This is a continuation of the first excerpt, which you can read here.

Numata Tengu - Copyright 2007 Bahia Simons-Lane

I woke up much later to a darkened apartment, still feeling alone and hungry.  I went to the convenience store behind my apartment and got something to eat.  This small act made me feel a little better, but I couldn’t shake my feeling of loneliness.  Not one to set around contemplating my misery, I decided to wander around and start learning about the town.  As I walked down the unfamiliar streets, I encountered the festival that Kyoko had mentioned the day before.  Festival stalls lined the streets with catch the fish games and traditional summer festival foods.  I took a few pictures of girls dressed in matching festival garb, blue and white headbands tied around their hair.  I later learned that Numata’s festival celebrated the Tengu, a demon-god with a red face and long nose.  Only women could carry the giant Tengu masks through the streets in order to receive prosperous love lives and fertility.  It was whispered that to help carry the heavy Tengu secretly men were at the center to help lift the mask, but I never found out whether this was true or not.

As I paused from taking pictures a brunette New Zealander dressed in festival garb suddenly came up to me.  She was tall and beautiful, with a sharpish nose often found in the British, New Zealanders, and Australians.  This was my first taste of how conspicuous foreigners were in Numata, as she picked me right out of the crowd.  Her name was Danielle and she was working an an eikaiwa (English conversation school) in the center of town.  As she was introducing herself, a British man with curly hair and a ruddy complexion joined us.  He also worked with her at the eikawa.  Though Danielle had already been living in the area for at least a year prior, Matt was new and had just arrived like me.  They had been convinced to join in the festivities and help carry the omikoshi, the very heavy portable shrine that is transported around the city during the summer festivals, apparently with lots of breaks for sake – hence Matt’s ruddy cheeks.  They are also apparently very heavy, and Matt was experiencing quite a load, of course meaning that more sake was needed.

They darted off to join their places with the rest of the team, but not without first giving me their numbers and email addresses.  So far, the whole outing had assuaged many of my concerns that seemed so overwhelming the night before and I was grateful that I hadn’t just stayed at home moping.  On my way back to my apartment, I saw across the street a pale, tall redhead.  He greeted me and it turned out he was the one from the neighboring town that was going to take me to festival the night before.  He had stopped by my apartment, but in my exhausted slumber I didn’t even wake to hear the door.  He, too, was friendly and gave me a way to contact him.  Being back at my apartment that night no longer seemed like a bad thing; the first hiccup in my life in Japan overcome, I felt I could breathe easier.

Image via Wikipedia

Except from my NaNoWriMo novel.  Copyright 2011 Bahia Simons-Lane

I was sitting in a car in Gunma Prefecture staring at the scenery rushing by.  It was unfamiliar and exotic; rice fields submersed partially in water and mountains on the horizon.  The journey to my own new home was almost complete and the adrenaline I had experienced until that point was fading.  Things had quieted down and soon would seem to stop.  For the moment, movement was still happening.  I was exhausted and made small talk with my new supervisor and coworker Kyoko, but my mind was far away thinking about what had led me down this path.

It all started when I was in college with a trip to Japan.  Actually, it started much farther back than that.  In high school I was introduced to the world of Japanese animation, which at the time was so different than what we had the USA.  I guess that’s what put Japan on the map for me as a real tangible place.  From the animation, the style, the mature themes, and unique worlds I could tell that Japan was something different and unfamiliar, but I at the time I didn’t think about going there.  It wasn’t until later in college when I had a chance to visit a friend living near Tokyo that I got a taste of the incredible and unique city of Tokyo and my eyes were opened.

The vastness of Tokyo’s urban sprawl, the tall buildings and neon lights, the experience of being truly outside a culture looking in gripped me strongly and didn’t let go even after I went back to the USA.  A subsequent obsession with Japanese culture ensued, and I took every Japan related class I could, in spite of my very different declared theater major.  I took classes on Japanese history (from modern to ancient), classes on popular culture (from animation to music), and classes on Japanese theater (from Noh to Kabuki).  The only area in which I didn’t excel were my Japanese language classes, which were demanding for a theater major spending 14 hours on campus a day.  However, the more I learned, the more eager I was to spend more time in this place that had gripped my interest.

