A Long Day's Journey into Japan

Despite many conversations and the best efforts of my colleagues to explain the notion of the way time works when you are flying from Chicago to Japan, I am still confused. My husband Tom told me about a basketball player from the 70s  who resigned from the NBA because he refused to get on an airplane stating, "I ain't gettin' in no time machine." That's exactly how I feel about it. I was enthusiastic about the flight until about 6 hours into it when my legs started going numb...13 hours on a plane is a long time. 

We left the hotel at 10am after loading our checked bags on a truck and ourselves on a coach bus. Once we found our bags at the airport, we shimmied around the American Airlines check-in line, went through security, and loaded the plane flawlessly. My friends taught me how to play the card game hearts (which I love) and I hope to play more later. It is somewhat strategic! I thought it was an old lady game.

I wasn't sure the best way to minimize jet lag. My first mistake of the day was waking up at 6am. Had I woken up later, I wouldn't have been conscious so long and may have made it through the day to crash hard in my bed at the hotel. I find it especially difficult to sleep sitting up on airplanes, so that would have been my best bet.

The airplane was humongous and my seat gave me enough room, even though the guy in front of me had his seat reclined the ENTIRE flight. There was a remote control for my TV and one of the first things I did on the plane was try to figure out how it worked.  There was a button that showed a person and then a person with a red line through it and I pressed it about 50 times before I realized it turned on a tiny light over my head which I think called the flight attendants. They were probably pissed off at me. Later, I got a small bottle of the complimentary red wine for a drink, and the flight attendant came back, gave me another bottle, and snarkily remarked, "Now you can relax," and walked away. Probably related. 

I was also given the Customs Declaration From and Disembarkation Form, and thankfully my personal hero, Tony Kim, helped me understand how to fill it in. He is now the only person I trust about important matters ^_^ I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, took a short nap, and read Psychology Today, Scientific American, and The New Yorker that I had purchased from the airport. Just tried to avoid the pulpy celebrity magazines.

I don't know what people have been saying, but airport food is amazing! My seatmate on the ride said that food is better on international flights, but just look at this spread:

The airplane was a Boeing 777 and our flight path took us back up through Minnesota, Canada, Alaska, and then south to Japan. I am unsure why, but for the most of the part we stayed over land.

Jeers to the same flight attendant who, upon my first sight ever of Japan, snarkily forced me to close my window because the light was shining into the plane. Buzzkill. From above, Japan looks different somehow than America: the way farms and towns are parceled together.

When we arrived at the airport, we took a short train shuttle to go through the hour-long immigration line, but thankfully the customs line was very smooth with no wait and no problems. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures because it was a secure area and I was more concerned about getting through the system properly. We sent our baggage off to our host prefectures and loaded the bus for a 2-hour ride from Narita Airport to Shinjuku's Keio Plaza Hotel. On the bus, current JETs gave us a quick briefing, we received our orientation guide which I paged through, and then I spaced out for awhile since I had been up for a good 24 hours straight. I have to give the JET Program a lot of credit: their arrival system was so streamlined that I really didn't have to think to get settled into the hotel. My hotel roommate is the same person I sat next to on the flight, which is comforting!

My first day in Japan was full of so many firsts including using a Japanese-style toilet (took me a minute or two to figure out how to flush!):

My first ever shopping interaction with was terrifying! I just said "konbanwa" and smiled and gave the money. It was strange because I paid with a 1000 yen note (more than $10) and received only change in return, because there is a Japanese 500 yen coin! I bought an onigiri with unknown filling and it was delicious.

We found pachinko parlors, karaoke bars, and were accosted by a few men trying to get me into their shops. We stopped in a fashion boutique, and as we left, the ladies working their bowed and thanked us. It was nice.

Finally, after one of the longer days of my life, I went to sleep. I am sure I left about a million things out, but this post is already way too long, so goodbye!

Chicago Orientation Part 2: I'm Tired Already

Yesterday my post came a bit too soon - we went out for dinner at a family restaurant next to the hotel in Chicago and I had an amazing Bacon Blue Cheese Burger, which was too good not to post:

There was a brief foreshadowing power outage. The rest of the night was a food-induced-coma-blur. 

Today began with continental breakfast and a realization that I adore early mornings: sunshine, coffee, and alone time to reflect and begin my day. I hijacked some peanut butter to bring to Japan too (pictured below with my loon that makes dinosaur noises):

We attended an orientation where we were given our passports and some information and advice. "Please be prepared. Please be flexible," Yasuhiko Kamada, director of the Japan Information Center in Chicago urged. Allen Kidd, President of the Association of Indiana Teacher of Japanese, taught me the power of group shame when he asked a series of questions where you were expected to raise your hand if, "you have been to Japan?" nope. "have studied Japanese in high school? college?" crap. and he went on to say, to those people, "You will be prepared." Well, guess I'm out of luck. I don't already know everything and I have a lot to learn and gain. Why wasn't that a thing to raise your hand for?

