Friday’s interpretation marathon is over.
I started the day kind of bristly, feeling used and taken for granted. I was able to mention that more lead time would be more respectful.
Then I met the gentlemen. They were exhausted from their travels, but enthused about their trip to this part of Japan. We visited local history museum, had lunch at a restaurant staffed by disabled young adults, then visited the therapeutic horseriding NPO in town. I was able to be a good guide for them, and in fact I know from hosting other visitors that this is “work” that I like. It’s easy to communicate what you like to someone who wants to hear it!
That evening they gave their presentations to a gathering of about 30 NPO groups. This was the part of the translating that I adamantly refused to do. I have no experience with simultaneous interpretation, and wouldn’t want to mis-communicate anything of importance! They hired a “pro” from the big city 100 miles away. Unfortunately, she was terrible. I literally had to jump in about 7 times to re-say what she thought she meant.
The contents of their presentations (about fundraising and corporate responsibility) were excellent, and actually close to what Charles Burke had been teaching me during our coaching sessions (now on break, by the way). The main ideas: have a good story, be able to tell it with passion, and then give people the opportunity to give and support you by asking for what you need. An excellent refresher lesson for me.
Hopefully, the organizers have learned that speaking a foreign language does not qualify one for translation/interpretation. It was a great learning experience, and I have gotten an inkling that “guiding” English speakers in this town is something worth exploring.
Though I wasn’t paid much for my day, the best benefit was meeting the NPO consultants from Pennsylvania. It feels like I did some good service for them, and they have offered to do some email consulting with me to say thanks (!)
All in all, I appreciated the little stretch their visit opportuned me.
10/12/2008
5/22/2008
International Dis-education?
Yesterday was parent-teacher conference day at the preschool. I was at work so Emiko went. In short, daughter Eli is fine. But son Yuto (and his parents!) have a few habits teach is not too pleased about. We arrive at preschool usually at about 9:15 or so. Doors open at 8:30, and we should arrive by 9:00. But it is a battle to get kids out the door, especially when son is testing about not having to go at all. Further, since I get home from work after everyone is asleep, I appreciate our relaxed mornings, breakfast together, conversations. Teacher says that this is just Father being selfish(!) and that it is more important for Yuto to arrive ON TIME, so that her schedule is not compromised.
That’s OK. Though I don’t appreciate the editorial, I can set the alarm earlier and arrive at school half an hour earlier.
But, that’s not all. They want Yuto to stop using English words at preschool. They say it is for “his own good” to learn in Japanese only. Apparently, they have corrected his English to Japanese several times (”no, not ‘bucket’, BA-KE-TSU”; “not spider, KU-MO”) etc. This may explain why Yuto asks everyday if he has preschool or not. I sure don’t think a 3 year old boy should have to look at someone’s facial expressions and consider the situation before he decides which word to use.
Emiko was angry about this development, too. We agree that they are denying a part of his identity when they refuse to respond to his English. And what a shame. They have a great ambassador for English education in their midst (Yuto, not me), but instead of saying, “Oh, a SPIDER! That’s how to say it in English?” They completely are shutting this part of him out.
Emiko says, “maybe we should think about changing preschools,” but Yuto already has a great group of friends where he is.
In a good development, Emiko’s mother fully supported her and her grandson, and told us to fight for Yuto’s RIGHT to express himself as he saw fit. That made Emiko happy. Also, the I CAN member’s reaction to this story was great.
Yuki, who at 14 has yet to calm down, and is usually bouncing off the walls from his diet of fast food and video games, and seldom has a serious word, says, “That really makes my heart hurt.” I looked to see if he was joking, but apparently he was really moved by this story. And remember May? She surprised me by saying, “Great! Now you can homeschool him at our house! We speak three languages: Japanese, English and Hebrew!”
Funny that you can get understanding from the most unlikely sources….
It looks like we will be continuing this discussion with the director of the preschool….
That’s OK. Though I don’t appreciate the editorial, I can set the alarm earlier and arrive at school half an hour earlier.
But, that’s not all. They want Yuto to stop using English words at preschool. They say it is for “his own good” to learn in Japanese only. Apparently, they have corrected his English to Japanese several times (”no, not ‘bucket’, BA-KE-TSU”; “not spider, KU-MO”) etc. This may explain why Yuto asks everyday if he has preschool or not. I sure don’t think a 3 year old boy should have to look at someone’s facial expressions and consider the situation before he decides which word to use.
