovered the
greatest invention known to
mankind. THE SARONG.
Brilliant! There are no
labels numerically ranked with
which to rate one’s body image
or all around life success in
general. It is the equal
opportunity apparel; one size
fits all, all men, all women
created equal except in different
patterns, colors and tones.
I immediately purchased two
for the price of a Super-Sized
Double Cheeseburger Meal,
which you can eat anyway, just
by adjusting slightly your new
sarong. The best part is, men
wear them too. There’s nothing
sexier than Man in Sarong.
Except perhaps King in Sarong.
The best thing you can do after
visiting Thailand is go rent
ANNA AND THE KING
about an English teacher (me)
With this in mind, the first
thing I did in Bangkok was
head straight for the tailor’s.
Clothes make the woman, I
reminded myself. What
better way to look and feel good
than to have one’s inseam
measured accurately? I knew
I’d come to the right place
because straight away a throng
of short Thai and Indian men
offered me a Coca-Cola in a can
with a straw in it. I sat before a
spread of last fall’s
catalogues from Western clothiers around the world from
which to steal designs. I had
arrived intending to purchase
one suit and perhaps a couple
shirts. Thirty minutes and
$400 later, I found myself
picking out fabrics for two “Best
Quality” suits, five silk blouses
and a Suzy Wong Chinese dress
with Mandarin collar, which
I am meaning to think up a
purpose for at my earliest
convenience. No matter, such
acquisitions fall squarely into
AJET Across Japan
15
Hmm. Possibly goes against
category of Save Money in
General, though.
in strange foreign land (guess)
who must daily consult with
Handsome Burly King Man in
gilded silk sarong and not get
all squidgy inside from the
excitement about what’s underneath.
But I digress.
At the end of our first day’s
travel north, we found ourselves
in Sangkhlaburi at a lovely teak
guesthouse overlooking a
beautiful lake. The first order
of business was to sit down on a
teak chair at a teak table for a
pineapple shake. Pineapple in
Thailand is so sweet and lovely
as to make you want to take a
bath in it and rub it all over
your skin. (In private, of
course.) Made a mental note
to acquire blender upon my
return and also to build lovely
future beach house entirely out
of teak wood. Cannot say
enough about teak. Gorgeous
dark wood, smooth and sleek
under feet. Have never so
AJET Across Japan
16
Feature
enjoyed going barefoot in all my life, felt
lovely and romantic even if as yet no International Man of Mystery to be found.
After placing my dinner order of Panaeng
Curried Textured Vegetable Protein, I sat
there on the patio looking out over the
banana trees and tropical plants to where
the longtail boats cruised by and the sun fizzled
into the water. I sat there trying to imagine a
second year in Japan. Would I miss my friends
back home too much? Would I be lonely?
Celibate?
Oh, god...
I sat there so long, my gaze soon fell upon a
pair of lizards tangled together on the beam near
the ceiling. It was the most peculiar arrangement; he biting her neck, she holding still as if
slightly annoyed, no movement, no passion from
either. I felt as if I had walked in on something
terribly personal and intimate but was too involved now to leave. The others in our group
began approaching one by one until a small
crowd of on-lookers and well-wishers had gathered, mentally projecting our support as if in
presence of Royal Wedding. Following the
example of Barbara surreptitiously engaging in
Boudoir Photography, we leaned in for a closer
look. As the tension mounted, we held our
collective breath. Does she even like him? Will
the relationship last? Or is it just a fling? At
long last there was a shutter, tiny lizard-sized
convulsions as the audience gasped. It was over.
Both heading off their separate ways. The crowd
sighed and dispersed. We’ve all been there
before.
Curry was excellent, though shortly began to
cry. Tears flooding cheeks, hands clutching
throat, tongue dragging on floor. Sniff. Beads of
sweat forming on creased forehead. SNIFF,
SNIFF. Temperature rising, heart palpitating,
Emergency, 911!
God, that was good. Must recall recipe
for future dinner party entertainment to compliment animal copulation stories.
The whole reason I wanted to go to Thailand
in the first place was to ride the elephants. I had
VF EBRUARY
2002
heard about such adventures and
for some reason harbored a deep,
intense desire to sit atop the great
beasts. A longtail boat took us
deep into the jungle where we
eventually reached a clearing, a
pack of elephants and their riders
waiting for us at water’s edge.
Our local guides were Hmong tribesman, having
fled political persecution from neighboring
Myanmar. In Thailand, they have limited rights
but at least they get to ride the elephants with
tourists, which must be valuable for its entertainment factor alone.
