「Volunteering」カテゴリーアーカイブ

ヘイリー・ボルク：KYOTO EXPERIMENT 京都国際舞台芸術祭

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私はCIP として KYOTO EXPERIMENT 京都国際舞台芸術祭でボランティアをしています。演劇に興味があって、舞台芸術部で働いた経験あるから、演劇に関する活動を探して、KYOTO EXPERIMENT を見つけました。９月２７日から１０月１９日にかけて、世界中から来たとても近代的で、斬新奇抜な芝居とダンスのプログラムが十、行われました。また、講義やワークショップや美術展や催しというように色々な付随のイベントも行われました。

パフォーマンスは京都中で行われましたが、KYOTO EXPERIMENT の事務所は京都芸術センターにあります。フェスティバル中に一週間に二回ぐらいそこに行って、ボランティアをしました。日によって活動が違いましたが、普通ホームページを日本語から英語に翻訳したり、パフォーマンスで表方として働いたり、パフォーマンスを見たり、事務的なことをしたりしました。フェスティバルが終わったばかりなので、これからは一週間に一回ボランティアに行って、活動もちょっと変わります。フェスティバルのパフォーマンスの期間は一か月だけですが、一年中そのための準備をしているから、今から新しい経験ができるのを楽しみにしています。

カサリン・アレクサンダー：バザールカフェのボランティア

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CIP として私は毎週木曜日十一時から三時までバザールカフェでボランティア活動をします。バザールカフェは普通のカフェではなくて、色々な特徴を持っています。まず、三人の店長以外に、カフェで働いている人はほとんどボランティアです。ボランティアは、就活中の人と大学生が多いです。その人は仕事の知識と経験を身につけるためにバザールカフェでボランティアをします。もう一つの特徴はバザールカフェは差別せずに、誰でも受け入れるという点です。また、世界平等などを促進するために色々なイベントを行います。実は、CIP を始める前にバザールカフェがどんなところかよく分かりませんでしたが、今は、本当に面白いところだと分かっています。

毎週、バザールカフェに着いたらエプロンとバンダナを身につけてキッチンに入ります。バザールカフェでボランティアする時は、普通のウェイトレスのように働きます。例えば、食事を出したり、トレイをさげたり、皿を洗ったり、掃除したりします。忙しくなかったら、仕事をしながらボランティアの皆は楽しくおしゃべりをします。それに対して、忙しくなったら、皆は真剣に仕事に集中します。役割は決まっていないので、日によってすることは違います。お客さんが多い日はトレイを出したりさげたりします。一方、お客さんが少ない日は掃除を手伝ったりします。忙しい時は大変だけど、皆と一緒に頑張っているのは楽しいです。

CIP を始めてからもう一か月が経ちました。その間にバザールカフェの活動にすこし慣れてきたと思います。でも、これからもバザールカフェの活動を頑張ります！

イフェ・サムズ：同志社教会子供礼拝バイオリン演奏

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私のCIPは月に２回参加者として、月に２回バイオリン演奏者として同志社教会の子供の礼拝に通っています。同志社教会は１８７６年に新島襄さんによって設立され、開会日からの古い建物がまだ残っています。同志社教会は同志社今出川キャンパスから、歩いて五分、距離として非常に便利です。しかし、最初は子供の礼拝でバイオリンを弾くようになると思っていなかったです。

京都に着いて二日後、日曜日の礼拝に行った時、オルガンの演奏者がいて皆で古い賛美歌を歌っていました。「すごい、アメリカの伝統的な礼拝のような礼拝だ」と思いました。しかし、アメリカで通っていた教会はモダンなので、「賛美バンド」というものが、神様をたたえるために新しい曲を毎週演奏しているし、曲のジャンルはロックもあればインディーズもあるし、同志社教会と全く違うスタイルに今まで慣れていました。さらに、私もベース或いはバイオリンを弾いて音楽にのりながら、教会の賛美バンドに毎週参加していました。ですから、同志社の礼拝が終わったら「ここにまた来れるだろうか？」と自らに聞きました。すると、礼拝堂を出て、一人で立っている、野ゆりさんという木村カエラのような金髪のかっこいい若い女性に話しかけられました。野ゆりさんの若者礼拝のお知らせのおかげで教会のコミュニティーの一人になれて、しみりさんという子供礼拝の担当者に子供の礼拝に誘っていただきました。それから、CIPとして子供礼拝でバイオリンを弾くようになりました。

