Tracing Great History of America

Yuiko


Though I’m excited to write this journal which is about the East Coast trip, I’m worried at the same time, because I’m not sure that I can explain in my words how wonderful a trip it was!! Before the East Coast trip, I learned American history from tour book in Spokane. Learning American history from books was interesting enough to me; on the one hand, I couldn’t feel the connection between the beginning of the US and the US now. However, in these five days, I visited many impressive historical places and memorials, so I actually learned how the US became the present-day US. Every place made me excited and led me to the world of great American history. It’s hard for me to choose three places in which I was most impressed, but I especially love the Beacon Hill in Boston, Orchard House, and Mount Vernon. These three places were so impressive that they exceeded my expectation.

Beacon Hill was a charming residential area in which people built their homes. When our bus went into the area, the view of the out of the window changed obviously, and I felt as if I were in the world of an old American movie. There were many antique houses and buildings of old red bricks. It seemed that the time stopped in the 1800s only in the area. The road of red bricks made the atmosphere of Beacon Hill more antique. The sky was clear blue and the sun’s rays came between the gaps of the old buildings. Trees which were planted along sidewalk seemed to wait for spring come and the leaves of the trees were shaking in the wind. In Louisburg Square, there were houses which were built between 1834 and 1847 and there also was the house that Louisa May Alcott lived in from 1885 to 1887. I was really excited when I saw the house, because I really like her novel. I loved the atmosphere of Beacon Hill and I hope that I will visit there once more before I die.

There are many interesting places to see in Boston, and above all, I really looked forward to visiting Orchard house, because I enjoyed reading “Little Women”, and I’m interested in the author, Louisa May Alcott. The house was smaller than I expected and the inside of the house was dark. I was impressed by the pictures which were drawn on the wall of her sister’s room. There were many fine pictures even under the window. I felt that my heart was pounding with on an imagine of Louisa May Alcott writing her novels in the room. The room had an atmosphere all its own. I’ve never had such a feeling. It was not just excitement; I can’t explain the feeling in my words. After visiting the house, I’m interested in Louisa May Alcott more deeply, so I would like to read her other novels.

Lastly, I really enjoyed visiting Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon was the place which was loved by the most important person in American history, George Washington. Inside the house, there are many small rooms. I was surprised about it, because I thought that there might be big gorgeous rooms in the house before I visited. In fact, the rooms were not so big and the decoration was not so gorgeous. Each room had a different color and different paint. The walls of one room were painted all green and farming tools were drawn on the ceiling of the room, because George Washington loved agriculture. It was interesting to me. The view of the outside of the house was great. The Potomac River ran magnificently and I could hear the song of birds from trees. The first leader of the US might have enjoyed the beautiful landscape after his retirement. I enjoyed not only the house, but also the facilities which were built near the house. I watched a short movie about George Washington in orientation center and there was a marvelous museum in the education center. I thought that one hour was not enough time to look around the facilities. After looking around the education center, I was interested in French-Indian War which happened before the Revolutionary war, because I found the fact that the history of George Washington started from French-Indian War, so I would like to study about the war.

All historical places where we visited during the East Coast trip were really impressive and they made me be interested more than ever in not only American history, but also Japanese history. I wanted to know what happened in Japan at the same time in each year. I would like to check the Japanese history text book which I used when I was in high school again after go back to Japan. Finally, I want to thank all of teachers, advisers, tour guides, conductors, and drivers. They lead us such a long way safely and they gave us much information which made the trip more interesting. The East Coast trip must not be such a wonderful trip without their kindness and these fantastic five days will be the best memory of the life in MFWI.

Learning English

Yuiko

The most difficult thing in the life in MFWI is expressing my feeling and saying my opinion quickly in classes. I’ve never felt pressure during classes in Japan, but in MFWI I always feel pressure, because students have to say something to teacher. The teaching style is completely different from Japan. Now, I’m learning how to react quickly to what the teacher says. It will help me improve my English skill when I go back to Japan.