With a cluck from the guide, the elephants
graciously knelt to their knees, allowing one
fat westerner at a time to step on a wide thigh,
clamber up onto broad head, tugging on massive
ear and finally settling into basket provided. I
did so with ease only to find my companion
Katrina windging and flopping about, requiring
the services of six bemused local men, eventually
and with great drama, landing squarely in my
lap. As the applause subsided, our guide nimbly
mounted the elephant’s head. He gripped the
beast loosely between his thighs, no need for
ropes, crossbars or seatbelts. The elephant rose
gracefully and fell into formation behind the
others, their large rumps waddling slowly from
side to side as we swayed in time with their
motion.
We trekked in this manner for over an hour,
crossing rivers, elephant’s spewing water from
their trunks, the enormous beasts kneeling
unceremoniously to skid down steep embankments on their knees. A Thai woman on the next
elephant over offered that I might try riding on
the elephant’s head. As we were a good twelve
feet in the air with nothing to hold on to, I
hesitated. But in view of my new Life Resolutions, in particular to
Improve Character, I
decided riding an
elephant’s head must surely
fit the bill.
Climbing over me, our
guide wedged himself
into the basket as I scooted
FEBRUARY 2002
forward and held my breath.
There was nothing comfortable
about this, the hairs from
the creature’s thick leathery skin
tickling my own (pineapple
induced) supple limbs. As the
line of pachyderms lurched
forward, I swayed wildly to and
fro with each step, nearly
plunging to certain death at
regular intervals. Turns out I
was seated too far back, fully at
the mercy of the creature’s
shoulder blades, soaring and
plunging alternately with each
step. I shifted forward onto her
broad cranium, my thighs
digging into the patch behind
her ears. Moments later we
were on another decline, I
imagined myself plunging into
the river, trampled in turn by
each passing beast. But I
remained aloft and began
directing my new friend with a
shift of the weight or press of
the thigh whenever she went
astray in pursuit of tasty bamboo.
At last we came to a final
clearing where another group of
tribesmen were waiting to aid in
our dismount. We were each
handed a plastic baggie filled
with the most delectable vegetable fried rice, taking a welcomed
seat on the ground and passing
around the chili sauce. With
their machetes, the guides
hacked
up pieces
of fresh
pineapple
for
desert. I
imagined
myself in
Feature
the middle of my annual
jungle-themed dinner party in
which, dressed in novel sarong
and feet bare against fabulous
teak floor, I served trendy
Hollywood-type guests fried
rice in plastic baggies, hacking
up tropical fruit with machete
much to their great awe and
envy. I was so busy eating and
dreaming I hadn’t realized the
elephants had gone. I was sorry
to see them go, they are graceful, respectable beasts
with excellent manners and
vegetarians besides.
Another stroll up the river
and we found ourselves at
water’s edge beside a selection
of long, flimsy looking bamboo
rafts. Seven or eight
poles were strung
together at either end
and somehow meant
to keep us afloat.
Flustered with excitement, I grabbed a
pole and eagerly
stepped aboard.
Katrina crawled
uncertainly to the
center of the raft,
afraid to stand up and
wondering out loud
what our chances
were of falling off. Our guide, a
brown-skinned tribesman clad
only in sarong, broke us loose
from the bunch. We headed
downstream, punting our way
along by thrusting poles against
river’s bottom.
We cruised along at lightening speed, propelled by muscle
and current and mental vibes
from Katrina’s sheer will to stay
afloat. Gaining movement on
other rafts, we intentionally
AJET Across Japan
17
rammed into the back of our
companions, hooting wildly as
they plunged into the river. I
wasn’t really sure which category on my list this fit into
but I threw myself wholeheartedly into the competition.
Katrina, flat on her stomach,
clutched the edges for dear life
as we shot down the river, soon
taking the lead. Lacking further
competition, our companion
secured himself, hunkered
down and tilted the raft almost
upright, shrieking with delight
as Katrina and I plunged to our
watery destinations. This
continued over and over again,
the entire length of the river.
When it was over, exhausted
and satisfied, I gave the
man twenty Baht for
being of the sporting
sort.
I couldn’t help but
think, could this be
the sort of man I’ve
been looking for?
Attractive in
sarong, good with
machete, skilled at
jungle-type and
aquatic-type sports, a
man who knows his
pineapple. Very practical to have around the house,
surely he would know how to
work with teak, certainly he
must be good with children,
elephant rides and all. But how
would I find such a man in
Japan? Hmm. Perhaps ought
to be living in Thailand instead.