前日の行いを振り返ってみると、本当は考えずに子供礼拝の活動が私のCIPになってしまったのです。私は初めは西俣先生とのCIPに関する相談会で「日本のバンドに参加したいです」と言いました。そして、軽音楽のサークルの連絡先を先生に教えていただいて、連絡をしましたが、返事がなかなか来なくて、困っていたのです。しかし、同志社教会でバイオリンを演奏することになり、本当に助かりました。そしてさらに、実は夏休みに「CIPとして希望は何ですか」と聞かれた時、「日本の教会でバイオリンを弾きたいです」と回答したのを最近思い出しました。今まで忘れていた状態でしたが、「現在のCIPは神様からの恵みかもしれない」と思うようになってきました。今からどういう経験をするのか楽しみにしています。

アレハンドロ・ルイゼスパルザ：バザールカフェ

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私はバザールカフェという同志社に近いカフェでボランティアをしています。そこは木曜日から土曜日まで開いていますが、私は毎週木曜日だけしています。日曜日によって働いている人は違いますから料理も雰囲気も違います。例えば、木曜日はブラジルで生まれた店長が働いているからブラジルの料理を作ります。

たいてい、私がするのは注文を確認したり皿を洗ったりすることです。注文を確認する時、敬語を使える事もいいですが、他の時も面白いです。実は、ボランティアの皆さんはあちこちから日本に来て人道主義に興味がありますから、色々な話を聞きました。最近では皆さんと家族みたいになってきました。バザールカフェは素晴らしいですよ。

コ・ムキ：京大病院にこにこトマト

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私のCIPは京大病院の「にこにこトマト」というボランティア活動です。「にこにこトマト」は京大病院小児科に入院している子供達に、「楽しく豊かな時間」をプレゼントしているボランティアグループです。月曜日から金曜日まで、午後プレイルームでいろいろなワークショップをします。水曜日と木曜日に、「にこにこトマト」の事務局は開局しています。私は毎週月曜日か金曜日の午後ワークショップを手伝っていますが、毎週木曜日に他のボランティアと事務局に集まって、活動の準備をしています。

日によって、私の役割は違います。例えば、ハロウィンが近づいていますから、先週の仕事は子供にハロウィンのカードを作ることでした。一人のメンバーがもう今年のカードをデザインし、見本も作ったので、彼女はみんなに役を割り振りました。 私のタスクはカードの表にある窓の周囲に両面テープを張ることでした。また、ある金曜日に、「ぷくぷくバルーン」というイベントで、先生が子供に魚や亀など、簡単にできるバルーンの作り方を教えました。私の仕事は写真を撮ることや子供を手伝うこと、プイレルームを片付けることなどでした。

１２人ぐらいの日本人のボランティアの多くは中年女性で、とても優しくて元気な人たちです。木曜日の午後１２時半から１時までいつも他のボランティアと一緒におやつをたべながら話します。子供達の明るい笑顔を見るのも事務局のみんなと交流するも楽しいと思います。これからの活動も楽しみにしています。

関連のリンク：
にこにこトマトhttp://www.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~pediatrics/institution/nikoniko.html
スタッフブログ http://nikotoma.jugem.jp/

ハロウィンカードの製作

ハロウィンカードの製作

子供が作ったハートの杖。看護師を捕えた！^_^

子供が作ったハートの杖。看護師を捕えた！^_^

Anastasia Sorokina: Deepest Kyoto Tours (DKT)

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Ancient kamado rice cookers, Akira Kurosawa’s former film studios, and the movement to protect Kyoto’s machiya houses are some of the myriad topics Deepest Kyoto Tour (DKT) covers on its tours—and, to my surprise, ones that have made a significant impact on my time in Japan.