In Japan, students don’t have to say their opinion in classes, because almost all teachers don’t demand the students’ opinions. This teaching style causes students’ lack of interest to the topic of classes. I’ve been used to this teaching style since I entered junior high school. As a result, I thought that it is natural that students don’t say anything during classes. However, this attitude isn’t needed by teachers in MFWI. We have to answer in our words to teachers. To tell exactly what I think about a topic in my words is very difficult even in Japanese. Moreover, we have to say our opinion in English in the classes here. It is too difficult to choose right words from my poor English vocabulary! I am not used to American teaching style still, but I learned that saying my opinion in my words is very important both in Japanese and in English.

Saying my opinion during classes will help me not only to study, but also to get a job. If students say their opinion during classes in Japan, I think Japanese students need not to be confused by job interviews which almost all students will experience in the near future. I’ve often heard by some senior students that they felt very nervous in their job interview though they practiced many times. They told me that saying their opinion quickly was very difficult and it made them panic. I think that reacting quickly during classes can be one practice for job interviews. For this reason, learning the way to express my opinion or feelings quickly is very important and very useful.
In conclusion, I should be more active during classes and I should try to say my opinion to teachers. I hope that this attitude will help classes to be more fun.

Discrimination in Japan

Yuiko

Although all people should be treated equally, regrettably, there is discrimination even a small island country like Japan. There is a word “buraku”, which describes an area or people who have low social status. Once in the past, they were treated in terrible way by people who were higher status than them, but the discrimination began to be focused on people as a serious social problem. Then, a law for “buraku” people was found in 1871 and they were emancipated institutionally, but there is discrimination against them even now. Discrimination has existed over periods in Japan. Now, Japanese should think more deeply about this problem.

When Japanese use the word “buraku”, it never has a positive meaning. The people who said the word wanted to tell something negative. For example, a person who came from an area which was “buraku” in Edo Era was often remembered with a bad image. The bad image meant they were not well educated. People may call the person “buraku”, and it will take more time for the person to be believed by other people. It is a common case of discrimination against “buraku” people.

There is discrimination not only for the people, but also against the area. As I wrote, “buraku” also had a meaning of an area in which low social status people lived in Edo era. Now, the areas have no particular differences from other areas. However, some adults don’t want their children to go to “buraku” areas, because they believe that the areas don’t have good security as much as other areas. It is wrong. There are many places which is more dangerous than the “buraku” areas.

Thus, discrimination doesn’t disappear quickly. Nowadays, Japan is getting globalization and we can accept many new ideas from all over the world. The new ideas will lead Japan to a better way. However, Japanese should face domestic problems such as discrimination. This is only the way to make a better future for everyone.

Interesting Differences about Senior-Junior Relationship

Yuiko

It is very important to establish good relationship with people who are different generation, and there are common rules and etiquette between the US and Japan. However, there are also some differences between the two countries, especially the idea about senior-junior relationship. When I visited my friend’s house in Chicago, we talked about our club activities in each country. Then, I found some differences of the rules about senior-junior relationship between the US and Japan. At that time, I thought that Japanese are stricter about senior-junior relationship than Americans, because I realized that Japanese have more rules about senior-junior relationship than Americans. For example, Japanese have specific words which show pecking order of an organization, “senpai-kohai”. On the one hand, Americans don’t have any specific words that show American senior-junior relationship. Thus, the US and Japan have interesting different definitions about the words “senior” and “junior”, and they also have different way to show the respectful feeling.

