AKELA PEOPLESSponsored by Mississauga Rotary Club
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| "One Life...One chance" A famous Japanese proverb says "EASY COME...EASY GO". However, it was not easy for me to leave Osaka, Japan. Our four week Rotary International Group Study Exchange was filled with many new and memorable experiences. It is difficult to effectively capture all of the incredible impressions and happenings in a few pages... I was dressed in a beautiful Kimono, attended the Takarazuka girls Opera, rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) and enjoyed the beautiful Sakura (cherry blossoms). I had the honour of attending Sumo Wrestling and the emotional experience of visiting Hiroshima. But by far the most impressionable part of this experience was the people and the relationships that have evolved as a result. I have made many new friends on the other side of the world and some very special ones right here in Canada - my GSE team members. Together, we experienced the trip of a lifetime - we learned, explored, experienced, laughed, cried, and bonded in so many special ways. But first... some brief information about our friends on the other side of this world and the incredible month that we spent in their country. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Hospitality Almost immediately, I observed the very strong desire on the part of our Rotary hosts to display the very best of Japan and their culture to our GSE team. We were welcomed from the heart and escorted from the airport to the Hotel New Otani, the same hotel that Mr. Mulroney stayed in when he was Prime Minister. This hotel was beautiful and became our Home away from home, as we were lucky enough to be staying in it every weekend between home stay visits. It gave us a well-needed weekly opportunity to recharge our batteries and regroup with team members. From that time on, we were treated to the best restaurants, chauffeur driven cars, top-notch service and constant attention to details to ensure that our every need was met. Japanese Rotarians show their guests the best of their country and spare no expense to ensure a comfortable, valuable and meaningful experience. Sensory overload Although I have traveled to many interesting places in our world, I have never experienced a feeling of sensory overload. This land is filled with unfamiliar sights, sounds, textures, tastes and scents. For the first time in my life, I experienced what it must feel like to be illiterate as I had not the slightest inkling of what was being conveyed on street signs, menus or in store windows. I have only ever been to countries where the language is based on the Roman Alphabet and, therefore, one can often surmise at least some of what is being conveyed. Because the Japanese language is character based (Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji) and contains more than 4000 characters, it is next to impossible to learn a great deal about the written language in a short period of time. I believe that this sensory overload is a contributing factor in our team feeling constantly tired. It is demanding on your senses yet exciting at the same time. Day-to day life Japanese people are always early, at least by 15 minutes. Trains are scheduled to leave at strange times (i.e. 10:23am or 5:17pm) and you can be sure that, to the minute, they will be prompt. No time for dallying! People move very quickly and with great purpose and, although by Canadian standards I am a fast walker, I often found myself RUNNING to keep up with Osaka people. I have learned that they are the second fastest walkers in the world; first place winners are people from Tokyo! At some street crossings, there is a large digital sign that counts down from 60 seconds to tell pedestrians how much longer they have to wait before crossing the street! The society has almost no physical contact in both professional and personal environments. Of course, the well-known bow is very prevalent and shaking hands is not proper etiquette, although, sometimes, people would offer a handshake to us because of our western affiliation. Once in a while, we would observe a very young couple hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm, but it was neither common nor considered appropriate. The bathing experience is quite different from our regular routine in Canada. People most often bath at night before bed and there is a communal hot bath to soak in after showering for relaxation purposes. I hesitate, but must mention, that the toilets are a wonderful experience! Let's just say that the heated seats and the personal sprays of various angles and blow dryers are something to remember! Our team could not understand why these have not yet been imported to Canada. Shoes may never be worn in the house and slippers are worn everywhere inside except on tatami mats (made of straw - traditional Japanese flooring) which were in most homes in some rooms. Slippers must be changed when using the bathroom - there are communal slippers placed conveniently inside the bathroom door for this purpose. Some common practices that our team found difficult to get used to - slurping both soup and noodles is considered polite, as is the lifting of small dishes to your mouth as you eat. Use of a tissue in public is not polite so sniffing is. Sitting on knees is common at tables in both homes and restaurants and can be physically difficult after some time. Nodding of the head occurs often even if the spoken word being conveyed is no. I am sure we had equally strange habits that our Japanese friends found unusual. Some of the practices considered polite in our society in terms of the sexes were not part of the Japanese culture, and luckily we had some insight into this prior to our arrival in Japan. Men walk ahead of women and it was rare to have a door held open, a bag carried or a hand offered in retrieving a coat. Having recognized these differences, many of our hosts did try to comply with our cultural norms rather than their own in our presence. The male on our team was treated slightly differently than the females simply due to norms in Japanese society. He was