DKT is an agency geared toward foreign travelers, its premise being that tourists should get to experience a Kyoto that exists behind the glimmering façades of Ginkakuji brochures. The tours cover a variety of themes, ranging from the possible connections that may exist between Judaism and Buddhism, to Kyoto’s wholesale fish markets. I have DKT to thank for the unique histories it exposed me to during my first few weeks in Kyoto, a time when I still considered visiting konbini one of the most exciting cultural experiences Japan had to offer.

From how meetings are held to how decisions are made between co-workers, my experience at DKT gave me a glimpse into how Japanese organizations are run on a day-to-day basis. It functioned both a nice complement to the broader themes we cover in the KCJS Corporations class, and as research material for an ethnography I’m writing in my language class.

My ethnography focuses on how people handle disagreements in Japan. How do members of a collectivist society in particular conduct arguments?

Amusingly, I witnessed many disagreements and cultural misunderstandings in my time as an intern, particularly between the foreign interns and the Japanese staff. What I found most curious was how the staff responded to the students when we made mistakes—it seems as if in these interactions especially, there was a tendency to repeat a statement that one believes is correct rather than go into more concrete detail as to why one believes in that particular statement.

Let’s take, for example, the time that I got lost trying to meet up with the rest of our group for one of our Saturday tours. I showed up at the JR Uzumasa station, confused as to why at five minutes to nine, I couldn’t see a single person from DKT. When I called the coordinator to ask her if the meeting was still on, she informed me that I was mistaken, as we were scheduled to meet up at the Uzumasa Tenjingawa Subway station. After some deliberation, I understood her command as instructing me to meet her at this station. So off I went, walking for about twenty minutes before I arrived at the station and again saw no one there. I called my coordinator again.

“Hi (Or perhaps more accurately, moshimoshi)! I’m finally at Tenjingawa,” I told her. “Where should I meet up with you?”

“What?!” she responded. “You mean you’re at Uzumasa Kyoruji, the Randen station, right?”

I looked around to see signs for the subway and big Helvetica letters spelling out UZUMASA TENJINGAWA. “No, I’m pretty sure I’m at the subway station.”

And this is where things got a little weird.

“But I told you to go to Kyoruji. You’re at Kyoruji, right? You’re at Kyoruji.”

“No…I’m sorry, I really don’t–”

“You’re at Kyoruji, right? We’ll meet you there. We’re taking the next train over!”

And so the conversation proceeded until I relented and told her I was indeed at Kyoruji, and that I’d see her soon.

To get myself out of this pickle, I decided to hitch a ride toward Kyoruji on the Randen train, a stop for which was right across from the subway. Lo and behold, when I boarded the platform, I saw my coordinator and her co-worker standing just on the other side of the wall that separated subway users from Randen users.

This is just one example of how a number of our interactions went, each of which made me wonder–why is it that no one appears to be listening to my reasoning? What have I done wrong? Is this normal for Japanese adults, or have I just come into contact with some quirky people recently?

If I were to go out on a limb to answer these questions, I’d say it’s a matter of age and people automatically assuming that I’m somehow mistaken in an interaction, whether because I’m younger, or perhaps because I’m a foreigner.

Ultimately, this is only a generalization based on experiences I had with about five people, not controlled for such factors as age, gender, or sample size. I haven’t spent much time observing arguments between Americans, or Americans and foreigners, either. It’s not very scientific discovery, but it’s something to think about. Has anyone else experienced arguments in Japan? Have you seen a similar trend? How have you handled disagreements while you’ve been here?

Kaneisha Payton: Kyoto Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)

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The more I volunteered at the YWCA, the more I came to like it. I wanted to help out at an organization that supports women, and the YWCA allowed me to do just that. There are various ways you can volunteer at the YWCA, ranging from assisting with event organization to answering phones on the women’s crisis hotline. Although I did spend an evening at the crisis center, where I learned about some of the more prevalent problems (including domestic violence, abandonment, and employment issues) that women in Japan— particularly, non-Japanese women —face, I ended up choosing to volunteer in the after school childcare program. This program facilitates free childcare to whoever needs it, and even provides meals in the event that the parent needs to work late.  Simply knowing that the service was so necessary was fulfilling.

