“It’s the best reward a teacher can have, when one of her students comes back.” Her eyes were teary as she spoke. “And you’ve come such a long way.” “Actually, I’ve only come from Kobe.” I told her about the job and my new life. “So much has changed. Especially here, ” I said, looking… Continue reading School
Category: Countries
Reverse Culture Shock
“G’day mate,” said JP. “Welcome home.” Home. Really? I looked around. This unfamiliar house could have been anywhere. “Hi. It’s good to be back.” The words were a formality. I wasn’t ‘back’ at all. That night they held a barbecue and invited a few friends around. I felt strange to be sitting in conversation a… Continue reading Reverse Culture Shock
Novelty
It has to do with the fact that gaijin are still a novelty in Japan. It’s normal for kids on the street to start calling out when they see a Caucasian. “gaijin da. haroo. haroo. zisu izu a pen.” It’s a gaijin. Hello. Hello. This is a pen. The last is the first full sentence… Continue reading Novelty
New Year
Once inside the temple, we followed the line of people around to cleanse ourselves at a carved stone trough. I watched my host family carefully then copied them, picking up a long handled ladle and filling it from the stream flowing into the trough. After pouring a little over each hand, I took a sip… Continue reading New Year
Working Holidays
Happy New Year to all!! What a fizzer. Still I expected as much… well, maybe not quite so globally. We actually had someone here dragging out a PC they’d saved for the occasion, and running it in DOS mode just to have something to shout ‘it FAILED’ about. I checked out of the hotel this… Continue reading Working Holidays
Food
“A kilogram of beef in one piece? I’m very sorry. I don’t know where you’d find that. Let me check with the other staff.” She exchanged giggles, hidden politely behind hands, with the other staff and returned. “I’m sorry. You might try the shoutengai.” These shopping streets traditionally have a roof spanning between the buildings… Continue reading Food
Language
I could read books meant for a twelve-year-old, but had only minor success with newspapers and textbooks. Mind you, I wasn’t particularly interested any more. I began to realise that the Proficiency Test wasn’t important to me. I had nothing to prove. I knew my Japanese was good. I knew because I did all my… Continue reading Language
Seasons
Snowmen fit the reality of Christmas in Australia about as well as a water fight does in Europe. Seasons and the seasons affect culture – even reflect it. In Japan, the weather follows the rules. When the proverbial butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, causing a typhoon in China and its neighbouring countries, the Japanese… Continue reading Seasons
Journey
Our ryokan, Japanese inn, was near the centre of town and looked like any hotel from the outside, but inside it was essentially a Japanese house. I made sure my parents took off their shoes before stepping up into the lobby. One of the staff shuffled over to greet us and offer slippers. She looked… Continue reading Journey
Return of the Dead
“It’s not so particular to Nagasaki, but it finishes with lanterns to guide the spirits back to the underworld. Many people buy a lantern from one of the festival stalls and we put them in the river to float out to sea. The water was really calm, so they floated for miles and the ocean… Continue reading Return of the Dead