For me choosing and settling down on a suitable CIP had been a long process. I took shamisen lessons for the first half of the semester and ended up taking cooking lessons as my CIP instead. Since I am in Kyoto, at first I had my mind set on learning some form of traditional Japanese art as a CIP, which I eventually settled down on learning the instrument, shamisen. Through my Japanese teacher, I was introduced to a shamisen instructor and she offered to give me free lessons once a week. The lessons took place in a small room filled with various instruments (shamisens and kotos, etc) on the 2nd floor of a jazz cafe/bar near Teramachi Shijo. The lessons were not actual one to one lessons, but was more similar to a recital. There are usually 4-8 people in the room putting together and practicing the same song. For me, because I had no previous experience with the instrument prior to coming to Japan, this type of lesson did not suit me well. Although it was interesting to be able to play along with the group while improvising, I felt that I needed something more to fulfill my goal of doing something that suits me while still being able to interact and be integrated into a group.
I decided to take a Japanese cooking class at a cooking school called La Carrière, located at Kawaramachi Sanjo. I really enjoyed learning how to make not only Japanese dishes, but also Western dishes and learning how to bake cakes while interacting with the teachers and other students. The program that I enrolled in allows me to take most basic courses from their schedule, excluding the more advance Wagashi and Kyoto Cuisine classes. The classes are taught fully in Japanese and being the only non-Japanese student there, I really had to learn a lot of cooking-related vocabulary in order to keep up with the class. However, the students and teachers are very welcoming and did not treat me in any special way simply because I am a foreigner. Usually there are 2-3 people sharing a station and although we usually do not talk much while we prepare the ingredients and cook; we do make conversations afterwards while enjoying the meal we have just prepared.
Although I am in Kyoto for only one semester, I have learned a lot from my CIP. One of the most important thing is to know what suits you and what does not. If something does not suit you well and does not work out even after you have really put a great deal of effort into it, it is alright to start anew. For me, starting anew actually takes a lot more courage to do than to stay with an unsatisfactory situation. From my previous CIP experience, I learned how to properly quit. The necessary steps and the carefully presentation of the prepared speech, along with the tone of voice are all of importance. Regardless of what reasons were behind the decision, I learned that it is important to take responsibility and carefully end and say farewell without leaving any hard feelings. In other words, tie it with a good end.
That being said, I then moved on to another teacher-student environment, the cooking lessons. This time however, I was not only a student but also a consumer because I actually paid for the lessons. One thing that I have observed is that the level of politeness for the instructor is still present while the status of the two parties remain approximately the same. The teacher receives respect from the student but she is also the service provider. The students acknowledges the teacher, but they are also consumers. When compared to the shamisen classroom, the level of respect for the teacher who is wiser or more experienced in the subject is not as apparent. The atmosphere in the cooking classroom is, in other words, more balanced and relaxing because we are all on the same level. The social hierarchy does not really exist in this sort of environment.
Although there have been ups and downs, I have really thankful that I had taken the shamisen lessons instead of started with the cooking lessons. The ability to compare the learning environment of the two very different areas of skills and the different background of the students and the atmosphere created gave me much more insight into the Japanese culture.
I still remember how you talked about Shamisen class during CIP section of our Japanese class, and how you prepared the speech to quit the class with the help from Nakamura Sensei. It is indeed a difficult situation, and honestly I am shocked that a class of learning an instrument can be so hard to fit in because of language barrier and age difference. Technically this semester in Japan is my second time of study abroad, and oddly enough Japan to me is more foreign than America in so many ways. I am glad to hear that the cooking class went well though!
Also, I am curious about how you decided to stop 我慢 about the Shamisen club and move on to explore a new CIP event. More specifically, what kind of advice would you give to new comers of KCJS if they wonder whether this CIP is the right choice or not.
I actually decided to change my CIP when an incident happened when I was going to the shamisen lesson. Apparently the location has been changed that time and I was not notified and went to the usual location instead. Although it really was not anyone’s fault, it was that moment when I realized that it would take me a lot longer and require much more effort to try to fit into their group atmosphere. Because I’m only spending one semester here I really wanted to participate in something where I can really gain experience from and be able to enjoy myself.
For the new students of KCJS, I would suggest that they can give what they want to do as CIP a try or two but not settle down on it until they are really sure that they want to continue with it for the next few months.
I had not realized you had switched to cooking classes, but I wish I had because this was something I had actually considered early on myself. One of my strongest impressions after reading this was that you were able to learn a language skill we never covered in class, by leaving your first CIP, and that seems like something that would be extremely useful to know. I agreed with the idea that leaving an unsatisfactory situation takes more courage than sticking with it in this case, especially since it requires more effort not only to end the relationship, but also to establish and integrate into a new one. My question is, through the cooking classes, was there a consistent group of people every time, or were the classes more individualized? In other words, were there interactions with new people every time?
For the cooking classes, there will be a few familiar faces if you are there for a longer period of time. Most likely it would be the instructors or helpers who will recognize you. Because there are so many different types of classes at different time periods it is hard to maintain connection with a consistent group of people. However, meeting new people at your table every time can be a very interesting experience when your 相手 ranges from being housewives to college students.
The cooking class sounds cool. I wonder how old the students are in general and what kind of conversations you usually have with them?
The students (all female, although there are all male classes as well) ranges from obaa-sans to housewives to office ladies to college students. Depending on what time of the day your class is, the group of students will be of a different age group. Usually conversation topics ranges from food ingredients to life abroad (once they saw that I’m a foreign exchange student that is). The conversations take place while we’re all sitting down and enjoying the meal we just made and therefore tend to be on very light topics.
It’s great that you got to have two different CIP! My CIP is college circle so I was always wondering how would it be to have a private lesson as CIP. I really liked that you mentioned the consumer and service provider relationship. Also I think that by having two different kinds of lesson, one can know more about Japanese private lesson system. Do you think you will ever take another shamisen class again? Or any other classes in Japan?
I would like to give shamisen lessons another try if it is more on a 1-1 basis (which would require $$$) in the future when I have an adequate amount of resources and time. I do want to try out different lessons such as pottery making or maybe even the koto. However, as we only have a limited period of time here in Kyoto, I can only save it for the next time when I come back.