usually introduced first and seated in the most prominent places and sometimes offered things that we weren't. We loved the opportunity to tease our dear team member about this regular occurrence, much to his annoyance! Women do have a distinctly different place in the Japanese society compared to Canada and we met almost no females in prominent positions in the work force. Food The Japanese diet is much healthier than ours in Canada is. They eat a lot of fish, very little red meat and lots of vegetables. They, in general, eat much fewer fat and carbohydrates and almost no cheese or milk. I ate many things for the first time such as jellyfish, abalone, raw baby squid, raw meat and sea urchin. I discovered many new tastes such as momijioroshi, ponz and even nutto. The former is wonderful zesty sauces that I fell in love with and the latter is fermented (rotten) beans - these I could do without! I must admit that by the third week, although I enjoy sushi, I was looking forward to some North American food and, thankfully, some of my host families had anticipated this. Cleanliness I noticed very early that Osaka is a very clean place. I can not recall seeing any garbage in public areas or graffiti on walls. This is truly amazing when you consider the population density and the limited space available. I watched in utter amazement as I saw employees vacuuming the subway station! Safety I always felt very safe in Osaka and it was amazing to see very young children ride the subway alone without worry. I was never concerned about my personal belongings. I was told often that it is common upon losing something in Japan, to return to exactly where it was left and there was a very good chance that it would probably be found in exactly the same place. It was interesting that each morning at our home stays, a knock would be heard on the door (usually about 15 minutes earlier than scheduled) and a man or sometimes two would appear who, more than often, spoke not a word of English. Although I had never met the person(s), I would happily and without concern jump into the car and be driven to an unknown location sometimes an hour away. I never knew where I was going or who I was going with but I always knew I was in good hands. Unfortunately, I have difficulty imaging the same situation in Canada. The Family As Binding Fabric Of Society I was especially impressed by the strength of the family unit in Japan and although there seems to be concern about rebelling among the younger generations, it was easy to observe that the family is the binding fabric of their society. Respect for superiors and elders is very prevalent and I believe that this is a very special characteristic of the Japanese culture. Canadians can learn much from our friends in Japan in this area. Work Ethic, Business Culture And The Workplace One of my first impressions of Osaka was derived during our trip from the airport to our hotel. At 7:30pm on a Friday night, the office buildings (sky scratches as our hosts called them) along the highways were filled with men still working! Apparently, overtime is expected and is a normal part of the work force. The whole employer-employee relationship is distinctly different from ours in Canada. This is a relationship that is expected to last the duration of a career. Job or career hopping is non-existent. If a worker leaves a company, their loyalty will be questioned should they be seeking another job elsewhere. Loyalty is, therefore, woven into the work ethic. All salaries, benefits, vacation time and other particulars are standardized and there are no contracts. Employees do not apply for promotions, they are appointed so they must prove themselves. As a result, the service at restaurants and stores is usually excellent. Technology Obviously, this was very impressive. Most cars had satellite tracking devices and televisions, very small cell phones were everywhere (heavily marketed to even the preteen group) and computers and laptops were half the size of Canadian ones. Televisions were only a few centimetres thick and even parking lots were computerized with no attendant and robotics taking the car to and from the parking spot. With a push of a button in the living room, the bathtub was automatically filled to exactly the right level and precisely the right temperature. (After use, it automatically adjusts the water level and temperature.) It is no surprise that this list could go on and on... Gift Giving This is overwhelming! There is no other way to describe it. It is an integral part of their culture and we were delighted to be able to reciprocate these kind gestures. HOME STAYS For me, these personal experiences were perhaps the most memorable part of this adventure. We were fortunate enough to be staying with a different family each week from Sunday to Saturday and had the wonderful luxury of relaxing back at our hotel each weekend. Each family taught me new Japanese words and they learned some English. Together, we shared first-hand information about life in our respective countries as well as personal information about family values and traditions. I tried many new foods as my hosts waited in anticipation of the outcome - did I like it or not?? These experiences were highlighted by much laughter and wonderful conversations in broken Japanese-English. On reflection, I was delighted to have had such uniquely different families to stay with as I came away with a broad perspective of Japanese life in the family home. Despite language barriers, strong bonds were formed and every Saturday brought about the dreaded time to bid farewell to my Japanese parents and siblings. Tears took me by surprise (both my own tears and others) on every good-bye day as I tried to express my gratitude and appreciation to each family. For a brief period of time...I lived another life or at least lived in someone else's shoes. They say you cannot understand another person until you walk in their shoes. Through these home stays, I believe I have gained some real and personal understanding of the Japanese way of life, an existence that I have now a great deal of respect for. Staying only in a hotel would have been an