After I finished my BA in Theater Arts, I was accepted to the graduate certificate program for Theater, where I took additional classes and honed my expertise in the areas of directing and stage management and worked as a teaching assistant for several theater classes.  That year I learned about the JET Programme, which was a way I could go live and teach English in Japan.  It seemed perfectly suited for the experience I wanted.  I applied and passed the first round.

As I prepared for the interview, I dyed my hair back to a normal color and took out my piercings.  I knew that if I was accepted to the program my days as a punk rock girl were over.  It seemed to be worth it – at least I hoped it would.  I walked into a very strange interview in San Francisco and fielded questions about how I would handle isolation in a rural environment.  Again and again they tried to assess whether I would have a mental breakdown if they were to place me somewhere that I would be in the countryside and isolated from other foreigners.  They seemed satisfied with my answers, because when I got the results of my interview I found out I was accepted to the program.

Boarding the plane in Washington, DC, I was both nervous and excited.  I had moved back to my home town to spend a last month with family and friends before embarking on this journey.  I was setting off, excited and hopeful, leaving everything behind in pursuit of a dream.  I was buoyed by a great mix of feelings; hope and excitement fluttering in my chest.  Nowhere was there a hint of apprehension – I was ready for the adventure.

I cracked open the latest Harry Potter and settled back for the first leg of the trip to Minneapolis and then on to Tokyo and orientation.  The journey did not go smoothly, however.  On our layover a mechanics strike prevented us from taking off on time and we were force to delay our flight to Tokyo until the next day.  That evening, the airline put us up in a hotel and we caroused in the karaoke bar with the locals watching on.  There was a sense of camaraderie in the air; not only were we going to Japan together, but we were stuck together passing the time until the coming dawn.  By the time we boarded the plane the next day, we felt like a community.

When we finally arrived in Tokyo, we had missed most of the first day of orientation.  We were bedraggled and tired, but did our best to get on the right time zone and attend the seminars.  One evening as we ventured out to find dinner, I stood in the center of Shinjuku as the bustle of the city enveloped me and felt a strong sense of satisfaction.

The next two and half days were a whirlwind.  We sent our luggage ahead to our region and connected with people going to the same area as us.    We had our first experiences at restaurants pointing at the pictures in the menus and in the case of menus without pictures ordering strange things we didn’t mean to order.

When we boarded the bus to Gunma, we were jostling and joking.  We were instructed on what would happen at the other end where we would have an official ceremony when we met our supervisors.  That experience was the one where I first realized how different things were to be living and working in Japan compared with just being a tourist.  The very formal ceremony in a school gymnasium required us to walk across the floor when called and meet our supervisor and then bow.  I quickly learned that this is pretty typical of Japanese ceremonies, but at the time it seemed incredibly foreign – not to mention that bowing does not come naturally to one who hasn’t lived in a culture where it is the norm.

I was interrupted from my thoughts when we entered a giant tunnel that took us through a very large mountain – I knew that my new city of Numata was pretty far from the major Gunma cities of Maebashi and Takasaki, but I hadn’t realized just how isolated it would be.  On the other side of a mountain is pretty isolated…  I later learned that it was a 45 minute train ride to Maebashi with at least one train every hour, but the journey by car was much further.

We pulled up into the parking lot of the school where I would be teaching to pick up my luggage that was sent again.  It was an all girls high school in a small city of 50,000 and it didn’t feel like much of a city.  When we walked in the main entrance I was greeted by rows of shoe cubbies where the staff store their indoor shoes.  I shoved my feet into green guest slippers and shuffled behind Kyoko to meet the principal and present him with the gift I had brought from Washington, DC.  He was an intimidating man with a square face, thick black hair and a smell of cigarette smoke.  I later learned that he was somewhat of a tyrant and intimidated the staff.  Fond of tirades and chain smoking I was fortunate to not need to interact with him much, especially because of my non-existent Japanese at the time and his non-existent English.

