Small Problem
[My and one of my supervisors, in Japanese.]
Him: Do you have any other problems/concerns?
Me: My TV is broken.
Him: Oh. When did it break?
Me: September.
Him: Ah! Why didn’t you say something?
Me: I couldn’t speak Japanese until now.
Congratulations
Congratulations to my sister and her boyfriend on getting engaged. I am very excited and can’t wait to see them happily married.
The Mall
Over the weekend, I went to the mall. Though most things were the same as in America, there were some differences that I’d like to point out.
My morning began by taking a 25-minute train ride to another prefecture (prefecture = Japanese state), then taking a twenty-minute bus ride to the mall. Certainly different from the typical shopping experience I was used to in my home in Northern Virginia.
I was on a quest for some simple items: a white dress shirt, a pair of jeans and maybe some snacks from the foreign food store. I made my way to a department store, selected the kind of shirt I wanted, then went to a store clerk and said (pointing to the size on the shirt), “すみません。あの。。。 シャツはかいたい、でもにほんのばんごをわからない。” (If you speak Japanese, don’t tell the people at home how bad my Japanese it. They’re impressed.) “Excuse me, um… I want to buy a shirt, but I don’t understand Japanese numbers [sizes].” Everything’s in centimeters. The sales clerk measured me and I tried on the shirt. I bought it a few minutes later.
After that, I was hungry so I wandered over to the food court. Amidst the Japanese-style restaurants was a KFC, and I was suddenly hit with a craving of food from home. But after reviewing the menu and seeing that they didn’t have biscuits, I decided it wasn’t worth it. What’s KFC without biscuits? (KFC in Japan, apparently.) Instead, I headed to the first floor, where I went to Mr. Donut (a copy of Dunkin Donuts, but with more affordable coffee). I had a donut and two cups of coffee (free refills).
Then I wandered through several stores looking for jeans. I was looking for a solid pair of denim, deep navy, no stupid trendy patterns or tears. Jeans are like a partner in crime. You can’t just wear any old jeans, especially when you’re a guy a like me- a guy who likes to break-in and fade his own jeans, instead of buying ones pre-faded. I was going to have these jeans for a few years. It’s a big decision.
After several stores didn’t meet my high standards (do I have commitment problems?), I spotted the Levi store. I wandered in, where I saw the American staple of jeans on sale for the price of… 11,000 yen (approximately $120). No, thanks. I walked into another store where they had Lee jeans on sale for the more reasonable price of 6,000 yen (approximately $70). But I’ve never been a fan of the fit of Lee jeans, so I left jeanless.
Finally, I decided I’d check out the foreign food store. This store has a lot to offer, but it’s usually ridiculously packed. Today was no exception. The cramped aisles only add to the experience. As I walked around the store, careful to not knock over expensive bottles of hot sauce or pesto with my bag, I checked out their options. As good as this store is, it’s not like a Super H Mart in the States (oh God if only it was…). It’s a gourmet store. So that means super-deluxe coffees (the store is primarily a coffee shop), expensive cheeses, candy, and condiments. They also have plenty of wine and a little bit of beer, but alas, no Sam Adams. In the end, I bought two packages of tortilla shells, three bags of tortilla chips (much smaller than US bags), and a jar of salsa, for the completely reasonable price of 2,300 yen (approximately $28). Though all the items are available in my town, here they are cheaper, the salsa and chips taste better, and the tortilla shells are larger and contain 10 per pack instead of 5.
Also in the foreign food store was the only other white person I spotted that day. I nodded to him and asked, “How’s it going?” The accent in his response told me he was not American; possibly German. (The only other foreigner I saw in the mall was an Indian woman.)
All of this shopping might seem like a pain to you. Forty-five minutes to get to the mall, expensive foreign foods (btw, it’s a reality check when you have to go to the foreign food store to buy stuff you’re used to), and then you have to carry everything home on the bus and train because you don’t own a car. But it has some good points as well. Because shopping generally takes longer than it does in the States, you spend a lot more time thinking about what you want to buy instead of impulse buying. You also consider creative alternatives, like eating local-style food or trying out local fashion. It’s also healthier because, hey, you have to walk everywhere to get what you want, then walk it home.
3-11
Today we remember.
Graduation
Yesterday was graduation at the middle schools in my town. The basics are the same for Japan-America graduations: parents and younger students eagerly await the arrival of the 3rd years, the 3rd years walk in while the band plays music, everyone applauds.
From there, the principal dispenses diplomas first. The homeroom teacher reads the names of the students as the students walk to the stage and take their diplomas, then sit back down. No one applauds until the very end. After that, the principal and several higher-ups from the Education Board make remarks to the students. I’m obviously not sure what they said, but I’m sure it was something like, “Congratulations on this magnificent achievement, work hard in high school, etc.”
After that, though, comes things you wouldn’t expect.
First, the 3rd years file to the stage. They stand on an arrangement of stands, chorus-style, and stand facing the crowd. Boys and girls are on different sides of the stage. Then, the students address the crowd. In unison, they address the crowd. Then, one student says something. Then another. Then another, as if it’s all rehearsed. I’m assuming they wrote a script beforehand to make sure they didn’t talk over each other. I also assume they are thanking the parents, teachers and fellow students for support.
After that, the 2nd years stand and file to stand in front of the 3rd years. The 2nd years, similar to the 3rd years’ address, speak in unison in the beginning and then break apart, speaking student-by-student. They kept saying せんぱい (senpai) over and over, so I assume they were thanking the 3rd years for being wonderful senpai.
Senpai is a word that means, kind of, “older friend and quasi-leader.” Older children are expected to look after younger children and teach them the ropes. It’s kind of like the American idea of “being shown the ropes,” but being a senpai is an expecting, a responsibility. In America, it’s sort of optional. You’re doing someone a favor by showing them the ropes in America; in Japan, you are expected to be a senpai.
While all of this is going on, random sniffling breaks out among the 3rd year girls’ side as some cry.
After all that, the 3rd years sing a song. It’s basically the Japanese version of “Friends Forever” by Vitamin C, but much more famous. Everyone knows it, sings it.
Listen to the song here (LINK).
After the conclusion, the 3rd years file out of the gym. Shortly afterward the other students follow, then the faculty addresses parents. I assume they are thanking the parents for their devotion to their children. Then the parents leave, followed by the big-wigs from the Educational Board. At this point, I’m returning bows with these leaders and basically doing what all the other teachers are doing.
Another important thing to note is that the students (1st and 2nd year) set up and clean up for the entire ceremony. So plastic on the gym floor, chairs, arranging flowers, setting up the stage and moving all of the band equipment is done by the students.
Additionally, everyone is wearing business attire, but they leave their shoes on the door and wear slippers inside. It’s very interesting to see everyone wearing very nice, professional clothing and ridiculous footwear. Also, you cannot wear even slippers on the stage, so whenever someone is giving a speech or a student receives their diploma, they are wearing socks. Very different from America.
