Discrimination in Japan

By Sae

What do you imagine about discrimination? There are much discrimination because of religion, sex and race. It is hard to lose all discrimination from the world because prejudices are in people’s mind deeply. Prejudice came from painful experiences or elder people. I learned about discriminations and prejudice in America, so started to think about Japan. There seems to be no discriminations in Japan, but I found different kind of discrimination. This is occupation and academic background discrimination.

Occupation and academic background discrimination is big concern in Japan. Japanese tend to classify into winnfers and losers by property because media imprinted in people’s mind. From the media airs that topic up, people started to believe that winners are happy because they are wealthy, for becoming rich person, good occupation or academic background are needed to get high salary. Therefore, Japanese focus on occupation and academic background. For example, many students ask their name and university which they go to when they meet for the first time, and people think it is good to enter a good university. On the other hand, many parents only care about their children’s grades and score in education instead of thinking about their children’s hopes or dreams. In addition, children are victims of this discrimination. Recently, many children go to cram school after school and learn many things such as English conversation, playing an instrument and doing sports; on the other hand, they have no time to play with their friends. In fact, I think children become adults who are like their parents if they continue to do that. They will stop thinking about their dream, and they will just study for future career. In other case, university students want to work at major companies, so they try to take an interview with those companies. Actually, there are only a few places for new employees. That is one reason that many university students can’t get jobs.

Because of occupation and academic background discrimination, people try not to think about dreams. Is money really important for us? People feel happy with different ways such as having family, doing what you really want to do, and having dreams. First, focusing on your wish in your mind and then respecting individuals are the keys of losing this discrimination.

My classroom observation

By Sae Before I came into my pan pal’s algebra classroom, she mentioned that her class is the worst in this high school. Consequently, I wasn’t surprised when I walked into her classroom. As she mention, it is the one of class with free atmosphere. There were different grade students in same class. It is impossible in Japan in order to have time schedule for each grade in high school, so I didn’t know students in American high school choose classes which they really want to do. I think it is good system because they can have a chance for getting some credit if they fail. When class started, there are no bells; therefore, I didn’t realize that class began at first. In class, I couldn’t help find difference between Japan and American school style because there were many interesting situations for me. Teacher just gave some practice paper to students, and then student were supposed to do own work. However, classroom wasn’t quiet at all. Some students do their works, but the others were talking. There was another difference. Teacher didn’t warm them once. According to my pen pal, it depends on students to have much homework or do your work in the class instead taking with friends. Normally, Japanese teachers hate that students talk and don’t do their work. Students are not even allowed to eat or drink during the class in Japan. Therefore I felt it was very cozy in her classroom because some students were eating. I always think why students can’t eat or drink during class even though students do their work. Even so, I think students shouldn’t leave classroom until it finishes. I think it is too much freedom for students. In the last ten minutes of class, students suddenly stopped working or chatting. I couldn’t understand what they started at all. Then, they started packing their stuff and stood in front of door for leaving classroom as soon as possible. However teacher didn’t even say anything. That was most surprising thing for me.

My short-term and long-range goals in life

By Sae

Last year, I wasn’t industrious student at all; therefore, I was often late for school and didn’t attend all classes. I understood it was better to go to school and attend classes, but I couldn’t. I was busy working and doing my assignments every night. Then I couldn’t get up in the morning. In this semester, I want to change my attitude. It is good opportunity to change it at MFWI because I don’t have a part-time job and temptations such as shopping, talking with my friends on the phone and hanging out with my friends. I think it would be easier to begin the attempt in new environment would be easier, so my short-term goal is attending all classes. At first, I will do hard things that I must do such as homework, group work with my classmates, and assignments. Although it seems not to be hard, it is most important to concentrate on what I do right now. Through last one year, Ms. Brooks taught me how important concentration on my work is. Moreover, I have to work hard form now.

My long-range goal is finding my dream and what I am going to be in the future. I used to want to be a flight attendant when I was in junior high school, so I decided to study English and entered the English department. I studied hard and gained some chances to study abroad 2 years ago. However, I realized I don’t like long flight. Because of my awareness, my dream was changed. Although 2 years passed, I still don’t know what I want to going to be in the future. I’m turning from freshman to sophomore: only one year is left to apply for a job. I’m worrying about my future career, but I have to find my desire first. In this year, I will try to do something new and put myself in a new environment for knowing many choices for my future.

No Life No Movie

By Sae

Movies are necessary for our life. They make us happy, excited or moved because all movies are stories about life. There are many ways to watch movie for entertainment, dreaming, and learning. Some movies are from books and truth, so it is easy to know much information with dynamic images and sounds. I was raised up by my parents who are addicted to watches movies, so movies affect me many times. In addition, I learned three important things from my favorite movies. These are being myself, making an effort, and never giving up.

“Everyone wants to be us!!” The phrase taught me how important to know what my real desire is. This line is from one of my favorite movies “The Devil Wears Prada”. This story is about a young woman who works as the second assistant to ao fashion magazine editor. Andrea came to New York for her dream of becoming a journalist, but she could apply only to the fashion magazine Runway even though she is not interested in fashion. She started to work under the powerful executive Miranda temporarily for professional challenge. Working under her harsh boss is hard for her dream. Afterward, she found that she lost her boyfriend, friends and family because she works hard every day. She asks herself what she really wants to do, what her dream is, and why she continues to work there even she has enough experience. Finally she quits this job and applies to a newspaper to get back to the real Andrea. I learned making an effort and never giving up are important, so this movie encouraged to me at the time I was thinking about my plan to study abroad. This movie reminds me to make a right decision instead of fearing.