Next we went to the teacher’s room, which is where each teacher has their own desk that they use as their home base between classes.  The vice principal’s desk was at the front of the room and we went to meet him first.  I also gave him a small gift from Washington, DC.  Then I had the chance to meet several of the English teachers that I would be working with, many of which had good English just like my supervisor.

My luggage was stored in a storage closet downstairs and we grabbed it and loaded it in the car before driving over to my new apartment.  I had seen pictures of the apartment on my predecessor’s blog, but they had only included the inside of the apartment.  When we pulled up I was surprised at the drabness of the pink building.  Dusty steps and huge green spiders in webs greeted us as we dragged the luggage up three flights to my apartment door.  Kyoko opened the apartment and then gave me the keys.  She told me that one of the nearby ALTs would come by to take me to a festival that was happening that weekend and that she would come and get me the next day to help me get a phone and internet.

When the door shut behind her I was hit with a moment of desperation.  I looked around the apartment.  My predecessor had left a note for me: “You must be tired from your journey.  You may be feeling a little homesick, so here is some stationary to pass the time.”

The apartment was full of blue pastels and old furniture provided by the landlord.  The colors and the decor felt wrong – the apartment didn’t feel like home.  When I opened the fridge, which was off, there were relics left – spoiled mayonnaise alone on a shelf.  The refrigerator was unplugged and it needed to be cleaned and was missing some shelves.  The closet was big, but had no bar for clothing.  Creeping over me was a feeling of unease.  What had I gotten myself into?  Here I was, completely alone in a new country.  I couldn’t speak the language.  I didn’t know anyone.  I didn’t have a phone or internet.  I didn’t have much information about what the job ahead of me would entail.  I started to cry.  Exhausted from the journey and the overwhelming feelings, I lay down on the couch and fell asleep.

The feelings I had after just arriving to my new home was the only moment in Japan where I had such a strong feeling of isolation and “what am I doing here”.   The first night in my new place where I was completely alone was such a contrast to the first few days from departure from the USA.   When you arrive in Tokyo for orientation, there are many other people and you’re all in the same place.  You’re all excited and you buoy each other with that excitement.  When you finally stop when you arrive at your new home it is so quiet and alone that you don’t know how to react and so it’s very easy to break down.

If this does indeed go through I assure you I will be one of the first to apply.  In this day and age, I’m happy to spread the word about Japan and what an amazing place it is through blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and more.  Japan is an incredible place to live and visit and I hope I will be able to go back some time soon.  This could also be a great opportunity for those who haven’t traveled to Japan before to get there in an affordable way.   Either way, I’ll be waiting to see if this goes through.

Here’s a link to the article: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/10-000-free-round-trip-tickets-japan-134142507.html

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Japan, this may be your chance.

In a desperate attempt to lure tourists back to a country plagued by radiation fears and constant earthquakes, the Japan Tourism Agency’s proposed an unprecedented campaign – 10,000 free roundtrip tickets.

The catch is, you need to publicize your trip on blogs and social media sites.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan has dropped drastically, since a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Power plant in March. Nearly 20,000 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 80,000 remain displaced because of radiation concerns. In the first three months following the triple disasters, the number of foreign visitors to Japan was cut in half, compared with the same time in 2010. The strong Japanese currency has made matters worse.

The tourism agency says it plans to open a website to solicit applicants interested in the free tickets. Would- be visitors will have to detail in writing their travel plans in Japan, and explain what they hope to get out of the trip. Successful applicants would pay for their own accommodation and meals. They would also be required to write a review their travel experiences, and post it online.

“We are hoping to get highly influential blogger-types, and others who can spread the word that Japan is a safe place to visit,” said Kazuyoshi Sato, with the agency.