Then the power went out. In the entire hotel. We begin to sweat in our business suits. Seriously, my table of 4 people went through 2 pitchers of water. However, this outage proved to me the importance of adaptability in teaching - Mr. Kidd just went with it. Kudos, guy.

After the orientation we had a dinner/reception and I was able to meet some more Hokkaido JETs and chat with the "editor, writer, photographer, and janitor" at The Chicago Shimpo, the Japanese American newspaper. She interviewed me and a few others at my table, took down my name, and gave me her business card in order to contact her with stories and pictures from Japan! 

Then there was the "nijikai" (or, afterparty). I had been to a "bounenkai" (Forgot the Year Gathering) and "shinnenkai" (New Year's Gathering) with the Japan America Society of Minnesota, and so basically I love anything that ends in -kai, I think. The folks from the Chicago JETAA put together a great shindig, with appetizers, big projector of the Olympic opening ceremonies, and lots of alumnis there to give advice. 

Some more socializing later, my introverted self is inhaling, back alone in my room. Highlight of the day, my photo with JET extraordinaire Tony Kim:

Reflections on Self (Take THAT, Culture Shock)

As I take my first international trip, which happens to be a year-long stay in Japan, understanding and coping with culture shock are of the utmost importance. I think that culture shock stems from both a rejection or misunderstanding of new culture, as well as not understanding how you fit in, in order to maintain your sense of self. 

While I have been researching culture shock, it is also important to research customs in Japan and research...myself! By better understanding how I will fit in, I can predict and hope to minimize the number of negative situations.

I took an online version of the Myers Briggs Personality Test, and my unfaltering type is INFJ: Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging, the most rare of types, held by only 1% of the population. Many INFJs in history have been activists, including Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa of Calcuta, and Nelson Mandela. Here are some words/phrases that my test results use to describe me:

Caring

Complex

Creative

Critical

Devoted

Hard-nosed

Highly intuitive

Patient

Protective of Inner Self

Sensitive to conflict

Stubborn

Systematic

First, I alphabetized all these words, and then I thought they would look cool in Wordle:

(Wordle is super cool, but to get a .jpg, you need to print screen, paste into paint, crop & save)

I guess the above can attest to how I can be both systematic and creative, which to me seems a conundrum. 

Here are some demotivational posters that, somehow, seem to be just right:

 And a comic (so true!):

I think many of these traits will indeed help me adapt to Japanese society. My intuition will help me better understand the "hidden meanings" behind Japanese communication, as what isn't said is as important as what is. I am protective of my inner self, and based on what I have heard, many Japanese also are. I am unsure of how introversion vs. extroversion is viewed in Japan. I like to think of myself as a gregarious introvert, so perhaps I will be able to adapt well enough.

My critical nature stems from holding myself to a high standard and wanting others to hold themselves to a similar standard, and the focus on group harmony in Japanese society seems to function much in the same way. It is clear that I am sensitive to conflict, as writing this reflection aims to reduce culture shock and the conflicts it may produce in my professional life in Japan. This trait will also help me fit into a new professional setting.

From these characteristics, I predict the biggest roadblock will be wanting to do things my own way and to question the way things are done (see: stubborn, hard-nosed), particularly because this trait has been reinforced by my American environment. It is useful to understand this limitation. I will make a serious effort to respect the way things are done, as I am on Japanese soil as a guest, and I do not have enough knowledge or understanding of the way things are done in Japan to assert my notions of difference.

I think that last sentence is a good summation of how I can best adapt to my life in a new country.

Chicago Orientation, Part 1

I have arrived in Chicago safely from Minneapolis! I sure love flying. It has a way of grounding me to my minuscule place on the earth, like the reverse of looking up at the stars. How poetic. *barfs*
Highlights of my flight included....

Channeling Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky:

Seriously, the clouds today were ridiculously beautiful. Here's a photo of them I took from the hotel penthouse when I went exploring (more on that later):

There were two junior high girls in front of me that closed the shade on their window before take-off. How can people not look out the window? We were dodging and weaving and smooshing right through those clouds. It was awesome!!!!

Another highlight: one free airplane Bloody Mary (plus one my Brazilian friend requested when she saw I was getting one. She didn't know the English for it so I was able to start out my English teacher journey right there!)