Emiko was angry about this development, too. We agree that they are denying a part of his identity when they refuse to respond to his English. And what a shame. They have a great ambassador for English education in their midst (Yuto, not me), but instead of saying, “Oh, a SPIDER! That’s how to say it in English?” They completely are shutting this part of him out.
Emiko says, “maybe we should think about changing preschools,” but Yuto already has a great group of friends where he is.
In a good development, Emiko’s mother fully supported her and her grandson, and told us to fight for Yuto’s RIGHT to express himself as he saw fit. That made Emiko happy. Also, the I CAN member’s reaction to this story was great.
Yuki, who at 14 has yet to calm down, and is usually bouncing off the walls from his diet of fast food and video games, and seldom has a serious word, says, “That really makes my heart hurt.” I looked to see if he was joking, but apparently he was really moved by this story. And remember May? She surprised me by saying, “Great! Now you can homeschool him at our house! We speak three languages: Japanese, English and Hebrew!”
Funny that you can get understanding from the most unlikely sources….
It looks like we will be continuing this discussion with the director of the preschool….
5/17/2008
2/25/2008
Creativity in the Classroom: Beautiful!
Here is a guy from England who gets it almost perfectly right.
His bit about "kids are being taught that being "wrong" is the worst thing that could happen"
speaks directly to the Japanese school system.
I'm going to watch this a few times, and I invite you to, too. (about 20 min, WELL WORTH IT!)
His bit about "kids are being taught that being "wrong" is the worst thing that could happen"
speaks directly to the Japanese school system.
I'm going to watch this a few times, and I invite you to, too. (about 20 min, WELL WORTH IT!)
How to Blog...
I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.
It covers:
- The best blogging techniques.
- How to get traffic to your blog.
- How to turn your blog into money.
I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.
2/22/2008
SANDOBASU
2 days ago, I buried myself in the "mystical" ceramic baked pellets made from a mysterious energy-giving "power stone" in a southern island in Japan. Kind of like a hot bath, the above title is the Japanified pronunciation and spelling of "Sand Bath." I have written before about my friend trying to multi-level market me, and get me to experience this health elixir.
So I let them bury me in mystery nuggets. I sweated up a storm, and literally felt my hands and feet pulsating with the heat. They told me this was my capillaries opening up, that my body was being cleaned from the inside out. When I got out of the "sand," they filled it up with hot water again, and pointed knowingly at the film (yuk!) on the water. "You have a lot of impurities built up in your back and neck. See?" Well, I didn't really see, but I was not surprised when they recommended the extended course.
I don't think I will be back for a while. The tension in my neck and shoulders did not vanish. I had another healthy wild rice lunch there. And I did feel a bit lighter. (Sweat/water loss?)
The rest of the day got worse. I found out one of my English classes (where the little girls gave me valentine's chocolates last week) will be closed, starting next month. An insensitive financial decision. Within the hour, I had to go tell the mothers that their kids would have no class to attend in 3 weeks. I felt really betrayed by the English school, but perhaps, on reflection, perhaps that is the nature of the beast. They see four expendible bodies, I see 3 girls and a little guy who love English, and who have improved, who look forward to coming and playing in English. I haven't felt that angry in a long time.
To complete the day, I also found out there wasn't enough income in I CAN's vaults this month to pay my salary.
Maybe I shouldn't have gone to the "sandobasu" after all!
Then again, I could choose to believe that the rest of the impurities were being purged from my being....
____
On the next day, the kids at I CAN and I made bibimbap, the Korean dish, at a cooking facility in town. A bit of work, but looking back, with shopping, cooking and eating, they had a very good Free-Schoolish day, full of teamwork and success.
Also, in an interesting development, the college student who came by to volunteer last month (FP1 gratitude card recipient) came back for the entire day, and spent the night until Thursday. On Wednesday night, we had a good discussion about what he wants to do in the future, and it looks like it may be possible for him to work for a cram school here in town while helping I CAN during his off-hours. It looks like there should be a way to make a win-win for everybody with this guy.
Of course, I've only known Abe san for 3 days, and I don't know how he will be with kids, but they seem to like him, and it seems like a worthwhile avenue to pursue.
