2002-01-30 - 10:44 p.m.
Yesterday marked six months of me being in Japan. Occasionally I’ll pass something that reminds me of the first few weeks of my time here in the summer and I’ll suddenly remember my total bewilderment and cluelessness during that period. In some ways I feel like I’ve spent the last six months on another planet, having been abducted by aliens -- most people at home have no idea what my life is like here and the strange new world I’m living in. I went to a JET conference last week and was struck by the idea that all of these normal-looking people -- my fellow JETs -- were actually my fellow abductees. Our families and friends back home can’t even imagine. (Lela writes well about the emotional state of a 6-month-on JET http://lela712.diaryland.com)
My adult class continues to be the highlight of my week. Yesterday I brought in a Denny’s menu from America and used a clip of the Peach Pit from “Beverly Hills 90210” to illustrate the diner: a unique institution among American restaurants. On Friday I’ll be doing a listening exercise with the 9th graders at my junior high using Britney Spears’ song, “Lucky.” Things I did at work today: played English Jeopardy for 3 classes in a row; transcribed and typed out lyrics to above Britney Spears song (trying to look professional while listening to discman); drew paper dolls to teach “clothing” to elementary school kids; made a Valentine’s Day card activity for elementary school kids; explained “eenie meenie mienie mo” to an English teacher; cleaned out my desk and organized teaching activities; made repeated trips to the kitchen to get coffee and check for snacks (none were put out today). Some days I just can’t bring myself to study Japanese.
In a major event coinciding with my six month mark in Japan (that was a joke), Prime Minister Koizumi has dismissed his foreign minister, the wildly popular but much-harassed Makiko Tanaka. She was the highest ranking female public official in Japan, and it seems she opened her mouth one too many times. (She spoke out against the exclusion of two NGOs from talks on Afghanistan last week, saying that they were banned because they criticized the government; in response lawmakers stalled the passage of the budget, forcing Koizumi to step in and resolve the standoff). The news was always full of criticism of her -- one night they reported that she was 10 minutes late to a meeting. But the daughter of a popular former prime minister, she was loved by the public, and is credited with helping Koizumi ascend to power in the first place. After Tanaka made a tearful statement to the press, Koizumi made a statement claiming that “tears are a woman’s greatest weapon,” causing a polite uproar from other female cabinet members. In all, this seems to be a blow to Koizumi, as many people are saying that either a) he shouldn’t have fired Tanaka; b) he should be faulted for not firing her a long time ago; or c) he is to blame for the problems in the first place.
The other big story on the news tonight was the closing of Japan’s last coal mine. 1500 people in Hokkaido (that’s up north) will lose their jobs, and for many the concern is not only the weak economy, but their age. One man interviewed said that he feels it will be nearly impossible for him to find another job at his age -- he is 39. My friend Saori, who is being laid off from an international shipping company in May, is worried about finding a new job because by that time she will have turned 30. Apparently many companies have policies which discriminate against people over age 29, and this is a real problem for those who are older. Women, I am told, have it especially rough in regards to age.
On Friday I’ll finish up at junior high #3, and on Monday I start at my fourth school. This new school which requires a long and early train ride, is in “sugoi inaka,” which means it is way, way, WAY out in the sticks. It is far inland in farm country, and while this is the newest school in Kimitsu, built only a few years ago, it is also the smallest, with only 60 students. Though I’ve been told I will hate the train ride, I’m looking forward to the reading time. Though perhaps in catching the 7:07 AM train everyday I will be to tired to do anything except listen to Britney Spears.
