Having Fun in Matsumoto
Looking back over my photographs of Japan, I realise that I have yet to talk about my experiences in the city of Matsumoto with my host sister and her fiance.
As my host sister was not, in fact, living in the same house as I was (she has graduated from college and is living with her fiance) I didn't get to see her that often, which was a shame because she was such an exciting, interesting, and friendly person. Our first meeting occoured at my house (or should I say Japanese house?) about two or three weeks into my stay. We got along very well, and she was kind enough to invite me on a day out to explore the city in which she lives.
Matsumoto, in comparison to Suwa, is a big city, and so had a very different atmosphere to what I had come to associate with Japanese towns. The streets were far wider, buildings taller, and even the fashion was a little more 'out there'. It was also interesting to see Japan from the perspective of people who were younger that my host parents but older that my peers at school. I certainly noticed more of a western influence in their lifestyle in regard to waking hours, interior decoration, food, etc.
Our group was four in total; Myself, my host sister, her fiance, and his friend. We begain our morning making traditional soba noodles from scratch (which we then, of course, ate), followed by a trip to Matsumoto Jo, one of Japan's most famous castles. Next we visited a very famous primary school that was the first western-style educational facility in Japan, which has now been transformed into a rater exelent museum. After stoping for a fifteen-inch diameter burger (no kidding!) we went on a small shopping spree. I think it was a good thing that the shops closed at six, because otherwise I would have spent all my money in one go! We spent a few hours on the train talking, had dinner, and, after a brief stop over at their appartment, made our way home. We had such a good time that we ended up coming back two three hours later that originally intended!
Appologies for my many spelling mistakes, I'm afraid I am rather weighed down at the moment with preperation for my first day of college, and so my brain is a little on the slow side at the moment!
- Rebecca Bourke's blog
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Thanks Again :)
Hi again Rebecca!
Thank you very much for your long reply, your experience is just fascinating!
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I have been kept very busy.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the interview stage this year. I would have liked to have been able to talk to you 'in the flesh' about all that you must have seen! If you were on the judging panel, I hope you had fun (^o^)
I want to go on to do Japanese in collage, so I was wondering if you were doing a similar course, and if you found it interesting.
Other than that, I wish all the best to this year's candidate! Thank you for all your help,
Jessica
What to do? What to do?
Hi Rebecca,
I was absolutely blown away when I heard about the Travel Awards and being able to go to Japan or Ecuador. It is something i just can't get out of my mind. Your blogs make me even more excited aswell.
But then I worry if I'm good enough to be selected. They say they wan't somebody involved in community work and such but i wasn't born with a collecting bucket in hand, if you catch my drift. It was only last year, in 5th year, that I became involved with Concern's Campaigning Academy.
With a two others I attended four campaigning workshops around Ireland and we ran a kind of awareness week in our scool for first years, which could have gone bettter. We even went to Brussels to present a declaration to the Minister for Trade on Child Labour. Since then i've been really interested in human rights.
However i dont if its what theyre looking for. I stilll have so much to learn and i would probably crumble in a big debate. I've never taken a front seat in these things and i dont know if i can compete with other people who have better qualifications, so to speak.
I'd love to hear your advice on my predicament!
Syanara (or Konichiwa? Crap!),
Stephen.
Hi, Jessica, Of course I
Hi, Jessica,
Of course I remember you! Hope that you're keeping well and that sixth year isn't getting you down too much; it'll all be over soon!
I'm glad you've enjoyed reading my blog; it's so nice to hear that writing about my experience in Japan is having a positive effect.
I think you've 'hit the nail on the head' with what you said. Seeing everything 'come alive' was the most magical, exciting, and rewarding experience I have ever had. I always enjoyed studying Japanese in school and working hard to get good grades in it, but going to the country and 'living the dream', seeing scenes I had only imagined, speaking the language for the purpose of communication, was beyond anything that I had ever experienced in the classroom! Every day was its own mini-adventure, and even the most mundane activities became a source of endless fascination; I don't think I would ever class going to the super-market at home as an exhilarating experience!
Presenting Ireland to the people I met was certainly a challenge, but a very enjoyable one. I presented to a number of different groups on a number of different occasions, and also had many casual conversations about my country with those I encountered.
Before departing I prepared a power-point presentation on Ireland which gave a basic overview of our country and culture. I included many pictures, videos, and pieces of music in it as I felt they were a good way to overcome the language barrier, as well as being engaging (the children especially seemed to enjoy Irish music).I spoke about various topics including music, geography, famous Irish figures, cuisine, school, etc. The information I gave was not too in-depth because quite a lot of people were barley even aware of Ireland's existence! The main purpose was to give a general overview of our culture and lifestyle.
I brought along my trusty tin-whistle, intending to play a few tunes, but, unfortunately, it was damaged on the way over, rendering it unplayable! That was certainly a disappointment. I also brought Irish flags, postcards of my city, C.Ds of Irish music, and other small souvenirs to distribute as small tokens to people I encountered. People were also very enthused and interested when I spoke to them 'as Gailge'.
I documented my house, neighbourhood, and school visually to give my host-family an insight into my life, and I found this was a great conversation-starter. The smallest things would provoke conversation, I remember talking with my host-mother for hours about how long our school-skirts were compared to Japanese girls'!
The degree of knowledge varied from person to person, but for the most-part people would give me a slightly perplexed look when I mentioned Ireland, and then say something along the lines of 'ahhh, the one next to England!' when I explained it to them. On the flip-side, I met many people who had lived and worked in Ireland for many years, or who had vacationed there at some point.
As regards EIL being a stepping-stone, you are one-hundred percent right! Since my departure I have been e-mailing my host family on a weekly basis, sharing what's being going on in my world and keeping up with theirs. Not only is it a great method of continuing to improve my Japanese, it is so nice to know that that world is not gone from my life, and that I'm still being thought of. There is no doubt in my mind that I will go back there in the future.
Phew! I like to talk, don't I! I hope that I've answered at least some of your questions, and please don't hesitate to reply if you have any more.
Hi there Rebecca
Jessica O'Sullivan here, I hope you can remember me from the EIL interviews last April.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! It sounds fantastic! It must have been amazing seeing everything you'd been learning about and working so hard for, coming alive in front of you. I had fun just reading about it!
I know you've already written so much, but theres always more I'd love to know, if you don't mind me asking. What kind of talks did you give about Ireland? Did you have the chance to start interactive displays like Irish dancing or playing tin whistle? Did they know much about Ireland before you came? What did they most enjoy?
Anyway I'm sure you're busy with collage now. (And here I am thinking my Leaving Cert year is tough work!) Did you choose to do a Japan related course? will you be going back there in the future? I'd love to think as the EIL programme as a stepping stone to further cross-culture developments, for everyone involved.
Thanks again for your entries. Please blog back if you have time!
Jessica O'Sullivan