Nah...
Getting into the local spirit
of things, I decide to wear my
AJET Across Japan
18
new sarong for our jungle trek
the next day. It was perfect. I
felt a graceful beauty; Sheena,
Queen of the Jungle... Xena,
Warrior Princess... With
category of Improve SelfAppearance in mind, I stumbled through thick underbrush,
daintily raising my skirts at
stream crossings, sliding gracefully in and out of mud —
squish — clinging to vines with
one hand, grasping sarong in
other. I suddenly felt a new
woman, capable of defeating
any challenge but with style
and grace, indeed — squish,
squish — with lovely indigo
blue sarong!
Our next stop was a remote
Karen hilltribe village (also
having fled Myanmar’s very,
very bad men), reached by
jolting ride in back of pick-up
truck, resulting in tangled hair
crisis as in masses of jungle
vines sprouting from head.
After pausing to clean the bugs
off my teeth, our Karen guide
led us to a small river crossing
where we, one at a time, shimmied across a pair of single
flimsy bamboo poles ironically
referred to as a “bridge”. The
village consisted of fourteen
families in small bamboo houses
on stilts, several cows, chickens,
roosters and one large happy fat
pig. The children, in their best
tribal attire, sang songs to us
with a mandolin, after which
lunch was served. Our meal
consisted of fried rice packed in
banana leaves, seriously spicy
curry, pork served in bamboo
trays, banana flower salad, fresh
pineapple and cucumbers to
Feature
sooth the tongue. We played
tribal games with the children,
which, naturally, we all lost.
Then, arranging ourselves in a
circle, we performed that most
international gesture of friendship, the Hokey-Pokey. Dancing around in mad formations
and shakin’ it all about, we
achieved what we came for,
smiles on faces and positive
images of (mad) Westerners that
will surely stay with the them
for generations.
These village children were
so charming and lovely I could
not help but make plans to
model lives of own future angels
on jungle-raised beauties. The
Karen say their grandfathers
teach them that if you take care
of the jungle, the jungle takes
care of you. I imagine the same
thing could apply to Los Angeles; as long as you recycle,
consume fat-free tortillas and
have regular smog-checks
performed on your vehicle, you
too can live in harmony with
the environment. These children appeared well rounded,
centered, intelligent and respectful of their elders. If a
teenage boy cannot cook, farm
and hunt, it is simple, he will
not find a wife. This is the
urban equivalent of ordering
take-out, lingering in the
produce section and remembering to buy flowers on your
anniversary. Yes, we could learn
a lot from those who live off the
earth. Especially for those of us
who live off our credit cards.
It took us a full twenty-four
hours of travel to reach the
southern islands. This particu-
VF EBRUARY
2002
lar sort of tour relies on local
travel so as to experience Thailand as the locals do. This falls
directly into category of Travel
to Over Thirty Countries as
squat toilette and cold shower
opportunities with which to
Improve Character were
in plentiful abundance. Taxi,
overnight train, bus, song thau,
boat then trudging knee-deep
in water. The reward was a
secluded island with miles of
empty beaches, a small turtle
preserve, bungalows, roosters,
monkeys and pineapple shakes.
Meals were buffet style in
which all of the island’s temporary inhabitants gathered for
curries, grilled fish, stir-fried
noodles, rice and vegetables
with fresh tropical fruit for
desert. Eating under palm trees
with the soothing sound of the
Andaman Sea nearby and stars
by the zillions was the ideal
setting for what I had in mind.
I noticed him immediately. The moment
we stepped into the grass hut I
was greeted by a wry smile
beneath a mane of ginger hair
tied back in manner of Mel
Gibson in PATRIOT/
BRAVEHEART motion pictures. Immediately I thought,
actor. Must be. Theatre, not
film. It wasn’t until the following
nighttime
meal that
I was to
formally
be seated
next to
the
FEBRUARY 2002
Feature
Celtic Lion who had generated so much intrigue
on my behalf. I was right, he’s in the theatre,
though a builder not an actor. Yet he works for
an alternative kind of theatre company in Galway
in which all members of the crew must also
perform. In a lilting Irish brogue that was to die
for, he explained, ”’Tis nice because you get to
build the sets and then you take a bow”.
Alas, the following day was spent trekking
through the rainforest on a nearby island inhabited by a peculiar Austrian environmentalist in
black t-shirt, fisherman’s pants and flipflops. Our guide was interesting, to a point, but
more so as we began to realize he was polluted
with alcohol, I mean sincerely pissed off his face.