The agency has requested more than a billion yen to pay for the tourism blitz. If lawmakers approve the funding, Sato says visitors could begin signing up as early as next April.

via JETwit.com – JNTO seeks to offer 10,000 free tickets to Japan to help jumpstart tourism.

Related Articles:

• How to fly free to Japan… Maybe (salutadventures.com)

More Articles on Bahia Portfolio:

• The Language of Japan
• #Quakebook Now in Print Worldwide

When you arrive in Tokyo for orientation, there are many other people and you’re all in the same place.  You’re all excited and you buoy each other with that excitement.  When you finally stop when you arrive at your new home it is so quiet and alone that you don’t know how to react (and Jetlag really didn’t help).  That is the moment I tried to capture (maybe you could call this moment “JET-lag”?).

Memories of First Arrival

(c) 2011 Bahia Portfolio

As the president of the Florida JET Alumni Association, I was asked to give a speech to let the JETs learn a little about JETAA and to send them off.

JET Orientation and Sendoff Speech

I’m really happy to be here as the new JETs begin their adventure.
First let me introduce myself.  My name is Bahia, and I was in Gunma prefecture as a JET from 2005 – 2007 and then I worked for the Gunma compulsory education division of the Gunma Board of Education from 2007-2008 before returning to the USA. In march I became the president of Florida JET Alumni Association.

I had an amazing experience while I was a JET and my plan of staying only one year in japan quickly turned to three  Even if you’ve traveled to Japan before, being in the school environment brings you even closer to the culture and gives you amazing experiences you can’t get in any other way.  Bonding with your students, teachers, and neighbors is really incredible.

You’ll have so many interesting experiences while in Japan that you’ll never forget – and you’ll want to talk about them.  Those who have been to Japan understand and that’s part of where JETAA comes in. After you return from Japan,  JETAA provides a network of people who know exactly how you feel and help you make a bridge between your life in Japan and life in America.

We understand your stories and moreover we want to hear them even years after getting back -
while your friends and family may be tired of hearing yet another Japan story. We also treasure the experiences we’ve had and as a result are driven to give back to the country that taught us so much.

Especially with the disaster that befell Japan in March, JETAA chapters around the world have sprung into action to help the country they consider their second home. Like us, a few months there many of you will already begin to see Japan as home and the things you experience there will stay with you forever.

I have two big pieces of advice.
1) Say “yes” as much as possible (within reason of course) ;) – If teachers or students ask you to attend tea ceremonies, hold English lunch times,  and participate in school sports days you won’t regret doing it.

2) Have a positive attitude – A good attitude is the most important thing you can bring with you to Japan, even more important than Japanese language or knowledge about the culture.  Be open minded, try to observe and follow examples, and be positive.

Good luck and have a great adventure. Kanpai!

Related Links:

• JET Program USA - Applications will be available mid to late October 2011 for the 2012 departures
• Consul General of Japan in Miami – JET Program

The press release regarding the conversion to print is below.  I hope you’ll get your copy soon and help support the on-going relief effort in Japan.

Image by taotsu via Flickr

If you’d like to contact #quakebook or for other news releases please visit their media page.

Related articles

• Supporting Japan (Americanwaymag.com)

Image via Wikipedia

About three years ago I moved back to the States after living in Japan for 3 years.  In those three years my language learning went in fits and starts and now that I am back I am afraid of losing all the progress I made.  So, one of my goals has been to maintain and even increase my Japanese proficiency while living in the US.

How does one achieve that goal?  Well I know a lot of people have done it before me (look at All Japanese All The Time), but the thing that is essential is discipline and desire.  This is true of achieving any goal – you have to want it and you have work toward it constantly.

When I first returned from Japan, I had just passed a milestone in my language learning.  In my last year there, I was working at the Board of Education for the prefecture and visiting special needs schools that didn’t have full time native English speaking teachers – both situations where my use of English was limited and I need to push myself to speak Japanese more and more.  This was in contrast to the high school I used to teach at, which had some very good English teachers who were very comfortable using English.  This meant that at the high school, I communicated primarily in English and my language growth was slow.  In my last year there, I had established the foundations of the language, had a fair amount of vocabulary, and was forced to speak it everyday.  This meant that I saw an exponential increase in the rate of my improvements that I hadn’t seen before.  I was understanding more and more and becoming more comfortable with speaking and understanding.

