「Activity」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Hadley Hauser: HUB

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This quarter I was an intern at HUB Kyoto.  HUB seemed like the perfect creative space for me to debut as a functioning member of Japanese society in a friendly, collaborative setting.  The HUB “Dojo” is a community center nestled not far from the Doshisha campus in a beautifully renovated Kyoto machiya-style building.  I was immediately smitten with its tatami rooms on the second floor and bamboo garden hidden away in the back.

My first move as an intern was attending “HUB Kitchen,” a monthly event that is open to all HUB members.  It is an informal buffet-style dinner and forum where people can bounce laughs and ideas off of each other.  While there, I was able to talk to a variety of Kyoto natives in Japanese and English, and it was amazing to hear stories of how people ended up in Kyoto or kept coming back.  I was able to meet the staff members of Kyoto Journal magazine.  After I expressed my interest in writing, we soon struck up a correspondence about how I could contribute to Kyoto Journal magazine as the focus of my HUB internship.

I started off preparing a summary of a Japanese documentary event that was held at HUB Kyoto.  My next project was to interview HUB Kyoto staff, and then translate the interview into whichever language it wasn’t conducted in.  I prepared my questions and looked forward to getting a personal glimpse of HUB Kyoto’s members and their unique interests. The logistics of this process proved to be quite a challenge.  The last few weeks have been an endless parade of me trying to track down people to interview.  HUB members are busy people!  I scheduled one interview two times, and on the third time when I was sure I would have success, my interviewee simply did not show up.  I really wanted to enjoy working for HUB, and if I were not juggling a schedule of KCJS courses and host family obligations, this would all seem less frustrating.

Though I am not satisfied with my output this quarter at HUB, I still think that it was a good experience for me.  While it has been a challenge coordinating with the individuals at HUB, these situations have provided me with the opportunity to sharpen my Japanese communication skills (phone calls, emails, one-on-one discussions) so that they are clear and effective.  I believe that this very basic correspondence practice will be valuable to me as I continue my Japanese studies.  I look forward to a change of pace next quarter and plan to pursue a traditional and perhaps more rewarding individual class, such as pottery or tea ceremony.

Aubrey Harper: Pottery class

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When I first started looking for a CIP project I had a few ideas: sado classes, dance club, working at a café, ceramic classes.  I decided upon sado at first, as I have an interest in tea ceremony. That ended up not working out , so I turned my attention to pottery.  My initial interest in Sado was in fact due to my interest in ceramics so it seemed fitting as a CIP. I would learn a skill as well as make new friends and become better at Japanese. I had a bit of a struggle finding something that was going to work, but I am really glad that I ended up taking a pottery class at a local workshop near my home in Uji.

In my class I am decidedly the odd ball out, not only am I a foreigner I am also by far the youngest person there and arguably the least experienced. Before this class I had only tried my hand at pottery in a middle school art class. It’s hard to admit, but I’m afraid I have not improved much since then.  The first class skipped an introduction and went right into work on an imperial palace style tea cup, which is a wide mouthed slightly disfigured model.  It wasn’t super straight or clean cut so I assume that it wouldn’t be too difficult. That was a mistake.  It turns out that there is a lot of skill and effort that goes into making a cup look perfectly imperfect.  Skill that I do not possess yet, but many of my classmates hardly need any help in creating beautiful cups and bowls.  I on the other hand am becoming adept at asking my sensei what in the world I did wrong to get a tea cup with cracks going down the side and a whole near the top.

One of the things that makes my pottery classes difficult, but also extremely useful in learning Japanese is that my teacher does not speak much English. Nor do any of my classmates.  As one of the lower level Japanese speakers in this program this does cause a problem. Luckily my teacher explains what he is doing in both words and examples, so I can match the common phrases I am picking up with his actions and vice-versa. At first there were many misunderstandings, for example I couldn’t figure out why he was telling me my cup wasn’t hot enough (暑い)  when he was trying to tell me that it wasn’t thick enough (厚い). When I got home after class I expressed my frustration to my host mom who laughed and explained the difference between the two あつい to me.

Through this class I am also able to study the politeness levels of Japanese  interactions between the students and the teacher. Most of my classmates are retired お婆ちゃん and お祖父さん、 but my teacher is in his forties. There is also a father-daughter pair in the group. This makes the interactions really interesting. The sensei, while still in charge and referred to as sensei by everyone, is also treated in a congenial nephew fashion and he refers to the father in the father-daughter pair as お父さん.  There isn’t really much idle chatter in my class, most people are focused on their pieces, and being so much younger and rather limited in understanding I think that some of my older classmates hesitate to talk to me.  Most of the chat that does happen is about the weather, or why I cam to japan. I was once asked if I thought that all Japanese people would be wearing kimonos. Which threw me for a loop.