My favorite part of the experience, however, was definitely hanging out with Chinatsu-chan. During my time there, Chinatsu-chan was the only kid who showed up regularly. Usually, another volunteer and I made sure she did her homework, then passed the time with games or letting her read borrowed manga. I loved hearing her chat about school life and her friends. It taught me a little bit about what the Japanese school system is like from a student’s perspective— from having to clean the classroom to playing surprisingly complicated hand games for the sake of becoming 仲がいい. Moreover,  a lot of her stories were pretty hilarious. She was very energetic, though, so it was occasionally hard to keep up with her. Once, in an attempt to channel her energy, I tried to teach her a bit of kung-fu. It was definitely memorable. As someone interested in teaching English in Japan after graduation, I’m very grateful to have had this experience, but I would recommend volunteering here to anyone with an interest in a laid-back way to be involved in a close-knit community, or working in an environment that supports women.

Tori Moore: Nico Nico Tomato

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I have been volunteering at Nico Nico Tomato for the last four months, which is a volunteer organization based out of Kyoto University hospital. My time volunteering is usually divided between working with small children in a playroom within the hospital or spent organizing materials for fundraisers, events, and sometimes making presents for the pediatric staff. The work itself is fun and interesting, but I also enjoy observing the day-to-day operations of one of Kyoto’s largest inner city hospitals.

There were two approaches I took when participating in my CIP; the first was the “official” reason I was there: to experience Japanese in a setting besides my classroom or homestay, in which I think the volunteer work was an interesting and worthwhile setting and let my Japanese language skills develop more naturally. The second approach I took was from the perspective of a pre-medical student observing the operations of a hospital as somewhat of an insider, an opportunity I hadn’t had yet, but one crucial for any pre-med student’s application to medical school.

The last few times I visited Nico Nico Tomato, I have spent the first forty-five minutes or so folding pamphlets, estimating the prices of small toys to be sold for a fundraising “café,” or sticking stamps onto envelopes, all while chatting with the volunteers, who are mostly housewives. I often find myself listening to their conversations more than I participate in them, but as time has progressed in the semester, I’ve noticed that I comprehend a lot more than I initially did. I see this time as good practice for listening and speaking, and it’s usually pretty relaxing as well.

After a certain time or when I’ve finished my job, I’ll go down to the playroom on the floor below and hang out with the kids. I like to think of that as a more rigorous Japanese practice, but I normally am having too much fun to really focus on the language like how I do in a classroom, and rather more how I consider it when talking to friends or my host family. I also always get to bring a thing I made home as well, which is always nice.

I honestly never expected my CIP to be as enjoyable as it eventually became; the first few times I visited the hospital were tiring, too hot, and, on account of not a small lack of confidence in my language ability, quite stressful. However, the hours I put in conversing with the volunteers in the staff office and children in the playroom quickly paid off and I think my listening ability became much stronger as a result.

 

 

Koji Spangler: Klexon

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During a semester in which you often find yourself on the wrong side of a language barrier, seeing others work on a foreign language is encouraging. In the English circle Klexon, I was not only able to interact with Japanese participants of various backgrounds– I was afforded a different perspective regarding my own Japanese studies. For all the moments you feel insecure, unsure, or even embarrassed during your interactions with native speakers, Klexon is a reminder that the embarrassment or discomfort is not mutual. In many ways, Klexon motivated me to study harder, interact more freely, and test my own Japanese in areas I initially may have shied away from.

As I continued to participate in Klexon weekly, I began to recognize a handful of faces, and became friendly with a considerable number of the circle members. Klexon’s Japanese participants vary in age (as do the native English speakers), but every one is extremely friendly, and very willing to talk. As friendships develop, you may find your English conversations slipping into Japanese. In my opinion, this is one of the great benefits of Klexon. For all the English you speak, you’ll find ample opportunity to work in your Japanese as well (in the all-important arena of informal conversation). With the older participants you may want to keep your Japanese respectful and formal, but you’ll find with your younger friends that slipping into comfortable and informal conversation happens quite naturally. This may be a consequence of the importance and function of age in Japanese relationships, and the way in which age affects interactions (especially in first-encounter situations). In a group setting such as Klexon, where internal hierarchy isn’t clearly defined by rank, significance is placed on age instead. In my own observations, I noted the use of polite Japanese between members of different age groups, but not exclusively from one side. In conversations where an older and younger circle member were speaking, both parties kept the exchanges polite and reserved. It seems that for those with less in common, interactions remain more formal by nature.