One interesting difference about senior-junior relationship between the US and Japan is the definition of each country for the word “senior-junior”. When Japanese hear the word “senior-junior”, they may come up with the word “senpai-kohai”, because we call the people who are older or senior members of an organization, “senpai” and the people who are younger or junior members of an organization, “kohai”. These words are often used in order to show to pecking order of a group or an organization clearly. For example, these words are used by students in high school club activities. Junior members of a club should call senior students “senpai”. If a junior student doesn’t call senior students “senpai”, it can be impolite to them and the junior student is regarded as a rude person from other club members. In addition, we can see easily Japanese senpai-kohai relationship by observing high school club activities, especially sports clubs. In Japan, usually sports clubs are stricter about senpai-kohai relationship than cultural clubs. For instance, sports club members who are in freshman year cannot practice with senior members during club activity time, because junior members have to take care of senior members. It means they have to prepare some good equipment for senior members, such as comfortable places to practice. Some sports clubs have a rule that junior members must not to use good equipment and places. Junior members are not able to concentrate on only practicing during club activity time until they become senior students. The seniority system shows definition of the word “senior-junior”; age is more important than individual abilities or personalities in Japan. Japanese should respect older people even if the person’s personality is not so good and the gap of each age is small. This seniority system isn’t only able to seen in many sports club activities but also in society in Japan. Similar things can happen even in society. For example, if there is a young man who has a good ability and an old man who doesn’t have good ability, the younger man has to do what the older man says. To say own opinion to older people is difficult for younger people in Japanese society. In contrast, Americans don’t have so many rules or specific words about senior-junior relationship, and they tend to focus on abilities and personalities more than age. For example, in club activities in high school, there are no specific words to show pecking order clearly like “senpai-kohai” in Japanese. In addition, junior members don’t have to care of senior members as much as Japanese. Members are treated almost equally. This seniority system is common not only in high school club activities, but also in society. For instance, young business men can say their opinions to older business men with less stress than Japanese. When I interviewed some Americans, they taught me the fact. What the person has done or how much skill the person has can be more important than a little age-gap for Americans. In conclusion, Americans and Japanese have different ways of thinking about “senior-junior relationship”.

There is also an interesting difference between the US and Japan. It is the way of expression of their respectful feelings. Japanese have “keigo” which is honorific words in Japanese. There are three kinds of “keigo”, to show respectful feelings, to be modest, and to be polite. These three kinds of “keigo” are used differently in daily life. For example, the people who are waiters of restaurants use the kind of “keigo” which shows the attitude of being polite to their customers. They need not use the “keigo” which shows the respectful feelings or shows the modest feelings to their customers. On the other hand, people should use the kind of “keigo” which shows a respectful feeling when they talk with the people who are older or higher social status than them. Using “keigo” is the easiest and the most important way of expression of their respectful feelings. Japanese need to use the right kind of “keigo” in the right situation or for right people. Learning “keigo” is one of the most difficult parts of learning Japanese. Even for adults, to use the right “keigo” can be complicated. Thus, Japanese have a lot of rules about language of senior-junior relationship. It means that they tend to depend on language when they show their respectful feelings. Compared with Japanese, Americans don’t have so many rules about their language. Of course, there are some rules about words of senior-junior relationship. Americans also have some polite words. For instance, they sometimes use “sir”, “Mr.” or “Ms.” when they speak with people who are older or higher social status than them. Furthermore, they often change words in order to be more polite. For example, they use “could you~” instead of “can you~?” When the people ask something to someone who is older or higher status people than them, past tense helps them to be more polite. However, Americans don’t have specific honorific words like Japanese “keigo”, so they show their respectful feelings by their attitudes. To pay attention and look at the eye of the people who are talking are common ways to show their respectful feeling. For instance, if a student doesn’t look at the eyes when the teacher is talking, the behavior will be rude for the teacher. Americans show their respectful feeling by attitude not only language. As we have seen, Japanese and Americans have different ways to show their respectful feeling, and we can see the fact that Japanese have stricter rules about senior-junior relationship than Americans in some points.

Differences about senior-junior relationship between America and Japan show us the national characters of each country. They sometimes cause misunderstanding among the people who came from different countries, but people will be able to understand another culture more deeply if we know the different ideas of each country about senior-junior relationship. The most important thing is to try to understand each country’s culture and morals. Understanding the ideas about senior-junior relationship of each country will help us to be a nice international person.


List of sources

Interview
Feb, 23rd Timothy Diko
Feb, 28th Christopher Micek
Mar, 1st Anna Marie Swenson
Mar, 3rd Melissa Barcellos
Mar, 4th Megan Morse
Mar, 5th Christine Austen
Heather Austen
Mar, 8th Marie Whalen
Mar, 15th Susan Thompson

Web page address
 Senpai and Kohai – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senpai_and_k%C5%8Dhai
 Honne and Tatemae – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae

Cheney High School Visiting

Yuiko

Visiting Cheney High school was very good experience for me to understand American culture more deeply. I’ve watched how American high school is in some movies or American dramas, but I’ve never known the real atmosphere of American high school. The first impression of the students was they looked older than their real age, both girls and boys. Besides, they wore their own clothes, someone tinted hair color and someone pierced earring. Their clothes made them look older. When I came in classroom, there were many papers and posters on the wall. Important points when students write essays were written the posters or papers. My pen pal told me that the posters were written by the students. When students write essay or journal, they look at the wall and remember the important points. It is a good way for writing good essay.I found some differences from Japanese highschool, especially the atmoshpere of class and the distance between teachers and students.