The path to my class is through the Uji-Bashi district and the walk itself is a really interesting look into Japan.  Surrounded by various temples and beautiful scenery it is a popular tourist attraction, as well as hiking and ritual shrine visits.  Every so often I get to see young kids on their way to shrine to celebrate shichigosan,  which again had to be explained by my host mom when I came home with questions.  Overall I really think that my CIP project helped me get more involved in the city that I live in and improve my Japanese and confidence when it comes to talking to Japanese speakers. Now I’m more worried with how I accidently carved a hole in the bottom of my tea bowl than whether I am going to mess up saying something.

Jasmine Hensley: Kyudou

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Before applying for KCJS, I read up on the program parameters on the KCJS website.  Upon reading about the CIP assignment, I knew that I wanted to do kyudou because I had a previous interest in the martial art.  Initially I had been concerned that I would not be able to do it because I am very petite young woman and was without any form of archery experience.  Nevertheless, I pursued kyudou as my CIP, and began practicing every Monday and Thursday at the Kyoto Budou Center.

When I first entered the Budou Center’s kyudou dojo, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the archers were women around my size (though clearly much stronger than me from their years of practice).  Our teacher Kawaguchi-sensei herself is a sprightly and strong older woman with a commanding presence.  That is not to say that she was cold or unapproachable; on the contrary, she has been so kind and patient with us over the past few months, as have the other archers at the dojo.

Although practices are usually very independent, Kawaguchi-sensei and occasionally the other archers will offer tips and corrections to our postures.  Because kyudou is so ritualized, requiring one to repeat the same pattern of movements before every shot is fired, it is crucial to correct one’s movements before they become too deeply ingrained to be fixed.  I had very little upper body strength before starting kyudou here, so it took almost three months before I was strong enough and good enough to be allowed to move to a larger, heavier bow.  I don’t think that I could ever have imagined how much pride and self-accomplishment I would feel for being allowed to exercise harder.

Kyudou as a whole has served as a catharsis during my months in Japan.  This was my first time abroad, and the experience has been wonderful, but trying at times.  As I’ve become more aware of my linguistic inabilities, I’ve found myself losing self-confidence very rapidly; however, kyudou is an activity that almost entirely transcends the language barrier.  In addition, because there are other students who do not speak Japanese at all, I’ve gained some confidence in being able to translate between Kawaguchi-sensei and those students.  Furthermore, it is a time apart from homework where one focuses only on the ritual of drawing the bow and one’s own body.

Kyudou is definitely a CIP that requires time and effort, but the rewards far outweighed any measly inconveniences.  The support that I felt from Kawaguchi-sensei and the other archers, the atmosphere of the dojo, and the time for self-reflection not only helped rebuild and boost my self-confidence but also allowed me some peaceful time in my continuously active life in Japan.

Zalika Corbett: Weightlifting, Klexon (Language Exchange)

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My CIP experience has a been a varied combination of people, venues, and activities.

After much searching, I finally came upon weightlifting. It was kind of a perfect fit, especially considering that I spent the first few weeks in Kyoto searching for some sort of sports-related CIP so that I could stay in shape. Weightlifting provided the perfect outlet to do this and, on top of that, the people there were incredible.

For instance, the first day I went, the main instructor asked me to perform a few basic excercises to check my form. This was not my first time weightlifting, but it was the first time that I had received instructions in such a detailed way. The instructor had video of professional female weightlifters doing the same exercise that I was and even drew diagrams on the board to explain exactly how to execue each lift. As a result, just a few hours into my first session, it became obvious that the main instructor and the student who taught with him were some of the the most knowledgeable trainers that I had ever met.

They were also some of the most patient. For instance, there was one excercise in particular in which I was disheartenly inconsistent. Sometimes I could execute the exercise reletively well, but on others it was as if I had never done the exercise before. Meanwhile, whoever was working with me gave me helpful, encouraging feedback.

Unfortunately, only a few weeks into weightlifting, I managed to injure myself in a way that prevented me from lifting for the rest of the sememster. As a result, I began to go to an international language exchange club, called Klexon. My first impression of the club was how organized it was. All of the English speakers were on one side of the tables, while the Japanese members were on the other. Then, every ten minutes, the Japanese members would rotate and start a conversation with another English speaker. The resulting process seem rather reminiscent of speed dating.