Finally, on my scorekeeping front, the scale read 68 kilos when I went to bed last night, a new low(!)
So I let them bury me in mystery nuggets. I sweated up a storm, and literally felt my hands and feet pulsating with the heat. They told me this was my capillaries opening up, that my body was being cleaned from the inside out. When I got out of the "sand," they filled it up with hot water again, and pointed knowingly at the film (yuk!) on the water. "You have a lot of impurities built up in your back and neck. See?" Well, I didn't really see, but I was not surprised when they recommended the extended course.
I don't think I will be back for a while. The tension in my neck and shoulders did not vanish. I had another healthy wild rice lunch there. And I did feel a bit lighter. (Sweat/water loss?)
The rest of the day got worse. I found out one of my English classes (where the little girls gave me valentine's chocolates last week) will be closed, starting next month. An insensitive financial decision. Within the hour, I had to go tell the mothers that their kids would have no class to attend in 3 weeks. I felt really betrayed by the English school, but perhaps, on reflection, perhaps that is the nature of the beast. They see four expendible bodies, I see 3 girls and a little guy who love English, and who have improved, who look forward to coming and playing in English. I haven't felt that angry in a long time.
To complete the day, I also found out there wasn't enough income in I CAN's vaults this month to pay my salary.
Maybe I shouldn't have gone to the "sandobasu" after all!
Then again, I could choose to believe that the rest of the impurities were being purged from my being....
____
On the next day, the kids at I CAN and I made bibimbap, the Korean dish, at a cooking facility in town. A bit of work, but looking back, with shopping, cooking and eating, they had a very good Free-Schoolish day, full of teamwork and success.
Also, in an interesting development, the college student who came by to volunteer last month (FP1 gratitude card recipient) came back for the entire day, and spent the night until Thursday. On Wednesday night, we had a good discussion about what he wants to do in the future, and it looks like it may be possible for him to work for a cram school here in town while helping I CAN during his off-hours. It looks like there should be a way to make a win-win for everybody with this guy.
Of course, I've only known Abe san for 3 days, and I don't know how he will be with kids, but they seem to like him, and it seems like a worthwhile avenue to pursue.
Finally, on my scorekeeping front, the scale read 68 kilos when I went to bed last night, a new low(!)
2/07/2008
Another blog about Dieting. How Mundane.
Today I was trying to be mindful of food. The upshot was that I was mindful of this goal all day, and not just when I was eating. My mind is very much on what is going into my body these days. In a way, I think that is a good thing: mindfulness. However, I think that thinking too much about this “diet” will undermine the results I am after. Don’t want to be food-obsessed.
I had a glass of water and a bowl of cereal for breakfast, with half an apple.
For lunch we went with I CAN to the “bento shop” which makes hot, boxed lunches for take out. I chose a vegetable stir fry, and we had rice we cooked in the classroom along with miso soup and some kimchee. Actually I am hoping to get the nutritionist who works 3 doors up the street to come give a volunteer presentation for our group. Some of them have instant cup-ramen noodles for breakfast (if anything), fast food for lunch. I don’t know about dinner, but I do know they are pretty sedentary. Gaming and all. Hopefully I can show off some results before scheduling the nutritionist’s visit.
I noticed that at lunch I felt really hungry, and everything tasted good. I tried to slow down and taste the food rather than inhale it. The 13 year old boys surrounding me (and Japanese males, generally) are pretty good at wolfing down food. They learn it at school where, if it takes only 5 minutes to eat your lunch, you can have 30 whole minutes for recess. You can see salarymen slurping noodles at the “standing only” counters at the train stations. Food eating champions become TV idols.
I was able to come home at 6:30 to have a shortened dinner with my family before returning for classes. Emiko baked salmon, made a tomato salad and a spinach/bonito flake side dish. Water. Again, it tasted better. I tried (with 2 toddlers vying for attention) to focus on the process of eating. Then rushing off to night classes at I CAN.
I feel a little lighter today, less sluggish. Day four without beer though I kind of wanted one while watching the latenight broadcast (in English!) of Desparate Housewives...
I had a glass of water and a bowl of cereal for breakfast, with half an apple.