In direct contrast to this, I noticed that peers in the same age group would sometimes immediately jump into informal conversation once they realized they were students at the same university, or were both the same age. As a foreigner, you may be hesitant to switch from polite to relaxed conversation with a partner, and you may not know when or how to do so. In my experience, if a peer speaks to you informally, you should probably return the favor. It is at the same time a sign of comfort and friendship. Why reject it? I suppose in many ways Klexon helps a student understand how friendships develop in Japan, and when certain barriers of formality can be crossed and discarded.

Though Klexon has an informal atmosphere in general, one curious point I did notice is that at meetings all the English speakers stay seated, while those who came to practice English rotate from person to person every ten minutes. While this is of course practical, I couldn’t help but feel there was an element of respect attached to the gesture as well. We, as English speakers, provide a valuable learning resource for the Japanese participants. As such, we’re treated by the circle leader almost as guests. I suppose its something you might expect in a society where hospitality and manners are valued so highly.

Ivan Escamilla : HUB Kyoto

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My experience at HUB Kyoto has changed my perception of the Japanese community. Having resided in Japan for nearly an academic year, I have gotten accustomed to seeing the intense lifestyle that comes with being a salaryman, usually consisting of people in suits running to and fro within a train station. I have gotten used to the silence that comes with a long train ride that accompanies a slew of people looking down at the floor so that they do not catch anybody else’s eyes. I have even gotten used to the indirect behavior that is the norm here when speaking to just about anyone in society. Although slight variations of these circumstances are present in any situation, HUB Kyoto’s atmosphere provides an excellent foil to the Japanese standard in which the workers there, still maintaining diligence in their work, manage to maintain the relaxed environment that welcomes the fresh new ideas of others. In a society where the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, having a special area in which anyone can enter and present to their community an original idea they have that they think might benefit others stands out so much to me. Such an experience was evident in the Dojo for Change, where although a speaker was presenting this wildly abstract idea to an audience, the audience indulged in the new idea and even had some discussion afterwards. Even in regular work days, which was every Wednesday from around 1:30 to 5, people such as elderly ladies and young men in suits would crowd around the center table at HUB and discuss new ideas, things they had going on, and of course trivial matters such as the weather. The fact that HUB attracted so many different kinds of people, however, is what amazed me most, and I felt pretty lucky to experience it for myself.

Although the ambience and people were always good, the wish would have changed my weekly tasks. Although it was interesting inputting Japanese business card data into a database, as well as draw out layouts of events for the sake of determining better seating arrangements, I felt like I could have done something more. I am not saying I did not like HUB, because I certainly did, it’s just that after a few weeks, I would hear about my classmates and their own CIP projects consisting of playing instruments and going to an art gallery. In other words, my position at HUB was certainly more “behind the scenes” in which I had to do something relatable to office work, whereas I would keep hearing about hobby-like activities that I would have preferred doing. However, from the beginning of the semester, I really wanted to do an activity I could put on my resume, and I do feel like I accomplished that objective. Though I have no true regrets, I would not have minded a little something extra.

HUB Kyoto, from its large theatre room to its large bamboo garden to the kotatsu upstairs, is a unique place. The people that go there are those that believe they can make a change, no matter how big or small. Whether you want to establish a gift-giving economy and write a book about it, or simply want to help set up for events, HUB Kyoto can fit just about anyone’s dreams. Keep in mind, this is not the only HUB in the world; HUB Singapore, Amsterdam, and San Francisco just to name a few, are ongoing projects to this day that continue to work on making communities bright and clean for its people. I am glad I got to see this part of Japan. It gave me a new kind of hope for the younger Japanese generations.