I delighted myself with the chance to speak
German, only to find that as the day wore on, his
answers were slower in coming. After the long
muddy excursion we had lunch at his bamboo
home, prepared for by his wife who, let’s just say,
might not yet be quite old enough to vote. We sat
on his porch, the rainforest his backyard, hungrily scarfing down plain noodles. His wife,
dressed for the jungle in black-laced hot pants,
jewels and thick eyeliner, served up plump
Austrian meatballs and fried potatoes, which her
adoring husband used to wash down all the
whiskey. Shockingly, his first three wives didn’t
stick around. In time, he took us back, the boat
listing and swaying under his care, leaving us
behind to get back to going mad on his island.
That night, the Celtic Lion arrived late for
supper, dressed in pressed collarless shirt and
Chinos, his hair tied back neatly in a long trail
down his back. A weathered face, tinges of gray
around the hairline, he must have been in his
forties. But when he spoke, it was if he were
serenading me. He said he spent the whole day
just reading a book. On
the beach, in the hammock,
beneath the tallest tree...
Butter knees.
He said he once went to
Australia for two week’s
vacation and ended up
staying for three years.
AJET Across Japan
19
Churning butter...
Was this he? My International Man of Mystery? Island,
palm trees, pineapple shakes
and dewy accent dripping with
Old World charm? Surely this
must be the moment. The
following evening I took extra
care to make my hair all wispylike, slipping on nylon drawstring pants and sleeveless
top and heading barefoot down
the path to the grass hut where I knew he would
be waiting. Our eyes met across the bamboo, he
nodding slightly, I giving a little wave, awkwardly
frozen in place.
After dinner as guests began to disperse, the
Lion, myself and a stunning Natural Earthy
Beauty-type with hair far more wispier than mine
continued chatting for another hour or so.
Presently she excused herself, apparently having a
husband secluded away somewhere on the island. That left the Celtic Lion and myself alone.
On an island. In the dark.
He inquired if I would care to join him for
another beer. I reluctantly explained I don’t
really drink. “Aye, that’s a good woman,” he
said, his voice lulling me to mush. I agreed to
join him minus the drink only to find he meant
join him on the logs, down by the water. We sat
there, moonlit island, stars above, rustling palm
trees, waves kissing the sand... And me with my
pineapple shake. Bliss.
I explained how I’m shortly to be the Best
Man in a wedding in London. I’m to be a man
for a week.
“Ah, I don’t believe that a’ t’all, lass, I don’t
believe that a’ t’all,” he shook his head while
dragging on a cigarette, the corners of his eyes
creased in a smile.
Something flew down my shirt.
I reached deep into my brazier, awkwardly
rummaging around as he looked on, eyebrows
arched, his cigarette poised on his knee. I located
the intruder, an iridescent green june bug, flicking it away with a shutter.
“Bug went down my shirt,” I explained.
AJET Across Japan
20
Feature
“Lucky bug,” he replied, taking a drag.
He kept watching me.
“It’s fine now,” I assured him.
He nodded, flicking ashes. Behind us, the
generator shut down and all electricity on the
island was cut off for the night. There I was, the
lion’s den, my departure immanent in six hours
time. There were still a few voices coming from
the dark of the main hut, but the heavy silence
between us was getting to me. I suggested it
might be time to head back.
We walked back down the path, shortly
coming to the inevitable fork in the road. He
continued walking toward his
bungalow. I stopped. “I’m this
way,” I called from behind. He
turned around.
“Ah,” he said, heading back
towards me. He took me in his
arms. “Was lovely to meet you... The girl from
Japan,” he said, his face terribly close to mine.
He drew me to him in a strong embrace; we
kissed lightly on the lips. We smiled at each
other and kissed again. He held me in a tight
embrace for longer than he should. When we
parted, he took my hand. And I followed him.
The Lion Man’s bungalow was nothing
like the one I shared with three other girls on the
other side of Monkey Hill. He had his own
private bathroom and shower inside. A view of
the sea. His things were neatly unpacked,
hung up or put away. There was a small pile of
books by the bed.
He was planning to stay for a month.
Once inside, he never let go of my hand.
Even if he wanted to turn on the lights there was
no electricity. No pretense. He kissed me.
We embraced for a long while until, without
warning, he flopped on the bed, hands clasped
behind his head. ”’Tis lovely, the island,” he
said. “’Tis grace.”
“Disgrace?” I misheard.
“Grace, darling, grace.” He pulled me to him,
sighing heavily.