For lunch we went with I CAN to the “bento shop” which makes hot, boxed lunches for take out. I chose a vegetable stir fry, and we had rice we cooked in the classroom along with miso soup and some kimchee. Actually I am hoping to get the nutritionist who works 3 doors up the street to come give a volunteer presentation for our group. Some of them have instant cup-ramen noodles for breakfast (if anything), fast food for lunch. I don’t know about dinner, but I do know they are pretty sedentary. Gaming and all. Hopefully I can show off some results before scheduling the nutritionist’s visit.
I noticed that at lunch I felt really hungry, and everything tasted good. I tried to slow down and taste the food rather than inhale it. The 13 year old boys surrounding me (and Japanese males, generally) are pretty good at wolfing down food. They learn it at school where, if it takes only 5 minutes to eat your lunch, you can have 30 whole minutes for recess. You can see salarymen slurping noodles at the “standing only” counters at the train stations. Food eating champions become TV idols.
I was able to come home at 6:30 to have a shortened dinner with my family before returning for classes. Emiko baked salmon, made a tomato salad and a spinach/bonito flake side dish. Water. Again, it tasted better. I tried (with 2 toddlers vying for attention) to focus on the process of eating. Then rushing off to night classes at I CAN.
I feel a little lighter today, less sluggish. Day four without beer though I kind of wanted one while watching the latenight broadcast (in English!) of Desparate Housewives...
12/23/2007
GUNDAM OO
I am sitting here tonight in our classroom, as 10 of our members attempt an “all nighter” of television gaming.
I hate almost everything about “Terebi geimu” as they are called here, but on this one day, on our “Bou nen kai” (lit: forget the year party) I let them game until their eyes fall out.
They live at home surrounded by parents always telling them to shut it off.
Tonight, they can game until they really feel “full,” game until they are satiated, play until they themselves decide to stop.
I’m not sure it’s educational, but while it is fun, they eventually get a taste of “too much of a good thing,” and hopefully learn about setting good limits for themselves in terms of personal care.
In the meantime, behind me on the TV, battles rage on…
12/11/2007
How to Get Smarter While Feeding the Hungry
Here is a fun test that also helps people.
If you go to www.freerice.com you will get a vocabulary test.
It ain't easy, and with each correct answer, the next question gets harder.
And here is the kicker: with each correct answer, the site will donate 10 grains of rice to fight world hunger.
Well, when you start playing you see the genius of the idea. The vocabulary test is kind of addictive, and the rice keeps piling up. When you miss, rice isn't taken away. It's not gambling!
Give it a try. Build your vocabulary, and fight world hunger. Hard to find a better side benefit to study and self-improvement!
If you go to www.freerice.com you will get a vocabulary test.
It ain't easy, and with each correct answer, the next question gets harder.
And here is the kicker: with each correct answer, the site will donate 10 grains of rice to fight world hunger.
Well, when you start playing you see the genius of the idea. The vocabulary test is kind of addictive, and the rice keeps piling up. When you miss, rice isn't taken away. It's not gambling!
Give it a try. Build your vocabulary, and fight world hunger. Hard to find a better side benefit to study and self-improvement!
11/26/2007
Boiling Blood
In today's English class we were talking about figurative language, and one of the expressions was "blood is boiling." When I asked for someone to try to use this new phrase, everyone was at a loss, so I had to come up with something.
Then I remembered last Thursday. At the bank.
Japanese banks are not known for their speed. As a matter of fact, there isn't really a less-customer-friendly institution here, except maybe the haughty, holier-than-thou, former-monopoly travel agent JTB.
But today's gripe is about banks.
I don't really like to complain, especially on this blog, which tries to be postive. But maybe as a starting off point for "exploring cultural differences" it might be educational.
Firstly, banks offer the astouding interest rate on savings accounts of about 0.01 PERCENT, meaning depositing a 10,000 yen note would yeild a whopping one yen after a year. One one-hundreth of a cent for a $100 deposit.
To be fair, loan rates are low. My car loan is about 3%. But that is 300 times more than the interest I could get by keeping my money there.
Anyway, I went to the bank (A bank, which shall remain nameless, but contains in its name a number between three and five...)
I went to the ~~bank to open an account to receive donations from I CAN. I had our "Hanko," which is the stamp or seal which works pretty much like a signature here.