That meant that when I moved back to the USA, I still felt that forward momentum.  Combined with the fact that I was initially unemployed and had a lot of free time, I jumped into hardcore Japanese studies as soon as I got back.  I was working through grammar, doing my Anki SRS repetitions, and watching a lot of Japanese TV.  My Japanese continued to improve.

Now, here I am two years later, and I lost that motivation along the way.  I got too busy, I lost my good habits of studying regularly, and my attention was captured by other things.  I can tell that now I have lost much of the progress that I made.   But, to progress, I think one cannot get caught up in what they did or did not do in the past; they can only begin progressing again from where they are at the moment.  So, for progress, in language or anything else, you move forward from your current moment in constant, steady steps – starting now.

Image via Wikipedia

By now, you’ve probably already heard of #quakebook, developed in just 4 weeks by crowdsourcing authors, bloggers, and regular people to write about their experiences with the earthquake in Japan.  If you haven’t, it’s an incredibly worthwhile project that gives back to Japan 100%.  Completely created by volunteers, there is no profit or overhead taken out before the funds reach the Japanese Red Cross.

As the #quakebook makers explain:

Let me repeat: 100% of the money goes to the Japan Red Cross. None of us involved in this is making a penny from it. And that’s just the way we all want it. It’s the promise I made to every contributor, every person who buys a copy, and to the survivors of the earthquake. This book tells their story, so it’s only right that they should reap all the rewards.

Personally, I’m incredibly inspired by this type of project.  In part, it’s because it’s so exciting to see the way that new technology like Twitter can be used to connect people at a time of need.  In another way, it’s inspiring to see so many people create a product together with the goal of helping others. You can visit the #quakebook site at:  #quakebook | A Twitter-sourced charity book

You can get the book online from a number of different e-retailers, including Amazon.com.

Related articles

• Quakebook / 2:46 (matthewbenson.wordpress.com)
• Quakebook Article Summary (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
• Quakebook: A Creative, Twitter-Sourced Project to Support Japan (throughagreenlens.com)
• Quakebook – a triumph of good will and social media (bbc.co.uk)
• From Twitter to ‘Quakebook’ (cnn.com)

The event is at the Florida International University SIPU building from 10 AM – 3 PM.

Japan Culture Day details

The same evening, there is an annual charity Reggae event in Peacock Park in Coconut Grove that provides a humanitarian effort towards feeding the hungry. At that event, there will be a table representing the charity group New Clear (at the time of this post site is still under construction), which is working with Peace Boat to raise money to help the affected area of Ishinomaki in Japan.

The Reggae festival is free, but you must register for tickets in advance. The event is from 3 PM to 11 PM. Learn more here: http://rockazmvmt.com/

The Florida Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Alumni Association is supporting both of these events by providing volunteers, along with the South Florida Japan Meetup.

On 23 March 1839, OK was introduced to the world on the second page of the Boston Morning Post, in the midst of a long paragraph, as “o.k. (all correct)”.

via BBC News – How ‘OK’ took over the world.

This fascinating article details the origin and passage into common use of OK.

What OK provided that the others did not was neutrality, a way to affirm or to express agreement without having to offer an opinion.

When living in Japan, I noticed immediately that OK was a recognizable word commonly used and I always wondered how it passed into the language and become so common (though there are a great many “loan words” in the Japanese language from English, German, and Dutch).  According to this article, one of the ways that OK became commonly used in many cultures is that the sounds of OK are sounds that exist in almost every language.

I’ll be looking for further articles about the spread of OK – comment here if you know of any!

Image by Horia Varlan via Flickr

Related Articles

• It’s alright and it’s definitely OK (rumramruf.wordpress.com)
• How ‘OK’ took over the world (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)