This was it, I was sure of it, this was
my International Man of Mystery and even
though I live in Japan and he Ireland, it was
VF EBRUARY
2002
meant to be. In a flash I pictured six lovely
ginger-haired angel-like children and a little teak
cottage in Ireland, complete with a few cows,
chickens, roosters and a large happy fat pig. I
quickly made a mental inventory; yes, love Ireland, yes, could live there, yes, love theatre, yes,
love his lion’s mane of golden ginger red hair.
He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. I
had a surge of inspiration. I would reinvent
myself as a Sophisticated, Cosmopolitan-type
lover who clearly has been around the romantic
block a time or two.
“Have you ever had a Thai massage,” I asked?
“Many times,” he replied.
“Would you like one now?” I
ventured.
“Am I to remove me clothes?” he
grinned.
“No, no, just as you are,” I assured him, perhaps a little too quickly. He began
to turn over. “No,” I corrected him. “On your
back.”
I began to work on him just as I had
experienced during a two-hour session in Bangkok. The Thai massage is unlike anything we are
used to in the west. It’s all about pressure points
and counterbalance, rotating muscles to loosen
them in a relaxing manner. I was sure I remembered how it went.
Expert like, I bent his left leg at the knee, took
firm hold of his left foot and right hand for
counterbalance. I began tapping my feet
against the inside of his thigh, just as the Thai
woman had done to me.
“Oh,” he gasped.
I pattered my bare feet repeatedly up and
down his thigh, assured of my accuracy by the
noises that escaped him. Presently, I raised his
leg and, heel cupped in my right hand, used my
left hand to squeeze his calf muscle, gently at first
and then more rapidly. A
suppressed giggle escaped
his lips. He was ticklish
and I found that attractive.
I began to rotate his hip
in its socket, just as I had
learned in Bangkok,
FEBRUARY 2002
pushing it in and out and all
around in large, circular motions.
“Ah!” he grimaced.
Setting his leg back down, I
kneeled over him, placing the
heel of my palm on the edge of
his hip, pressing down firmly in
small circular motions.
My fingers danced around the
joint, working their way towards the pelvic bone. The
expression on my client’s
face had become increasingly
comical; mouth open in silent
scream, features twisted in
pleasure/pain scenario.
“My god, woman!” he
crooned.
Pleased with my technique
obtained entirely from memory,
I continued to work my way
across his body. Interlocking
our fingers, I cracked all of his
knuckles, one by one, and then
all of his toes. “Unh...” he
groaned. Somewhere outside, a
rooster crowed.
As I settled down beside him,
he tried to sit up. I pushed him
back with a thud. “Not yet,” I
assured him. Placing a hand
firmly on the center of his chest
and tugging on his left hand, I
stretched out my legs and
began tapping the fleshy part of
his underarm with my feet. He
groaned and giggled as my toes
worked against the underside of
his arm and the outside of his
torso. I
worked
my way
up to his
neck, and
gently
along the
underside
AJET Across Japan
Feature
21
of his jaw as he writhed and
convulsed, occasionally
shrieked, no doubt in ecstasy. I
pulled on the muscles of his
cheek with my big
toe, accidentally catching it in
his mouth, apologizing and
continuing to work my feet
around his face and neck. “For
the love of Christ!” he screamed,
gripping the sheets. I smiled at
my handiwork.
I repeated the same techniques on his other half and,
flipping him over, continued
the love play for the better part
of an hour.
At last I moved around
behind him so as to be back to
back. Interlocking our arms, I
lurched forward, arching his
back high above the bed. “Jesus,
Mary and Joseph!” he shrilled,
his voice catching in his throat.
As soon as I heard the crack, I
relaxed and settled him down
onto the pillow, his breathing
heavy.
Letting him rest, I went to
the window. Outside the sun
had begun to rise. I checked
my watch. We had a six a.m.
breakfast call before departure
and I still had to pack. Turning
back to the bed I saw that the
Celtic Lion was fast asleep, his
expression serene and relaxed.
Brushing the strands of ginger
straw out of his eyes, I kissed
his lips, smiled and took my
leave.
Walking back to my bungalow, a wave of content washed
over me. I’ve made my list,
made my progress, now I could
go back to Japan. Thinking
back on the elephants, the
Sleeping Lion and islands of
adventure, I thought, I’ll be
back.
Four days later, I signed my
contract. That night I slept
peacefully.
Do you want to begin a homestay program?
Are you coordinating a sister city exchange program?
Has your office asked you to “tagalong” on a tour in the name of
internationalism?