...and I enjoyed the wonderful international welcome at O'Hare airport:

I was overburdened carrying my bags through O'Hare, although the larger only weighed in at 44lbs and the smaller at about 34:

so instead of going up a bunch of escalators and trying to navigate the trains to get the free shuttle to my hotel that, with my luck, would have just left I would have had to wait another 30 minutes...I took a taxi. Flat rate $29 from the airport to the hotel. (insert expletive) However, it did save me a bunch of time and a sore back, and I didn't have to pay for that Bloody Mary so I paid it forward to myself. (That doesn't make sense, really). I told the taxi drivers about my adventure to Japan, and he wanted to share his knowledge (through a thick, nearly unintelligible accent) about how, "Those Japanese and Chinese, they don't learn the English. They come in here and say, (here he mumbles trying to imitate a Japanese accent), and I don't know what they are saying!" Ok, guy. You know better than I do.

After I paid him and he drove away, the bellhop gave me a hand with my bags, ("I could see that you were straining yourself to carry those," he said. How observant.) He then said, "I hope you're in the right place. Those cabbies drop you off at the wrong place sometimes." Somehow, I was one of the lucky ones that ended up in the right place.

I am all checked in and happy to avoid the clusterfu** room where everyone dumps their checked bags during orientation tomorrow since Friday arrivals won't be able to check in to rooms until after the trainings, if I understand correctly.

I went on an away mission to the penthouse, and I couldn't find any other JETS so it was a pretty lonely away mission, but I'm more or less as competent as Picard so I survived. Here is the Penthouse Grand Ballroom where I predict we will have training tomorrow:

That's all for now. More to come.

Goals for Japan

I have started my list of goals for Japan. I tried to make them as SMART as possible (specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound).

• By August, write a 1,000 word essay about my expectations for Japan.  Revisit and reflect upon these expectations every two months.
• By August, write a 1,000 word essay about who I am before going to Japan to maintain my identity and not lose myself in Japanese culture.
• Spend 30 minutes per day actively studying Japanese.
• Work out (run, lift weights, do yoga, etc.) at least 3 times a week.
• Weekly, update blog with goal progress , continued reflections and inspiring observations, both about teaching and life in Japan.
• Each week, take 15 photos minimum and upload to Tumbler/blog.
• Weekly, observe a non-English class during down time.
• Try something new every week and use these experiences to learn more about Japanese culture.
• Discover when registration is for Japanese classes in Hakodate, register, and attend regularly.
• When I am invited to or offered an opportunity, never turn it down. Remember how much Yakumo has done and is continually doing for me, and work hard in exchange.  Continually seek out ways to positively and tangibly impact my community.
• Monthly, meet with teachers to plan lessons, discuss how things are going and set some goals for future lessons in order to continually improve as an educator.
• In order to pay off my student loans and have money for transition back to life in the U.S., save a minimum of 80,000 yen each month. With the rest, do not be too frugal and enjoy many travel adventures and munching delicious Japanese food!
• Each month, travel to at least one new place, whether that be a well-planned trip to a city on Honshu or a spontaneous road trip in Hokkaido.
• Participate in at least one community event or festival.
• Get involved in at least one student club or group.
• By October, have contributed 3 activities to lesson plans and have taught 3 lessons on my own.
• By October, have started a pen pal exchange between one school in Japan and the junior high school I worked at in St. Paul, MN.
• By December, have joined a community group that will allow me to learn more about Japanese culture while learning a new skill. Perhaps a cooking group.
• By February, decide whether to recontract or take the GRE online for a Masters in Education at Hamline (TEFL Certification would count towards required credits.)
• By July, have travelled to 2 of the following places: Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, Nikko, Hiroshima, Mt. Fuji.
• One month prior to departure, prepare for reverse culture shock: "Nobody cares about your travels." Utilize career counseling and be patient with transition time.
• Before departure, write a 1,000 word essay reflecting on how JET has impacted me personally, and how it will affect my future personal and professional goals.
• Make one true friend in Japan before I leave, and continually keep in touch with them.
• Prepare a presentation to give in my community and continue international exchange.

Proposed Travel In Japan

I have scoured the internets and my friends' and mentors' vast knowledge to create my Japan travel bucket list. However, I am not certain how to deal with this catch 22: the days I have off of work are holidays when traveling would be prohibitively expensive. 

Within Hokkaido, I should be able to travel on the weekends considering I will have a car. Here is a list of my prefectural travel dreams:

• Hakodate, one of the three most beautiful nightscapes in the world, and for Mt. Hakodate.

• Sapporo, for the snow festival of course, but also to the  Susukino Entertainment District, Odori Park, Clock Tower Building, and JR Tower (Namco Wonderpark!). Also for the Yosakoi Soran Dance Festival in June!