entirely different experience, lacking in this depth of understanding. It is my hope that I had as powerful an impact on my new friends as they had on me. I have some indication that this may be so. Although I have extensive experience speaking in public, one of the most difficult moments of the trip was my farewell speech. In a brief few minutes, I had to somehow, through a language barrier, convey to my home stay families how every much they had come to mean to me in such a very short time and how they were, for me, the most special part of my Japan experience. Equally as difficult, was the airport farewell which seemed to last forever. I battled tears and intense emotions as I struggled with the social etiquette and the appropriateness of good-bye hugs. Interestingly, I received a hug (common in our society between close friends - unheard of in Japanese society) from every Parent and sibling I had stayed with. I guess there are times when emotions supersede social etiquette. I am truly grateful to the families that volunteered to host me. I have made some very special friends on the other side of the world and I look forward to years of communications and we update each other on happenings in our lives. VOCATIONAL STUDY Early in my career as a classroom teacher in Canada, I had the opportunity to teach many Japanese students in high school and I was always very impressed with their work ethic. This trip has allowed me to gain an understanding of the roots of their dedication to schoolwork. The common goal of entrance into a top university and the emphasis placed on examinations even at a very early age, requires students and their families to focus on academic achievement at least until university or college. The school week is 6 days long and most students attend a JUKU after school hours, sometimes daily for 3 - 5 hours. The juku system in privatized and these after hours schools serve only to prepare students for entrance examinations into the private school system. I had the pleasure of visiting a juku and observed a class of students aged 5 and 6 preparing for their entrance examination into private elementary school!!! The competition is fierce and even at this very young age, students are exposed to the importance and significance placed on exams and successfully Making it to a private school which will, in turn, lead them to a successful job. Jukus do not exist in Canada and it was very valuable for me to recognize both differences and similarities in the way we educate our youth. I also visited a preschool that was run by a Buddhist temple and watched in amazement as 60 children, aged 3, 4 and 5, meditated for 14 minutes with not a sound or a movement in the room! The discipline that is instilled in Japanese children at a very early age is incredible and our school system could benefit from both this and the sense of respect that is easily observed in youth even at this very early age. Other differences are notable. There is less emphasis on social development and the arts in the Japanese school system compared to our Ontario schools. I never saw students sitting in groups - always rows - and never in a discussion-based format. To my surprise, there was a distinct absence of technology in schools. My preconceived notion was that I would see laptops on every desk but not so. I believe these are areas that our Japanese friends can learn from us. It was fascinating for me to observe both similarities and differences in the way we educate our youth. NEXT TIME AROUND My advice to someone who is lucky enough to be preparing for a GSE Exchange to Japan would be the following: Oh Sakura..Oh Sakura Hope that your trip is scheduled during Sakura (cherry blossom) season. I am convinced that it is the best time of year to experience Japan Time Commitment The time needed for preparation was much greater than any of our team members anticipated. Our team met every Saturday and every Tuesday night for more than two months. Be sensitive than this can potentially cause strain on both personal and professional commitments and, especially in the three weeks prior to departure, can become stressful. Luggage, Clothes And Other Necessities Pack less than you think you will need. You will be carrying your luggage around a lot from hotel to host families and back again and it gets very heavy! Take ONLY ONE CASE. Select a casual uniform that is still dressy by Canadian standards. You never know when you are escorted, unexpectedly into a top-notch restaurant and I often felt underdressed and therefore very uncomfortable. Even on casual days (i.e. visiting temples etc.) our hosts were always in suits. I would suggest a casual blazer that can be dressed up with dress pants or a skirt. You will be wearing a suit most days (probably your Rotary uniform). Jeans are not really needed as they are too casual - you will mostly be in a business environment even on Casual days - and don't forget comfortable shoes, as you will be walking a lot. Take vitamins before and during your trip as the change in diet, pace and lifestyle may have a tendency to Wear you down. Take a natural sleep aid for the first few nights to help you adjust quickly as the time change is a killer! Carry tissues with you at all times as some washroom facilities have no paper towels. Japanese people carry a hanky to dry hands in public washrooms. Oh, You Shouldn't Have!!! Select your gifts carefully and intelligently. You will need MANY so take items that travel easy and are not heavy. Pay special attention to wrapping and select something that can easily be assembled but looks well put together. Take hundreds (no joke!) And take more than you think you will need. Our leather key chains, leather coasters, chocolate maple leafs and rotary wheels were all well received. ALWAYS have a few extra on hand, wrapped and Ready to go. You will never know how many hosts you will have on a given day. Do not even consider taking books as gifts unless you are sending them ahead. They are very heavy! We learned the hard way! Sushi Anyone?? The Japanese diet is much healthier than ours is - less fat and carbohydrates. Some of our team members always felt