Taking Nihonjin to Gaikokuland addresses
all of these issues from the proposal to posttrip evaluation... AND it’s partly bilingual!
1000 yen for AJET members
1500 yen for Non-AJET
members
Can’t wait to buy it? Well, contact the
Distribution Manager for details!
Danette Sullivan
Akeno High School
1481 Akeno, Obata-cho
Watari-gun, Mie-ken
(0596) 37-4125
fax (0596) 37-4127
danetteinjapan@yahoo.com
AJET Across Japan
VF EBRUARY
22
Untitled
Today we go, to never return
For they have taken hope, and make our hearts burn
Families have gone, light has faded
We fight alone, and in light we have waited
The world surrounds and we drift among the waves
Until at last, we are trapped amongst our caves
There is little left, but still we live
We sit in darkness, and thank our Father for all that he does give
Our fathers before, were not so lucky
They died without, for their lives were sucky
Crying among the cliffs and oceans in tears
For they knew not why or what had put them here
We mourn our loss and live in fear
All striving for peace, but looming n the shadows of thought
We all know the next Great War is nearly here
In every land, monsters of unbridled strength lie
When their fury is finally erupted we all will surely die
He is watching and knows that when our time has come
And our final hour is at hand
Then truth will make its final stand
And all that is evil will cower and cry
For they will know, it is time for them to say goodbye
Then all will see who is right and wrong
But none of that will matter, for the final choice will be before us
And that, that will determine where we stand amongst
The dust.
Derrick Johnston, Earth
Derrick Johnston is currently a Rotary International-sponsored exchange student at Komoro
High School in Nagano Prefecture.
2002
FEBRUARY 2002
Special Insert
AJET Across Japan
AJET Census:
What Are We Made Of?
AJET thinks that one of the keys to a better JET program is full acceptance and integration of diversity
and internationalization. We want to help Contracting Organizations come to the understanding that
Diversity isn’t just about race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality issues. It’s the key to
developing better awareness, acceptance, and understanding of internationalization. Taking the time to
learn more about diversity and to develop a more multicultural/international attitude will be critical,
not only now, but also for continuously developing, positive relationships between JETs and
Contracting Organizations.
The purpose of the AJET Census is to begin the process of understanding all JETs and to target
specific negative issues the JET has with regards to his or her acceptance. This survey seeks to
understand what JETs think about the issue of diversity and how AJET can better serve the JET
community in dealing with it. The key goal of this survey is to enhance understanding and respect for
cultural diversity within the JET Programme and Contracting Organizations. So you too can know just
“what we are made of,” the surveys will be read and compiled into a report including figures, ideas,
experiences and proposed solutions will be compiled and printed in the AAJ. So, please take a moment
and represent your community by filling out the AJET Census! Thanks in advance for your
participation!
1) Where in Japan are you living? (Circle all that apply.)
North
South
Rural
Suburban
Central
Urban
East
West
2) What was your motivation for participating on the JET Programme? (Circle as many as apply.)
interest in Japanese language and culture
interest in teaching
money
to experience another culture
to be a part of the “internationalization” process
other ________________________________________________________________________
3a) Will you be renewing your contract?
Yes
No
Unsure
3b) If you answered No, what led you to this decision?
I have reached the limit allowed by the JET Programme
My Contracting Organization did not renew me
To continue my education or pursue another job
I am not satisfied with the JET Programme because ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4) How would you define “internationalization”? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 1
AJET Across Japan
VF EBRUARY
Special Insert
2002
5) How would you define “diversity”? ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6) How did you expect your host institution and other Japanese people to treat you?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7a) Have you tried to integrate your background into the classroom or other fields of work?
Yes
No
7b) Were people interested in learning about your background?
Very much so
Yes
Kind of
A little bit
Not at all
7c) Do you have any suggestions or tips on effective integration of your background into the workplace?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
8a) Do you feel that your background has affected your utilization within the workplace?
Yes
No
8b) If yes, how? ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
9a) Before coming to Japan, how accepting did you feel your community and contracting organization (CO)
would be to your background? (i.e. race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status…)
Great
Good
Okay
Not so good
Poor
9b) How accepting would you rate your community’s and CO’s acceptance of your background now?
Great
Good
Okay
Not so good
Poor
10) When experiencing cultural misunderstandings to whom do you turn for support? (Circle all that apply.)
supervisor
fellow JETs
Japanese friends
community at home
Peer Support Group
AJET/SIGs/NGs
newsletters
friends of the same background
other ________________________________________________________________________
11) Do you feel that there is an accessible support network available to you in your area?
