changing impressions~

I have to say that my impression of japan has not changed but to say that  maybe my impression has grown. I never came to japan with a set idea that this is what japan is and this is all there is. I came here with an open mind and ready to learn. I feel that living here for the past four months has been one of the best experiences in my life. I will never forget the wonderful people I have met or the wonderful places I have been. Everyday was a new experience and I will treasure these memories always. I hope to one day return to this country and maybe even live here. who knows what lies ahead but I know some where down this road it will lead me back to Japan.

Politics!!

If there is something that I don't really know anything about, it would be politics. Here in Japan when you walk the streets you see posters everywhere of the people who are running for positions and also unlike in the US people drive around in cars with loud speakers asking the people in the community to vote for them. They also will stand on the street corner talking to people who walk by and sometimes you can see them cleaning up the streets. This is the only place you can see this kind of thing taking place it also happens in the schools as well. There is one person who is running and they have a sort of helper to help talk on there behalf. They also go to each classroom and ask the students for their vote and they stand at the front gates to welcome the students and teachers and then after about a week they have a meeting for all students when they give their speeches and then the students cast their votes. This form resembles a lot of what the adults do. Its very interesting how serious they take it here.

Sports

In japan sports I would say are a big thing especially in the schools. Schools believe in balancing knowledge and exercise. Meaning if student are all work and no play they won't be able to move forward in their studies with the energy to learn. Thus almost every school in Japan encourage (makes) their students join a club.

Also in Japan they have sports day which is a huge event. Students from all around the city come together to compete against each other. Students prepare for weeks and maybe even months. It's really like watching the super bowl but only better!

Clubs take up a huge part of the students time. My little sisters come home around 6 or 7 and some times even later. But clubs give the students a chance to interact with people outside of the class and get to experience what it's like to be a and/ 先輩or こうはい.  The relationship between these two are very strong not only playing their sports but also in school. Clubs or sports provide many things besides a way to stay healthy and fit but also learning experiences.

Gender

In Japan the term gender means something more than just a classification of male and female, as it does all over the world. But in Japan about a long time ago the role for women was to stay home to take care of the house/land and the children. While the role for men was to go to work and bring home the bread so to speak. This image that we as Americans have had in our head for the longest time is that  japan is still like this even today. A lot has changed since then and some not so much. What I mean by this is that by law men and women in Japan are to be treated as equals and women can now work just as men. The only thing is that when a women becomes married and starts her family the boss and works almost pressure her to leave so that she can be a mother to her kids. It's looked down on to work when you have a small child.



Also recently when I was traveling and meeting people a new group of friends of mine acted in a way I had never seen. When the men were thirsty the women filled there drinks and they would all sit the same way and they would act almost as a hostess of a party. It was so surprising for me.

Also at my house my mom is a stay at home mom and from what I've seen and heard its not as easy as you would think. In the morning after all 5 of the kids (counting me) come home, the house is trashed with clothes, backpacks, papers and toys. But by the time we come home everything is spick and span it has almost a shine to it.  She also takes care of all of the laundry and dishes and with 7 people there's a lot! She also the head mother over the club activities thing ~ I was kinda confused when she told me what she did.  I also she her taking care of accounting and outside work. So being a stay at home mom isn't as easy as you thought right!  I really believe women are like super moms ! Because even if and when women go back to work they still have to take care of all everything when they stayed at home.  Gender what a crazy thing it is.

Globalization~!

Today in class we actually talked a little bit on this topic. To me the term globalization is when a community or country integrate traits or behaviors outside their normal from other countries. Also when I think of the word I think many countries working together, but my ideas may be different from others. Today in class someone said that their idea of the term is that by learn and studying English they are working towards becoming a more globalized community. Because English is a global language.

religion

I have to say I personally don't like talking about religion in general. I believe people have the right to believe in what or who they want to if they want to at all. In Japan people believe in a couple of different things the most popular here seems like Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity and lastly nothing at all. In some peoples houses they have shrines for the members of their families that have passed and they give offerings to them such as food. Also even if people don't have  really have a religion people still go to shrines for certain occasions such as new years or for naming children.

Pop culture?

The first thing that pops into my mind when I hear Pop Culture as in things that are popular now. To me that is music. The kind of music that is popular in America is definitely different  then what is popular here in Japan. For Example in America right now you could definitely say that Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj and many other artists of this time. I asked one of my friends here in Morioka what his idea of pop culture was he replied back along the same lines as me only adding more to it. He said to me pop culture is what is popular now he said of course music, but not only that you have to think fashion. He then went into talking about food and how much he likes certain things but that's for a different time. So anyways back to the point. He said fashion plays a major role in each generation. Your either in or your out.
In Japan if you go to any combini (convenient store) or honya (book store) you will find amongst the shelves a huge supply of fashion magazines. In these magazines they show you what types of clothes are cool or in and what goes with what.
They also give make up,dating and hair care tips. Our ideas of pop culture are slightly different, but also kinda the same.