The second point I noticed was the variety of members. Initially, I thought that Klexon was mostly comprised of university students. However, I found that most of them were actually graduates with a wide variety of careers. During my time, there, I met doctors, salesmen, store owners, and that was just to start. In addition to the one-on-one session, we spent the last few minutes in small groups talking about set topics and then about whatever we so chose when there was a lull.

Overall, I think that both experiences, weightlifting and Klexon, were benefitial in their own way. I used Japanese more in the former, but there was not much in the way of conversation. Meanwhile, the latter was all about conversation, but the focus on English allowed for few opportunities to practice my Japanese until the final, group session. In the end, I am glad to have participated in both activities and, while I will miss weightliftng, I look forward to returning to Klexon to finish out the semester.

Xiaoyu Liu: About my experience in Impact Hub Kyoto

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During my internship in Impact Hub Kyoto, I worked on my project on designing the member’s wall and it turned out to be a really amazing experience. I learned a lot from this especially how to corporate with Japanese collegues under the collectivistic culture here. It is different from what I experienced in America  since the working environment in the US is always easy to get in. Everyone around seems talkative and outgoing and easy to build up relationship with. However, in Japan, it took me a long time to fit in and establish my role in the group since nobody was what I was good at and how I could contribute to the group. In the beginning, I jumped in with the identity of a foreign student from the United States of America, which means I automatically received some sort of credibility and respect from my Japanese colleagues as a professional and fresh blood from abroad. However, on the other hand, it makes me harder to get involve into the group since my “price” is high and they cannot treat me as a normal new-comer doing messy chores. At the beginning when I was talking to them about my thoughts on some club issue, I could easily found Erin san and Tomo san were uneasy with some of my ideas but they said nothinng. Also, they felt nervous talking with me or ask for favor since they were unsure if I can understand what they said or unhappy to do messy little stuff.  Here, Japanese language ability is also another factor that deeply affects our communication. Since this is a working place, people tend to be speak fast and concise, and it is frustrating to ask your partner to repeat what they said for several time, because your Japanese is not good enough. You can easily get the feeling that you are impairing the group efficiency and making your co-workers to sacrifice their time and energy to your stupidness. What even worse is that Japanese is so delicate that your partner would never understand what you want to say or even confirm unless you use the right wordings. Sometimes you will try to make the story long to let them understand, but this is so inefficient and usually in the end, both of you would got lost and ended the conversation with silence.

Still, I chose to stay there because I wanted to try best to see if I can get involved into this Japanese working environment. Also, l like all the staffs and the cool Noh stages and Bamboo yard in their space.

After I patiently helping with little thing, keeping participating my work, and attending some of their gathering,  I kind of felt that they gradually being more and more relaxed on me, which means they are accepting me as one of their member. After all, it is one of my best time studying abroad in Kyoto, and my Japanese did improve a lot from this.

So, I will say it is a good but rare experience to work with Japanese people in Japan. Usually my US friends would get worried and upset when they found they cannot get into the Japanese community easily. I will say the way of entry is different since you cannot just build up good relationship with them by talking with them only, but also to show your effort and contribution to the community, as well as pretty fluent Japanese, the basic requirement for communication. From time to time after the group member confirmed that you are hardworking and good in nature with their eyes, you will automatically receive an invitation for dinner gathering and next time when you come, you will find everyone is relaxed. Without saying anything, you just become one of them, and everyone knows. Also, you will find ask them to get things done will be much much easier and faster.

Oh, it is really Japanese, isn’t it?

 

By Xiaoyu Liu, Brandeis 2014er,

 

ロバート・フィーニー：開晴中学校の英語アシスタント

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僕のCIPは開晴中学校の英語のアシスタントです。先週は初めての授業のはずでしたが、病気で休んでしまいました。だから、今週は初めての授業です。

英語のアシスタントというCIPは、本当に楽しにしています。僕は小さい時から教えるのが好きでしたので、アシスタントのようなCIPに興味があるんです。それで、もう英語のアシスタントをしたことがありますので、もう一度してみたいと思っていました。だから、この経験は教えることの興味も日本語の勉強にも役に立つので、楽しみにしています。

マット・アルブレクト:フリスビーサークル

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　CIPのために京都大学のBREEZEというフリスビーサークルの部員と練習した。ノースウェスタンでよく友達とフリスビーをし、寮のフリスビーチームに入っていたがあまり競争としてフリスビーをしたことがなかった。だから日本語の指示でフリスビーの戦略を理解するのは難しかった。

