「Institution」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Fatou M’Baye: Pottery

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I took pottery classes at Keiko Ikoma’s pottery studio. I’d always wanted to learn pottery but had never done it before. I was intimidated going in on my first day because I was a total beginner, but all of my worries quickly dissolved as soon as I stepped into the classroom. Ikoma Sensei is super kind and patient, and everyone in class is very friendly. It’s a very communal space, with everyone chatting while they work. Ikoma Sensei has a curriculum for beginners, which was really nice because it provided me guidance on what pieces to make. I made a vase, three teacups, a rice bowl, and a large bowl. Rather than working with a moving wheel, everyone at Ikoma Sensei’s classroom does hand-building, so it’s a slower process. It was very therapeutic to make everything step by step. I now want to continue pottery! My advice for incoming students is to not be afraid to talk to the people in your CIP. If you are more social and talkative, others will also be more social in return. Get to know the people in your CIP and don’t be shy about asking questions!

Sam de la Vega: Shakuhachi

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My CIP was the traditional Japanese flute known as a Shakuhachi. I had lessons once a week for about 2 hours and occasionally practiced with other students who practiced other instruments, such as the koto or shamisen. Towards the end of the semester, all of the other students involved in the instruments took part in a traditional concert recital. 

The shakuhachi was an incredible experience that was not only extremely rewarding to learn, but it also helped with listening comprehension and feeling more comfortable speaking Japanese in a more casual manner. One of the most important aspects of learning this instrument was becoming good friends with my teacher as he created an environment where learning the instrument was fun and no stress was created. 

My advice for future students of KCJS is to go beyond what you believe you’re comfortable with and do not be scared to try something new. I’m not new to learning instruments, but learning a new instrument in a language I’m not fluent in was incredibly daunting. Yet, it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I’m forever grateful for this CIP and will continue to practice the shakuhachi for the rest of my life. 

Sloane McLean: Volunteering at NALBA Children’s Cafeteria

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Although NALBA is a cafeteria, as a volunteer I was more so responsible for playing with the kids as meals were being prepared rather than participating in the cooking. We would all have dinner together, during which I would make small talk with the kids and volunteers, and then it would be time to clean up and keep the kids entertained as they waited for their parents to come pick them up.

I love kids so this was an incredibly rewarding (though physically tiring) CIP experience for me as I got to develop relationships with the children and see them excited to spend time with me every week. The volunteers at NALBA are incredibly warm and friendly, and the children were very curious about why I was in Japan and also wanted to know about the USA, so there was always a lot to talk about and I easily made conversation with the people I met there.

I highly recommend NALBA to anyone who is nervous about their Japanese skill level but still wants a bit of a challenge for themselves — it’s easy to connect with the kids because there are so many games you can play together which require limited conversation ability, but at the same time you will definitely still need to practice the more advanced grammar you are learning in class when talking to the kids (and they talk a lot!). Speaking with the older volunteers was always a little outside of my language comfort level, but I’m glad I pushed myself. My biggest advice for anyone in a similar situation is to just power through any hesitancies you have at your CIP. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation, and ask clarifying questions as often as needed! I would say the latter piece of that advice is definitely extremely important, as it’s absolutely necessary in order to understand what the rules and boundaries are.

Overall NALBA was a warm and energetic environment I enjoyed going to every week, and leaving it was really hard. I hope many more KCJS students will participate there in the future!

Isabel Hurwitz: 茶道(Tea Ceremony)

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For my CIP I had private 茶道（Tea Ceremony) lessons with the lovely 三谷先生. Our lessons consisted of meeting once a week for about two hours to practice the steps of the ceremony including purifying (cleaning) the utensils and bowl and learning how to prepare the tea.

This was, by far, one of the most enjoyable experiences of my personal journey in Japan. Not only I was able to learn something I had been wanting to learn for a long time, but also I was able to understand the cultural and historical context of Japanese way of life through the lens of this ceremony.

I also owe this experience to 三谷先生 because she was the best teacher I could have had for this. She is the sweetest and most patient woman I’ve met. Even though I made a lot of mistakes, she kept cheering me up and telling me I got better every session, and that really inspired me to practice at home by my own.

I would recommend incoming students to do this as your CIP project if you want to get more involved in the subtle culture of Japan—or if you really like Matcha. Through this activity, you can get a deeper understanding and appreciation for the way Japan approaches interpersonal communication and mutual respect.