Yes
No
12) How supportive has the JET community been in regards to issues of diversity and/or your background?
Great
Good
Okay
Not so good
Poor
13) How supportive has your Contracting Organization been in regards to issues of diversity and/or your
background?
Great
Good
Okay
Not so good
Poor
Page 2
FEBRUARY 2002
Special Insert
AJET Across Japan
25
23
14) What were positive means of support you experienced? ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
15) Where can support be improved? _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
16) Do you have any recommendations for AJET in particular? ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
If there is anything we have left out and that you would like to address or you would like to elaborate on any of the
above questions, please feel free to contact us via fax, email or telephone at the numbers below. Thanks for
taking the time to complete this survey. We appreciate it greatly!
Please return this survey by 10 October 2001 to either
Ms. Dana Chapnick
OR
Ms. Kiesha Speech:
0242-75-5850 (fax)/ 0242-75-5214 (home)
0957-34-3470 (fax)/0957-34-4505 (home)
Page 3
AJET Across Japan
o and Tokyo
is grounded
VF EBRUARY
2002
FEBRUARY 2002
AJET Elections
AJET Across Japan
AJET Across Japan
AJET National
Council
E L E C T I O N S
There are many reasons to join the AJET National
Council. If you feel that you can support the JET
community with your efforts, or you know of someone
who can, PLEASE run for a position.
All positions, for next year, are open to candidates. However, many are restricted to certain
representative groups. Please think long and hard about the position you are interested in. It is
highly encouraged that you contact the current member of the Council that is in that position in
order to learn more about it.
Positions and General Duties:
Chair: Responsible for collecting the consensus of the group and acting on that. Being the
spokesperson for AJET. Is also responsible for all activities of AJET and the financial well being of
AJET. Preside at meetings.
Vice-Chair: Preside on matters concerning AJET and at meetings in the absence of the Chair.
Maintain records and files of AJET activities. Oversee and implement AJET activities at conferences
and meetings. Election coordinator.
National Treasurer: Is the accountant for all AJET financial matters in their entirety.
Block Representatives: Each chapter of AJET is part of a Block. There are currently 10 blocks.
Block reps are the link between local chapters and the NC. They assist local chapters in interprefectural communication and activities. NOTE: Each block rep will also hold a Liaison position on
the NC.
Liaison Positions: Corporate Liaison, Educational Liaison, Web Liaison, Nationality/Language
Group Liaison, Special Interest Group Liaison, Conference Liaison, Tatami Timeshare Coordinator,
Destinations Homepage Coordinator, Peer Support Group Liaison, Operational Procedures
Handbook Coordinator, Publications Liaison, Guidebooks Coordinator, JET Alumni Association Liaison,
AJET List-serve owner/Chief Moderator. Members of the council, other than Block Reps, can also
hold a Liaison position.
CIR/SEA Representative: Insure that CIRs and SEAs are represented in AJET. Bring their issues to
the NC’s attention and create initiatives to insure their participation in AJET. To keep in direct
contact with the CIR Network and to convey information both directions through this connection.
Database Administrator: To oversee all database activities. To insure accuracy of and dissemination
of database information to designated parties in AJET.
AJET Across Japan
28
AJET Elections
VF EBRUARY
2002
AJET Across Japan Copy Editor (Editor in Chief): Is the overall person in charge of the AAJ team.
They will collect, coordinate and create copy for the National newsletter’s electronic and paper
versions.
AAJ Web Design Editor: Will receive all material for the Newsletter from the Copy Editor to then
create and maintain the online version of AAJ. Will also create the downloadable and paper
versions from this same web page.
AAJ Advertising and Distribution Editor: Will coordinate, recruit, design advertising for the AAJ.
Will also be the coordinator for distribution of the AAJ’s electronic and paper versions.
Webmaster: Helps to maintain the National AJET web page. Coordinates with our web page
host regarding our website. Problem solves member’s issues with the use of the page. Monitors
all Electronic links to AJET and insures they are updated. This role is not a central Council
member, thus they are not required to attend all conferences, but are expected to be aware of
AJET issues. Database knowledge is also a plus.
Interpreter: Helps provide interpreter services to the NC at twice yearly meetings with the
Ministries. This person is NOT the required to be the “Official Translator of documents” but
assists in the presentation of issues at these meetings. This role is not a central Council member,
thus they are not required to attend all conferences, but are expected to be aware of AJET
issues and roles with the ministries. This will assist in the understanding of communications and
reports at meetings.