　練習が始まる前は、皆おしゃべりしたりフリスビーを自由に投げたりしているが練習開始とともに、本気になる。まず、全体で準備運動し、それから男子と女子は別々に練習し筋トレで終わる。あいにく、BREEZEは一週間に三回、四時間以上の練習があるし、私はBREEZEの選手ほど上手ではなくて足手まといになることを心配していたので、続けないことにした。

　これから、同志社大学の英会サークルに入るつもりです。

キャッサリン・エイカー：陶芸のレッスン

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最初、日本に着いた時、どんなCIPをすればいいか分からなかった。でも、去年のKCJSの学生が参加した活動のリストを読んで、陶芸のレッスンに興味を持った。日本で教室を探すことは、難しかったが、先生に色々な教室を探していただいた。すぐ、少し恐くかったが、瑞光窯という教室に電話して、見学に行ってみた。瑞光窯は、小さいところだが、壁は、全部棚に覆われて、棚は、全部茶碗やお皿に埋めつくされてりる。瑞光窯の鈴木先生は、いつも関西弁で話すが、親切な方で、工房の中の説明してくださった。それで、鈴木先生とはな先生に、陶芸を教えていただくことにした。

一週間後の、土曜日に、クラスを初めて取った。クラスメートのきくちさんは轆轤（ろくろ）で茶碗の作り方を教えてくれた。私は、高校の時少し陶芸をしたことあったのが、轆轤で物を作ったことがなかったので、本当に大変だった。でも、きくちさんと他の学生さんは、困った時、アドバイスとをくれたり、助けてれて、楽しくなった。他の学生さんは、皆長い間瑞光窯に行っていて、とても上手だ。皆、すばらしい物を作っている。一人は、宮崎のトトロのテーマの茶碗を作った。その日は、五時間陶芸を練習して、とても面白かった。次の火、腕が痛かったが、私は、嬉しかった。

毎週、陶芸教室に行くのは、楽しい。先週は、手作りカップの作り方を習ったり、茶碗を作る練習をしたりした。来週は、何をするかまだ分からない。でも、楽しみにしている。

http://www.zuikou.com/class/index.html

ウィリアム・HB：裏千家

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私のCIPは裏千家です。日本の歴史の教科書を読んだ時、井伊直弼について読みました。井伊直弼は有名な裏千家の先生でした。彦根に行って井伊家族の美術館に行った時井伊直弼の茶道道具を見ました。私はその経験に触発され裏千家を選びました。茶室は同志社大学の近くです。同志社から歩いて十分ぐらいかかります。茶室は人気があるから学生がたくさんいます。3つのクラスに行ってきました。クラスの前にしじょで茶道道具を買いました。クラスでいろいろないこと習っています。茶室にはいりかたとお辞儀をする方と道具の名前を習いました。クラスで一番むずかし物はせざです。大抵クラスは二時間ぐらいです。たくさん正座を練習しているのにいつも足がいたいです。先生は親切であることもさることながら面白いでもあります。ほとんど毎週ボスウェルさんといっしょに行っています。

 

スコーブル・エミリー：太鼓会

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今学期のCIPのために北野天満宮の太鼓会に参加しています。和太鼓はとても面白くて、私はウェズリー大学の太鼓会のメンバーだから、太鼓の経験が少しあります。ウェズリー大学に比べて、北野天満宮の太鼓会は演奏がたくさんあるけど、練習は少ないから、ちょっと難しいと思います。

初めての練習は面白くて、楽しい経験でした。他のKCJSの学生と行って、自己紹介をしたり、太鼓を動かすのを手伝ったり、子供と話したり、太鼓をたたいたりしました。太鼓会には、子供もお年寄りもいます。皆さんは元気で太鼓をたたいて、楽しんでいます。

初めての練習は結婚式のための練習だから、よく見ましたけど、少しだけ太鼓をたたいてみたかったです。太鼓会に入る時に、たくさん曲の紙をもらいました。ウェズリーの太鼓会では曲の紙をあまり使わなくて、リズムを聞いてリピートします。その方法で曲を習います。しかし、曲の紙があるから、太鼓会の先生は「次の演奏、たたけますね」とおっしゃいましたけど、私は太鼓で練習しなければなりません。次の演奏、がんばります。

北野天満宮では一ヶ月ごとに祭りがあって、太鼓会は祭りで演奏します。毎月25日には安くて、古い物を買ったり、美味しい食べ物を食べたり、太鼓を見たりできます。みなさん、ぜひ来てくださいね。