Another great movie is “Little Dancer”. The movie is in 1984 England. The boy Billy goes to boxing club after school. One day, on the way his home he is attracted to ballet. He practices ballet with girls without telling his father who strikes against coal mines. Billy’s teacher teaches him eagerly because she finds his talent. However, his father found he does ballet instead of boxing, so he gets angry. When he realizes his son’s talent, he stops striking to earn for his son’s ballet school. Although stopping striking is betrayal to his friends, he doesn’t hesitate to do it. By the grace of his parents and teacher, he becomes a ballet dancer. In this movie, Billy shows us that all people have the right to choose without worrying about gender or ability. Every time I can’t decide something, this movie reminds me that being myself is important.

“The Whisper of The Heart” imprinted on people’s memories with heartwarming story. The girl loving to read books, Shizuku, found the name Seiji on many cards of books at library. She falls in love with him even though she doesn’t know who he is. One day, a cat is in the train which Shizuku gets in, and then she follows that cat. The cat leads her to mysterious shop Chikyuya. She meets the grandfather Shiro and Seiji at that shop. Seiji is Shiro’s grandson. He makes violins in the shop’s basement because he dreams to go to Italy to learn about craftsman of violin. Shizuku gets worried because she faces Seiji’s strong hope. After thinking what she can do now, she starts to write her story. This movie describes that everyone has talent and intelligent, but it isn’t easy to be successful at that field even with capacity; on the other hand, people can’t succeed without making an effort. People have felt anxious about future when they were students, and I have it too. Many people are familiar with Suzuku’s feeling. That is why “The Whisper of The Heart” is still popular.

Movies give us quasi experience. We can be happy, sad, relieved or anxious by watching movies because they give us a lot of information about life; on the other hand, we can learn from movies. For me, watching movies is a method to have fun, relax, and learn. Being myself, making an effort, and never giving up are all I learned from movie. Those words will keep encourage me when I have a hard time. I think many people have learned something like me. Thus, I can’t imagine life without movies.

Comparing and contrasting the classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU

By Sae

My image of classroom teaching style at MFWI was completely different from reality. In my expectation of teaching style at MFWI was similar to Dr. Brooks’ class at MWU. However, American and Japanese have quite different attitude in the classes. Normally, Japanese students listen to classes quietly and just copy some explanations down from the blackboard. Many students don’t want to say their opinions and rarely ask questions in the class because they worry about mistake. For example, they don’t try to answer the questions even if their teacher asks. Therefore, classrooms are always quiet; on the other hand, they act on the defensive in the classes. If class is boring, many students always chat without caring about other students in the classroom. Even so, teachers will give us credits unless they have bad mark by the test.

In contrast, teachers at MFWI don’t want us to act like that at all. Teachers always wait for our responses, opinions, and actions. According to my RA, participation is very important in the U.S. Students need to say their opinions. Otherwise they get fail. Besides, there are many group discussions and group work in the class. These aren’t common in Japan because exams and attendance are important and almost assignments are independent work. In America, participation and cooperation are very important; therefore atmosphere of class is livelier and more vital in America. Although these are some differences, we must try to participate actively in classes at both MWU and MFWI.

Homestay weekend

By Sae

I couldn’t wait for homestay weekend since I’ve met my host family, Larry and Linda at match up day. They welcomed us warmly like family. Honestly, I didn’t look forward to spending time with host family much in America because there were 4 chances to have host family when I was in Australia. I had trouble with one family, so it was little scary to stay with host family again. In match up, my new host family had already known about us and understood my trauma because our professor, Brooks already told them about us. Dr. Brooks and my host mother have known each other since they were 12 years old. That surprised me, but their genial welcome made me relaxed.

This was the first time for her to be host family because her best friend Dr. Brooks recommended having us as host daughters to Linda. Nevertheless, Linda called us our children and cuddled me at the entrance on Friday when she saw us at Cannon House. That was the first time that I could feel her affection for people. In three days, we went many places such as downtown, Italian restaurant and Catholic Church. Wherever we went to, she talked with friends, and then whenever she met her friends or even acquaintances, she introduced us to them. It wouldn’t be happened in Japan; on the other hand, many people don’t have community and companionship like Americans do. Through 18 years, I didn’t have relationship with my neighbors like my host mother; therefore, I was confused at first. However, I think companionship is important in American life. Especially, in Spokane, people know each other long time because they lived in Spokane since they were children, so they help each other like family.

In addition, people in Spokane care about their city so much. For example, the owner of Italian restaurant where we went on Sunday serves one doughnut for free if people give signature on paper for saving MAC, and then many people signed them; People in Spokane try to make their city better together. I never saw these kinds of actions in Japan. Although I know it is proper that people care about own city, I didn’t do anything for my city because adults don’t lead children the way in modeling in Japan. It is hard to live without support from someone.

Through the three days, I knew what charity is in Spokane. People help each other and welcome new people warmly. It seems to be easy, but Japanese people don’t do it. We could have many relationships by one strong relationship such as the relationship between Linda and Dr. Brooks. That’s why I met my new parents, Larry and Linda. I realized that is why Spokane is nice city and people who live in Spokane love their hometown. Having good relationship is the most important thing to lead a pleasant life in the beautiful city.