the dumb foriegn girl take 1

 

My approach to using my weblog to support my learning this semester will be used to expose my cultural experiences and to compare and explore my feelings and reactions to them with the experiences and opinions and feelings of other Friends World bloggers.  This will be a casual web long and will contain snip its and stories of both successes and defeats.  By utilizing the FW blogs in this way I will not only gain support and encouragement to continue moving forward in this program, but I will also gain personal insight into cultural perceptions and their effects. 
I am teaching English at the moment. I was approaching it as a teacher which caused a downward spiral from day one. Now however, I am conquering the task as a performer and I am having more success. I feel this is a direct comment on the culture. Acting is a must. Just “act nice” and smile and all will be great!
One thing that irks the “all” outta me, is the way people cloak their true feelings with a happy grin. I hate that Halloween mask approach. I wanna see “who’s there”. I am not a pretty little thing with perfect nails and clear skin and white teeth. I am how I am according to the day or situation. Here in Japan I feel that this is rare. Things are so consistent here and sure. The unpredictable is “bad” and perhaps “unheard of ” or just “wrong”. This is what I have noticed as I have become that “wrong” odd NON-JAPANESE girl. I even have a Honco with my symbol in Katakanna. In this way all will be sure to know in advance that I am NOT JAPANESE and my imperfections will be written into the word Gijin.

Add comment February 3rd, 2006

test

testing testing 197

Add comment February 3rd, 2006

The dumb foreign girl

My approach to using my weblog to support my learning this semester will be used to expose my cultural experiences and to compare and explore my feelings and reactions to them with the experiences and opinions and feelings of other Friends World bloggers.  This will be a casual web long and will contain snip its and stories of both successes and defeats.  By utilizing the FW blogs in this way I will not only gain support and encouragement to continue moving forward in this program, but I will also gain personal insight into cultural perceptions and their effects. 
I am teaching English at the moment. I was approaching it as a teacher which caused a downward spiral from day one. Now however, I am conquering the task as a performer and I am having more success. I feel this is a direct comment on the culture. Acting is a must. Just “act nice” and smile and all will be great!
One thing that irks the “all” outta me, is the way people cloak their true feelings with a happy grin. I hate that Halloween mask approach. I wanna see “who’s there”. I am not a pretty little thing with perfect nails and clear skin and white teeth. I am how I am according to the day or situation. Here in Japan I feel that this is rare. Things are so consistent here and sure. The unpredictable is “bad” and perhaps “unheard of ” or just “wrong”. This is what I have noticed as I have become that “wrong” odd NON-JAPANESE girl. I even have a Honco with my symbol in Katakanna. In this way all will be sure to know in advance that I am NOT JAPANESE and my imperfections will be written into the word Gijin.

Add comment February 3rd, 2006

the ups and downs of me

The ups.
ok, I am Very Excited and I am so happy to be able to communicate with so many people from all over the place. I am now living in Hokado a prefixture above the mainland of Japan. I am interested in teaching and learning all about Japanese culture. I am curently in love with cherry blossom mochi. It can only be found around this time, from January to I think March. Girls day is celebrated in Mach, and on a set date the family eats cherry blossom mochi to celebrate the daughter and to bring good luck for marriage. Now a days this mochi can be eaten before the special day in March. I have taken full advantage of this modern regularity.
Yum!!!
The downs,
WHELP! It is freezing here and I feel lost in a culture that really is taking a tole on my lack of understanding. Yikes. Everytime I try to function in “the culturally correct way” I make things worse. “Water to mud”, and then my shoes get dirty, and well dirty shoes get you knowhere in Japan.

Add comment January 20th, 2006

post 2

testing testing ……. hmf

Add comment January 20th, 2006

hmf

What do you call a blonde lost in Japan? Hmf?
I don’t know? ; )

Add comment January 20th, 2006

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