Executive board members (Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer): Please submit one (1) full
A-4 page with the reasons you would be the best to fill these positions. Include any past
leadership and current roles in AJET. Please include info on your leadership style and some
preliminary goals for the next year.
Block Representatives:
Representatives Please submit one-half (1/2) A-4 page with the reasons you would
be the best to fill this position. Include any past leadership and current roles in AJET.
Appointed positions:
positions Please provide one-half (1/2) to one (1) full A-4 page to the National
Council for internal review and appointment. Please provide information on qualifications in the
specific area that you are applying.
AAJ Editors should also provide a copy of their work from past publications or a writing sample.
Interpreter should give a clear indication of Japanese language skills.
A few more NOTES :
·
You do not have to be a current AJET member to run, but are expected to join once
elected. However, you must be a JET participant in the 2002-2003 contract year to
run.
·
Any JET can run for a position in their area. CIR/SEA Reps must be a CIR or SEA (But
CIR/SEAs are welcome to run for other positions too). Block reps must live in the
block they represent.
·
Potential candidates cannot send platforms to the National List-serve. They can
FEBRUARY 2002
AJET Elections
AJET Across Japan
29
campaign via other means (approved by the Election Chair), but the Election
committee will post the platforms to both the National List-serve and the AAJ.
·
All candidates are encouraged to contact the current person holding any position
they are interested in.
·
Candidates can run for only one position.
·
Japanese language skills are not required for the NC. But all will be responsible
for getting their own reports translated.
·
ALL PLATFORMS should be accompanied with contact information.
·
ALL PLATFORMS should be in size 12 and Times New Roman font.
· All potential candidates should apply to be both Kobe RC and Tokyo OA helpers.
The deadline for platforms to be post marked or emailed is February 1st, 2002.
The National Council is not
responsible for lost or
Schedule for Elections: misdirected platforms.
Platforms Due
Voting starts
Voting closed
Results published
Feb 1st
March 1st
April 1st
April 9th
For further information,
contact info for current
members or questions,
please contact the AJET Vicechair, J.D. Sparks at
AJETVC@yahoo.com or 049284-8333.
E.S.I.D. by Earth Bennett
More? www.angelfire.com/comics/esid”.
United Nations panel to petition ban on Vocoders
AJET Across Japan
Mark Flanigan
Nagasaki
EBRUARY 2002
Table ofVFContents
From the Editor
2
New York— The United Nations took a bold move on the world
stage today, unveiling an unprecedented new proposal in the area of human rights. This proposal, expected to gain widespread support, calls for
an immediate worldwide ban on vocoders.
After her opening remarks, Mary Robinson, UN Commissioner
for Human Rights, spoke candidly about her own desire to see vocoders
eliminated from the face of the earth. “For too long, vocoders have acted
with impunity on an unsuspecting public, while we as a body have stood
by silently. Callous, jaded music producers have used such mind-numbing tools to have their way long enough. Today is a new day to defend
freedom.”
Following Robinson, a panel of scholars, activists, performers and
esteemed Nobel laureates weighed in on this tragic assault on decency.
They spoke out about the inevitable consequences of governmental inaction against the spread of vocoders across the music world. Vlad Dvorczik,
an Armenian refugee, testified how his fledgling career as a wedding singer
was tragically cut short by the unchecked spread of vocoders in the world
music scene. “I trained for years in classical opera,” stammered Dvorczik,
choking back angry tears, “and all they want to hear is that damned, infernal machine!”
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, closed the proceedings with an
impassioned keynote speech. He spoke eloquently about the moral responsibility of the civilized world to take action, stating…”When Cher
sang ‘Believe’, we stood by and said nothing…now Daft Punk has brazenly released ‘One More Time’, a pop song done entirely with vocoder.
Where will it end? If we don’t stand up for freedom and real music now,
the critics of tomorrow will judge our cowardice harshly, and justly so.”
AJET4thAnnualCharityBikeRide
This bike ride is for the benefit
of charity 100%. We would like
the effort put into the riding
matched by equal passion on the
side of those supporting us. Please
help us make a substantial
contribution to Habitat For
Humanity and also to the Japan
Red Cross.
please e-mail Andrew Court at
tazpine@yahoo.com or call him at
097-534-0200.
Letter to the Editor
2-3
The Voice
4
The Beat
5
Nozawa Onsen Fire
Festival
5-6
Studying Japanese
7-8
Whales
9-12
Staying Warm
13
Feature: Short Story
14-21
Poetry
22
“AJET Census”
23-25
Election
27-29
E.S.I.D.
29
Yoke
30

Across AJET Japan

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