The atmosphere of class was more comfortable than Japan. Students said own opinions actively and they enjoyed asking questions or saying thier own opinions. Teacher talked with students as if they are friends, so they seemed very relaxed to talk with teacher. Compared with Japanese teaching style, there were many different points in every way, and I think the most important difference is the distance between teachers and students. If American students observe Japanese class, they have to think the same thing.

Students were very friendly to me and they were funny. I really enjoyed talking with them. As I talked with them, I felt uncomfortable because of my poor speaking skill. I really want to speak English more fluently. I need practice more than the other students.

My Goal

Yuiko

My goal is becoming a good English speaker and understanding other countries’ culture more deeply. When I am tired with studying English, I remind to myself why I started studying English. Of course, one of the big reasons is, we have to study English in our school, and there is no choice. However, why I was interested in English is I love the music and the movies which were created in foreign countries, especially countries speak English as a first language. For example, I love British and American musicians, such as the Beatles, Queen, Bob Dylan, and Michel Jackson. Their music always makes me happy even if I feel bad. I also like movies made in foreign countries. "Life is beautiful", "Buffalo’66", and "the Lord of Dog Town". The music and movies give me wonderful inspiration and invited me to the world of English. I want to understand more deeply the culture by studying English.

My short term goal is studying abroad in UK as an exchange student. Therefore, I have to get more than 61 points on TOEFL iBT. It is very difficult for me, because the test includes a speaking test, and I am really bad at speaking in English more than the other students. The strategy for improving my speaking skills is talking with as many native speakers as possible in these four months. So I should talk with native speakers as much as possible. I really want to speak English well.

Finally, to be honest, I haven’t decided my future dream yet, but I hope to get a job which uses English. I want to communicate with many people all over the world and understand different culture. I think that understanding other countries’ culture connects to understanding Japanese culture. I want to see my country from another point of view. To do it, I will able to enjoy my life more. Now; I should be a hard worker than I ever am. These four months will be a very important time in my life and I would like to get the chance to reach my goal.

Unforgettable Experiences

Yuiko

I will never forget these three days which we visited to Seattle, because I was impressed by not only the great American history, but also the warm hearts of American people. I was looking forward to everything that we would experience on this trip, but at the same time, I couldn’t help thinking about the destructive earthquake which brought big damage to Japan right before our departure. In these three days, I had many opportunities talking with Americans I didn’t know, such as, shop stuffs, museum guides, and a hotel clerk. All of them told me that they concerned about the terrible earthquake. I was moved by their warmhearted words and I was able to find a difference from Japan. Thus, I learned about American history, but also a new American nationality on this trip.

Firstly, I was really impressed by the Columbia River. I’ve never been to such a moving place. There were clouds in the sky and the sun hid behind the clouds, so I didn’t expect such a beautiful view when I was in the bus. However, it was wrong. The huge river was just there as if it was showing us what America is. I felt my heart was moving with the beautiful sight and a little uncanny feeling with the contrast of the gray sky and the huge beautiful river. I’ll never felt such a feeling and the magnificent view will live in my heart.

Secondly, I most enjoyed visiting the University of Washington. It was also a huge and beautiful place. There were many international students, nice looking buildings, and colorful plants. Some students rode a bike in the campus. It was a surprising sight for me, because we cannot ride a bike in our campus. Besides, there were different kinds of buildings, such as antique looking buildings and modern looking buildings. Moreover, flowers and trees made a beautiful contrast with the buildings. I was excited just walking around the campus. If I were a student in this university, I would take many pictures in every season.