hungry even though we ate like kings and queens. Take a jar of peanut butter, granola bars,chocolate and instant oatmeal. These are good fillers if you need something extra and they also give you a quick Canadian fix. Applaud! Applaud! Use PowerPpoint and scan in photos, if possible, for your group presentation. Our High technology presentation was most appropriate for Japan. But CAUTION - begin the process of creating the presentation very early and aim to have it completed one month before you leave. Our team also learned the first few sentences of our personal presentations in Japanese and it was greatly appreciated by our Japanese hosts Write to the Ministry of Economic Development or the Ministry of Travel and Tourism and have them provide each team member with a promotional video about life in Ontario in Japanese. These were a big hit with host families and our team incorporated a 4 minute section of the video into our group presentation and it was the highlight!! Just A Quick Note... Be strict with yourself to keep up with your journal DAILY as you will quickly forget names and interesting happenings. Bring Appropriate Greetings From Your City And Sponsoring Rotary Clubs Ask your sponsoring Rotary club to provide you with more club flags than you expect to use...extra visits may be added to your itinerary after you arrive. Write to your city mayor and ask for a gift and letter of greetings to take to the mayor of the city you will be visiting. (I did this well in advance to give the mayor ample time to prepare it) Even if not scheduled, an impromptu visit might be arranged when you arrive and you need to be prepared. You'll need two of these if your city has a sister city in Japan that is close to where you will be visiting Make it a priority to visit your local economic development office and ask for promotional brochures about your city and information about Japanese companies in the area. (These were great for conversation with host families and Rotarians.) Click...Click...Click-Click-Click-Click Expect to take many pictures and be sure to get doubles of them all to exchange with your team members. Purchase an instant team camera and get extra copies made upon return. This way, you are not all taking photos of the same thing. There were daily opportunities for team pictures and it was a great way to save time! Also, be aware that if you ask anyone in Japan to take your picture for you, they will always want to take TWO!! Honesty Is The Best Policy Early on, make a pact with your team to be very open and honest about anything and everything in terms of planning, scheduling, decisions, etc. You will be spending a great deal of time together and seemingly small issues can often become big issues that are more difficult to deal with. You will be thankful in the end if you always respect each other's opinions and feelings, no matter how small a concern may seem to be. Back To Reality Expect to be completely exhausted when you return. Make sure you have at least two days off before returning to work and it will take about a week to return to your regular sleep patterns. Maintain communications with your host families. Send them extra photographs of your experiences with them. They will love it! When In Rome... Have an open mind and try as many new things as possible - especially the food. You will be surprised what you like!! UPON RETURN The trip was so overwhelming that in some ways it felt like a wonderful dream. I felt like I had been transported to a magical place that was in another world. In many ways, this was exactly what had happened. The jet lag was something else coming back. Even after a week, I wasn't back into my regular sleeping schedule and I could not get bowing out of my system for a very long time. Weeks after returning, I still found myself bowing at the end of meetings and even informal conversations. Needless to say, my colleagues got quite a kick out of this! I felt a slight Withdrawal syndrome with regards to may team members. All of a sudden, we had no dates to schedule, issues to resolve, decisions to make.... It was very strange! WHERE TO FROM HERE? We are fortunate that our new friendships have tremendous potential as new technologies allow us to communicate around the world with ease and efficiency. Even a decade ago, it would not have been so simple to maintain friendships on the other side of the world. Two months after our return, I am still receiving emails and phone calls from host families and new friends. I suspect that this will continue for many years to come! As I stated earlier, my team members have also become very special friends. Together, we experienced an incredible journey in both personal discovery and international understanding. We also, I can state confidently, represented our Rotary District, Ontario and Canada with grace and professionalism. I was proud to be part of such a talented and Honourable team. They each hold a special and unique place in my heart and I believe that we will maintain a friendship for years to come! IN CLOSING Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous organizational abilities of the Japanese GSE committee and especially Matsuoka-san. Every detail was attended to, every effort was made and no expense spared to ensure we had a worthwhile and educational experience. Your hours and hours of hard work resulted in an excellent schedule and a well-balanced exchange. Your hospitality was greatly appreciated and I thank you for memories and learning that will last a lifetime. Another Japanese proverb says, ONE LIFE... ONE CHANCE and I am glad that in my life I have had the chance to visit Osaka, Japan. But I sincerely hope that, in this case, the proverb is not true and that I have another chance sometime in the future to visit this very special place with so many very special people. As both our countries strive for excellence as we move towards the new millennium, we have much to share and learn form each other. The friendship, kindness and warmth of Japanese Rotarians in District 2660 will be remembered by me always. Dommo arigato goziamashita!!! |
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