Gavin Dutterer: Volunteering at Ohara Elementary and Junior High School

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At this CIP, I went to Ohara Elementary and Junior High School once a week, eating lunch with the students and helping out primarily in the English classes. I worked mostly with the 6th graders as they worked on their end-of-semester English presentation, offering advice and answering any questions they had. If you’re interested in this CIP, I’d recommend getting ready to get out of your shell, as a lot of the students are shy and it can be difficult to talk to them. However, it’s a great experience, and being able to help them and provide them with an international perspective they probably wouldn’t get to experience otherwise is extremely rewarding.

 

Alejandro Sosa Hernández: Calligraphy

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For my CIP, I took calligraphy lessons at the Shoukei Shoudo School. Once a week, the senseis would teach me how to write a new Kanji character until my skills developed enough for me to choose my own Kanjis. Learning how to do calligraphy was incredibly exciting and it was nice to have a dedicated creative outlet every week where I could practice my Japanese speaking and writing. It was perfect for me since I’ve always loved cursive writing, I think Kanji are beautiful, and I am quite the perfectionist. My advice to incoming students would be to not be afraid of asking for help! That’s what the senseis are there for.

Kimiko Reed: Shamisen

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My CIP this semester was learning shamisen at Greenwich House music school. Greenwich House is run by the Iwasaki family, and they teach as well as do performances with shamisen (similar to a guitar), koto (similar to a harp), and shakuhachi (similar to a flute).

Through practicing once a week at Greenwich House, I was able to learn more about traditional Japanese music and interact with a wide variety of people, which allowed me to practice both formal and informal Japanese. At the end of the semester, me and the other KCJS students who were learning instruments at Greenwich House had the opportunity to perform at a traditional Noh theater.

I made so many amazing memories during my time at Greenwich House, and I would highly recommend this CIP experience to incoming students. My advice to incoming KCJS students is to give yourself grace when it comes to making mistakes, both in terms of language speaking and in terms of doing your CIP activity itself.

Rachel Collins: Calligraphy

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This semester, I decided to attend Calligraphy lessons for my CIP activity. In these classes, my teacher would give me kanji, kana, and hiragana practice, and walk me through all of the details that go into creating a beautiful piece. I found the class to be incredibly rewarding, despite the challenge of writing in such a precise manner. My teacher helped me learn the importance of patience, and taking time to slow down to fully understand each step in the process. From her class, I’ve taken time to emphasize the importance of patience in every aspect of my study abroad experience.

Therefore, my advice to incoming students would be to slow down. It’s tempting to rush into the excitement of a new experience, eager to do everything perfectly, but the learning process requires time. No matter what you do, take the time to deeply understand what you’re learning, and you’ll see yourself improve even faster!

Christine Kang: Volunteer at Mitsuba Kindergarten

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I volunteered at Mitsuba Kindergarten, a local preschool in Kyoto, where I spent time each week interacting with children aged 3 to 6. My responsibilities included playing games, drawing, singing songs, helping with origami, assisting children with snack time and bathroom trips, and participating in their daily routines alongside the other teachers. I was essentially a “sensei” figure to the kids, helping out wherever needed while using the opportunity to practice and improve my Japanese.

The experience was both heartwarming and humbling. While the children were incredibly affectionate—often drawing me pictures, hugging me, or sitting in my lap—there were also moments when the language barrier made me feel unsure or overwhelmed. I struggled at first with basic vocabulary and knowing how to communicate in a way kids would understand, but over time I gained confidence by listening carefully, asking questions, and even laughing along with them when I made mistakes. I also learned a lot about Japanese culture, especially how structure and rule-following are emphasized even from such a young age.

I highly recommend Mitsuba Kindergarten to students who enjoy working with children and want to practice their Japanese in a natural and supportive environment. It helps to go in with an open mind, a playful spirit, and the willingness to learn—not just language, but how to communicate and connect without always having the right words.

Dake LaSala: Weaving

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This semester I got the chance to learn to weave under 河崎先生. After learning to weave, I spent many hours a week working on projects. I had a lot of artistic freedom, so it would be great for people who want to create something in their own vision while receiving assistance! I had so much fun. I would recommend that those doing this CIP be explicit with the amount of time they are willing to invest from the beginning. Many weeks I was at weaving for 12 hours. I was okay with that, but it could be hard if you weren’t meaning to be doing your CIP for that much time. I will say you do have to invest a significant amount of time if you actually want to finish projects.