• Shiretoko, the only world heritage site in Hokkaido, and the "last pristine wilderness" in Japan.
  

• The  Otaru Snow Light Path Festival and Ashikawa Winter Festival would be great winter travel options too!
  

Other natural travel plans include:

• Shikotsu-Toya National Park for the lakes and perhaps the ice festival in Jan-Feb. or water festival at the beginning of July.

• Daisetsuzan National Park's Sounkyo onsen resort, Mt. Daisetsu, and famous lavender fields.
  

• Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park
  
• The Noboribetsu Hot Spring & Hell Valley
• Okushiri Island & Hiyama Prefecture National Park + Fukushima Island

Outside Hokkaido, my tourist dreams are too wishful.

I would love to spend more time in Tokyo than the 3 chock-full days of orientation in Shinjuku. In the Tokyo area I want to see Akihabara, the Imperial Palace East Garden, Hamarikyu Gardens, Ueno Park, Tokyo National  Museum, Tsukiji Jogai Market, and Ghibli Museum.

I hope to visit my friend in Aomori during the Nebuta Matsuri Festival, and hike the Shirakami mountain range, enjoying the beech forest and golden eagles. 

There is so much that I want to see and do in Nara, Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa (etc.), but they may all have to wait. How can I visit all these places!?I would love to see some epic fireworks, gawk at a fertility festival, go to a game convention, etc., but I predict that I won't have enough time. 

Further recommendations or resources about how I can fulfill my travel dreams are most welcome!

Volunteering is also a dream, and there are many organizations that could use a hand (see below). I wish that JET had a built in service component, like the AmeriCorps program in the United States where one can serve about 100 hours with service projects in the community.

1. It’s Not Just Mud (INJM) is a non-profit volunteer organization specializing in disaster relief and grass-root support and rehabilitation of disaster affected individuals and small businesses. We are based in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan and work in the Tohoku region.
   
2. Peace Boat’s mission has been to provide immediate emergency relief and support for the long term social and economic recovery of the Tohoku region following the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, focusing on the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture and its environs.
   
3. Smile Kids Japan's mission is to have every orphanage in Japan visited regularly by a volunteer team in an effort to provide children with mentoring, cultural exchange and a newfound sense of trust.
   
4. SWTJ (Solidarity with Tohoku, Japan) has been created to express our strong solidarity with the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. We aim to stand by northeastern Japan by conducting long-term support activities in close cooperation with the affected people, and by organizing events that remind the public of the need for continuing solidarity.

PLUS: Article in today's Japan Times:
From baby massage to fostering pets, many options for volunteers

And bonus video: HAVE A GOOD TRIP! (I'm that horse)

Intentional Travel to Japan - A Lesson Plan

If I could use one word to describe my experience with JET so far, it would be INTENTION. From the application, to the planning, to writing this blog post, I have been intentional - mentally determined - to be accepted and make the best out of my time teaching English in Japan. While I have never traveled internationally, on every domestic trip, I have returned home with new understandings of myself and the world. By taking full advantage of my opportunities, by examining my goals, expectations, and intentions, I hope that my trip to Japan will be exceptional. Below is an outline of my intentional travel plan in the format of a lesson plan.

Objectives - I will be able to (IWBAT) travel to Japan, learn more about myself and the world, impact my community in a positive and tangible way, gain new friends and new skills, and make the transition home by continuing what I have done in Japan in some way.
Timing - Minimum 1 year (July 2012 to July 2013)
Materials - Items that I  forget but then buy in Japan or (over)pack!
Preparation - See "Intentional Travel to Japan - A Lesson Plan"
Anticipated Challenges - Language barrier, cultural missteps, culture shock, unrealistic expectations, demotivation of intentionality, tight finances, the hikikomori effect (just kiddin'), driving into the ditch on icy, blizzardy, Hokkaido roads.
Pre-Journey-

• Examine preconceived notions.
• Reach out to contacts for insight and advice in order to develop realistic and informed expectations.
• Create a ranked list of the places I want to travel in Japan and begin planning dates for travel, including volunteering.
• Set specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals.

Journey-

• Frequently update blog with goal progress and continued reflections and inspiring observations, both about teaching and life in Japan.
• Never say "no" to an offer or an opportunity.
• Despite my reticence to take photos and videos at the expense of experiencing the moment, do it, in order to share my experiences with others and remember them.
• Decide in February whether to recontract or take the GRE online for a Masters in Education at Hamline (TEFL Certification would count towards required credits.)

Post-Journey -

• Blog about how my experience in Japan will continue to influence my life.
• Prepare for reverse culture shock: "Nobody cares about your travels." Utilize career counseling and be patient with transition time.
• Continue international exchange in my community.