It took about 10 minutes for them to explain how hard it would be to open a new account that had a different name from the account that was already on file.
Really? I didn't know a one person per account rule existed.
Finally, we aggreed to open an account with a parenthesis after the account name, saying "donations." That only took 15 minutes.
Then the clock started ticking.
10 minutes
...15
.......20
Would I like a cash machine card? No, not needed.
................30 minutes
...........................40
Mind you, this was to open an account with 100 yen (about a buck)
....................................45 minutes
..............................................50 minutes
Finally, after about almost an hour, being the only customer in the bank with a staff of about 20, I got my little passbook. The bank lady said,
"Omataseshimashita" ("Thanks for waiting") and I walked out, wondering what in the &)%&'!! would take so long.
My good friend Simon from New Zealand said, "I always just hoped there was so much more money 'in the system' that it took longer for things to run their course."
Simon gets kudos for positive thinking but unless the passbook is being hand engraved with golden lettering, I don't see why this has to be.
And the Japanese who live here are just compliant, used to it, and never realize that when a company has to send someone out for half a day "ginkko mawari" (Making the bank rounds) that time could probably be better spent at the company.
Does anyone know why Japanese banks are like this? Any other horror stories?
Later that day I was further encouraged by my dealings with the POWERS at City Hall.
Asking "Could I bring my poster for the event tomorrow instead of today?" sent me on a phone tag game that lasted again for 20 minutes.
NOT ONE person would tell me if this was "within the rules" or not. Finally, when I reached "the man in charge," when I asked what time the event started, he had to put me on hold again to ask (a superior?).
Sometimes I am amazed this country works as well as it does.
Comments? Reactions?
Then I remembered last Thursday. At the bank.
Japanese banks are not known for their speed. As a matter of fact, there isn't really a less-customer-friendly institution here, except maybe the haughty, holier-than-thou, former-monopoly travel agent JTB.
But today's gripe is about banks.
I don't really like to complain, especially on this blog, which tries to be postive. But maybe as a starting off point for "exploring cultural differences" it might be educational.
Firstly, banks offer the astouding interest rate on savings accounts of about 0.01 PERCENT, meaning depositing a 10,000 yen note would yeild a whopping one yen after a year. One one-hundreth of a cent for a $100 deposit.
To be fair, loan rates are low. My car loan is about 3%. But that is 300 times more than the interest I could get by keeping my money there.
Anyway, I went to the bank (A bank, which shall remain nameless, but contains in its name a number between three and five...)
I went to the ~~bank to open an account to receive donations from I CAN. I had our "Hanko," which is the stamp or seal which works pretty much like a signature here.
It took about 10 minutes for them to explain how hard it would be to open a new account that had a different name from the account that was already on file.
Really? I didn't know a one person per account rule existed.
Finally, we aggreed to open an account with a parenthesis after the account name, saying "donations." That only took 15 minutes.
Then the clock started ticking.
10 minutes
...15
.......20
Would I like a cash machine card? No, not needed.
................30 minutes
...........................40
Mind you, this was to open an account with 100 yen (about a buck)
....................................45 minutes
..............................................50 minutes
Finally, after about almost an hour, being the only customer in the bank with a staff of about 20, I got my little passbook. The bank lady said,
"Omataseshimashita" ("Thanks for waiting") and I walked out, wondering what in the &)%&'!! would take so long.
My good friend Simon from New Zealand said, "I always just hoped there was so much more money 'in the system' that it took longer for things to run their course."
Simon gets kudos for positive thinking but unless the passbook is being hand engraved with golden lettering, I don't see why this has to be.
And the Japanese who live here are just compliant, used to it, and never realize that when a company has to send someone out for half a day "ginkko mawari" (Making the bank rounds) that time could probably be better spent at the company.
Does anyone know why Japanese banks are like this? Any other horror stories?
Later that day I was further encouraged by my dealings with the POWERS at City Hall.
Asking "Could I bring my poster for the event tomorrow instead of today?" sent me on a phone tag game that lasted again for 20 minutes.
NOT ONE person would tell me if this was "within the rules" or not. Finally, when I reached "the man in charge," when I asked what time the event started, he had to put me on hold again to ask (a superior?).
Sometimes I am amazed this country works as well as it does.
Comments? Reactions?
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