Finally, as I wrote in the introduction, I was really impressed and moved by the warm hearts of Americans. Every American who I talked with these three days gave me the words of concern about the terrible earthquake. It can be a kind of national character of America. Usually, Japanese don’t want to talk with foreigners even in such a tragic situation. I was able to find this difference from Japanese and it can be an important difference. I will never forget their cheerful words.

I cannot come up with any right words that express my feeling about these fantastic three days. All activities and experiences gave me shock in some way more or less. To be honest, I don’t like to have a trip somewhere new, but I learned in these three days that visiting new places gives me inspiration which can change my way of thinking. This trip will be an unforgettable memory for me.

Impressive Movies

Yuiko

Watching movies always gives me inspiration in many ways. It gives me a sad feeling, a happy feeling, and other various feelings which I cannot express in my words. I have loved to watch movies since I was in elementary school, because my mother loved to. She took me a DVD rental shop and we rent four DVDs per week. I really liked to watch DVDs with my mother, so I finished my homework before watching them. Thus, watching movie became one custom of my daily life. I don’t remember all of the movies which I watched, but there are some movies I cannot forget. These movies will be in my heart as a part of my life.

One of my favorite movies is “Life is beautiful”, an Italian language film which tells the story of a Jewish-Italian man. When I first watched this movie, I was shocked because I didn’t know that there was such a terrible discrimination against Jewish Italian. However, I was very impressed by the main character’s way of life. He never forgot to smile in front of his son and his wife by the end of his life. He always made his family happy and enjoyed his life if he was in a difficult situation. This is a beautiful story.

Next, there is a little strange but good love story which I like. To be honest, I don’t like love stories so much, except “Buffalo’66”. I really like this movie. This movie made by Vincent Gallo who is an American actor, a movie director, and a screenwriter. He is most associated with independent movies, and “Buffalo’66” is one of them. I don’t know why I like this movie, but I just like the atmosphere of this movie. This movie gave me a different kind of happy feeling at the end of the story, so it’s a one reason why I like it. There is no any specific reason to like it, but it’s one of my favorite movies.

Finally, I have a movie which I would like to recommend to all people who are interested in Japan: “Princess Mononoke”. It is an animation movie that was produced by Hayao Miyazaki, who is one of founders of Ghibli Studio. The theme of this movie is a battle of nature and humans. The story is a little confusing, but the message of this story is very valuable. After watching this movie, you will think more deeply about the relationship between nature and humans. I am proud of this movie as a Japanese, and Ghibli movies are one of the most important assets which show Japanese culture to other countries.

I think that I can learn many things from movies that I cannot learn from textbooks. Now, I don’t have enough time to watch movies in the library, but I would like to try watching as many as possible. Watching movies keeps giving me various feelings and new inspiration forever.

Differences About Teaching Style

Yuiko

The most important difference of teaching style between MFWI and MWU is the distance between teachers and students. In Japan, what students have to do during a class is just listening to what teacher is saying. Students don’t have to ask a question or say their opinion, because teachers don’t demand students to do so. In contrast, in America, teachers always need students’ opinion or question. In the first class at MFWI, I realized that teachers really want to know what I think about the topic by watching their eyes. I think this is the biggest and the most important difference between the US class style and Japanese. It can be the reason why some Japanese students feel uncomfortable in the classes at MFWI now.

Firstly, there is a big difference about the students’ attitude during classes between America and Japan. For instance, most Japanese students think that it is usual to sleep during classes. I remember that many students slept during a class when I was a high school student. The thought that it is OK to sleep during classes might not change even if they became college students. On the other hand, in the U.S, we have to listen carefully to what teacher said, because we can be called by teacher and we should have some opinion to the topic of the class. Most students are not used to the American class style, so it might be the first time for them to think about participation in classes. As a result, students start thinking about their attitude more deeply during classes. Some students start feeling kind of nervous, and some students start feeling a kind of fun. There is a little difference between each student how they accept American style.

All of the students must realize some differences in the class style between the US and Japan. It might be a stress for students in a bad way or a good way. When we are used to American style classes, we will be able to understand American culture more deeply. Moreover, the experience will affect our future in a good way. We should participate in classes more actively and we should have more confidence in own opinion.