Friday, February 25, 2005

West Side!


Nishi (West) Jr. High: 3B...Girls trying to lick their elbows after I told them it is physically impossible.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

☆Thank You 3A☆


☆Nishi Boys☆ I love you guys! Posted by Hello

Thank you for my Thank You cards! I was so suprised! It was very sweet of you! It made me cry! I can't believe that you are going to graduate! Time goes by so fast! You have all become very good at English...I'm so happy! I love talking to you....You are the coolest kids ever! I will miss you SO much! Please don't forget me! Come back and visit, and tell me about all your high school adventures! Keep in touch! I hope I can see you again soon!

Thank You カードを作ってくれてありがとう!本当にびっくりした!すごく親切だったよ!めっちゃめっちゃ感動している!泣いちゃった!あなたたちはもうすぐ卒業して信じられない!時間が早過ぎ!英語がうまくなってうれしい!あなたたちと話すのが大好きだよ!皆すごい!さみしいね!あなたたちの事をぜったいに忘れないよ!あたしの事を覚えてくれてね!あたし会いに来て高校の冒険を教えてね!連絡して!もうすぐもう一度会えるといいですが。。。
美里咲より (メリッサ)

Monday, February 14, 2005

Happy Valentine's Day

A Valentine left on the board for me at Nishi Junior High...

No, Thank you! Posted by Hello

Alice in Valentine's Day Wonderland

If Alice had ventured through the looking glass on February 14th, I imagine she would have ended up somewhere in the Japanese archiapelago. Why you ask? In Japan Valentine's Day is the exact opposite of what you've come to know and love (or hate) in the west.

In this topsy-turvy world, where nothing is as it seems, it is the boys who are the beneficiaries of this chocolate-covered love fest, showered in eleganty wrapped packages (complete with pink ribbons an bows), of creatively-shaped chocolate-deliciousness by girlfriends, admirers, co-workers and friends. Ofcourse most of it is giri choco, obligation chocolate given out of a sense of duty, but every now and then a boy gets lucky with honmei choco, true love chocolate, usually painstakingly handmade by a girlfriend (or a girlfriend wannabe).

If all of this sounds just a bit one sided or sexist, consider this: In the past, it was considered extremely rude and forward for a girl to tell a boy that she had feelings for him. Thus Valentine's Day became a girl's one and only chance to make a move in a socially acceptable way.

But fear not fellow femmes! We are not forgotten!

In an attempt to ease the minds of the men forever indebted by this show of love and appreciation, White Day was born. Created by a marshmallow company (hence the White-ness)ready to capitalize on the Japanese culture of returning favors, White Day was originally sold as a chance for the lucky men who recieved chocolates on Valentine's Day to give marshmallowy delicious gifts to the women in their lives exactly one month later, on March 14th. Recently, however, chocolates and other candies have become more popular (imagine that), eclipsing marshmallow sales. Nothing says thanks, or I love you, like a nice fluffy marshmallow...Nice try marshmallow company!

So no, I didn't get anything for Valentine's Day, aside from my awesome blackboard valentine. The question then becomes...Did I give anything?

You better believe it! \(^-^)/

Whether or not I get anything on White Day is another question all together!

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Juken: Japanese Test-Taking Hell

What if you took one test that would determine the fate of your future: every aspect of your life, from where you went to high school, what kind of subjects you could study, whether or not you could go to college, and if so, where... Do you think you might be a bit stressed about it?

Now imagine that you had to take that test at the tender age of 13 or 14.

Welcome to the reality of every junior high school student in Japan-- an alternate universe which I lovingly refer to as as Hell on earth.


Two of my favorite boys from Higashi, rebelliously allowing their white shirts to stick out from under their seifuku uniform. After I took this picture they were reprimanded and forced to tuck their shirts back in before being allowed to leave school premises. Posted by Hello

As if these students don't have it hard enough as it is. For one, they go to school all year round. I could be off by a few days, but I think their longest break is three weeks. Before you start muttering to yourself about how you had to walk up hill to and from school, in ten feet of snow with no shoes, keep in mind that during their 'break' they are still required to suit up in their notorious seifuku (literally sailor clothes, school uniforms modeled after western miliary uniforms during the Meiji reforms in an attempt to modernify Japan), and report to school for various club activites, as well as complete a tonne of homework and study.

They also have to walk up hill to school both ways in the freezing cold, and although they have shoes, coats are not permitted unless they are an officially sanctioned part of the school uniform. Oh, and girls are required to wear skirts all year round.


Higashi Jr. High girls, soon to graduate, modeling their seifuku. Note the mandatory skirts, lack of coats, and snow on the ground. Posted by Hello

If you think thats bad, until three years ago school was 7 days a week--no weekend whatsoever. Can you imagine a world with no weekend? These days students still go to school on Saturdays for various commitments, forced 'volunteering' and club activities. And even though Sunday is supposed to be a day off, I never fail to see students in seifuku suspiciously close to school grounds.

Secondly, Juku. May I introduce to you the devil himself: Cram school. School after school. Here's the deal: Kids go to school all day, stay after for club, and then head for these evil little crams schools, which cost a small fortune, to learn everything the school system is failing to teach them. Coming back from Osaka I have seen students leaving them as late as 10 o' clock, and now that its test season, many are open until midnight.


Seniors at Higashi Jr. High wearing in-school uniforms. That's right. Seifuku is only worn while traveling to and from school and during tests, in order to prepare students for entrance exams. I'm going to miss them! Such cool kids! Posted by Hello

Which leads us to that special time of year when hell spews up onto earth's surface like lava from a volcano, destroying everything in its path.Juken season-- a student's final chance to prepare for the high school entrance exams they have their spent their entire educational experience being groomed for. Everything the students learn, from the moment they enter the educational system, is geared towards passing this one test. Nothing else matters-- not how well they do in school, not how involved they are, and certainly not how well they understand the material. As many students will tell you, they simply memorize information for the test, and regurgitate without any real understanding at all.

Can you imagine the stress and strain this would cause a responsible adult, let alone a teenager? Not to mention the pressure of dishonoring one's family. Were you ready to decide the path your life would take when you were that age?

Where would you be had someone decided for you? Because that is exactly what happens. Based on how well you do preparing for these tests, you can either apply to an academic high school, an agricultural high school, a commercial high school, or just forget about high school all together and get a job.


Maybe I'm wrong. I mean, these kids looks like they're ready for it, don't they? Posted by Hello

Based on your results you are accepted to or rejected from your choice of high schools, the academic level of which is clearly defined in Japan, meaning it is an almost certain indicator of whether or not you will be accepted to college. If you are deemed worthy enough to continue your education, your test results will decide the acadenic level of the colleges you can apply to.

Many students that want to study academically are discouraged if their teachers do not believe they will pass the test, and from my experience here, teachers constantly underestimate their students. Its better to succeed at a low level than to fail aiming too high. Not to mention their perception of intelligence, which seems to be based on whether or not the student conforms, is respectful of tradition, and obediently, blindy accepts whatever is fed to them, no questions asked. Creativity and individuality are stifled, frowned upon and referred to as 'problematic' or 'troublesome'.

So there you have it. Shot down before they even get off the ground, students who want to go to university are doomed to a life of planting rice...Not that there is anything wrong with that, if it is what you want to do! But to be told that that is all you are capable of based on your academic performance at the age of 14...Its insanity!

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Enasan:恵那山


Mount Ena, veiled in freshly fallen snow and a few lonely clouds. Posted by Hello

Thursday, February 03, 2005