Ascribed Identity: Slow, hardworking, leader, quiet, pink and Disney lover, kind/caring/sweet, I like challenging/brave
Avowal Identity: slow and fast, hardworking, leader, lazy, pink and Disney lover, afraid of new things, Asian
Many people, especially my friends in Japan, ascribe me as a slow person, and this is the same as I think, but in different places and at times. I have not liked to be rushed in Japan. I always walk slowly because I like to see the view or shops around me, and I act slowly. Always my friends used to wait for me to get ready to go home together after school. However, I don’t think I’m that slow when in the United States. Many American people walk so fast, and eat so fast, and I don’t like to be left since I feel kind of guilty to keep others wait for me. Some of my friends have told me that I eat faster than before.
I didn’t think I was hardworking until two year college in Japan. In Japan, students have to take hard exams to enter college or university, and students tend to be lazy in college or university after those exams. In my case, I had decided to study abroad in the US, so I studied English hard and I worked so hard to get better scores in school. Many classmates told me that I was working hard, and I also realized that I was. On the other hand, I also like to be lazy on the weekends or when I have time. I like spend time watching silly TV shows and sleeping a lot.
While in college, my classmates in college thought I was a good leader and I admit that I was a leader even though I don’t know if I was good. When we had a festival in college, I was a leader of my class to perform dance. Every other leaders in my class were not responsible, and I couldn’t help being irresponsible for my work. It was surprising to me that I could work well as a leader. I used to think that I was not kind of person who leads others until high school, since I was slow and I thought I liked to follow others. Since that, I have worked to run some events and for classes or school.
My friends, family and I recognize that I like pink and Disney. Many of my stuff, like laptop, pen case, backpack, pillow and bed sheets, and so on, are pink. I have so many things with Disney characters. Therefore, they also think I am sweet. It also helps them think I am sweet that my hobby is scrapping and I like to make cards for my friends. However, I just do it because I like it and I’m happy to see their smiles, and I don’t do it to be sweet. It’s just a part of my hobby.
Some of my friends in America think I am quiet, which I don’t think I am. I am quieter in the US especially when I talk with so many American students since I’m afraid to make English mistakes in front of many others and to be assertive like many Americans. I want to talk, but I’m too sensitive about standing out because we are taught not to be so due to our culture. It might be true that I am quiet, but I talk a lot with my best friends in the US and when I’m alone with just a few people. I also tend to be talkative while in Japan and never be quiet.
My friends and professors in Japan think that I like challenging and new things. It is because I chose to go abroad to study which means living apart from my family and friends in a new place and going to school there. They say they can’t do it and I am brave. I was so determined about going to the States without hesitation, and I was looking forward to meeting new people and seeing another side of myself in a new place. On the other hand, I am always very afraid to start new things in my home country like starting a new part-time job. Sometimes I have to face difficulties when I’m in my home country and nobody hesitates to be strict because I’m expected to know basic knowledge and courtesy. To me it’s harder to face them in Japan than in America. People in America tend to be kind to me and try to tell me details, since I’m from other country.
I also have come to think that I’m from Asia when I see some differences with people in the US, like lifestyles, beliefs, and values.
Questions:
Have you realized your identity for the first time when others told you?
Have you ever noticed your other side when you’re in foreign country? If you have, what was it?
2010年6月3日木曜日
2010年5月30日日曜日
Daily Activity #4: History
This quiz was very tough for me. I was freaking out as soon as I looked through the questions, since I was not that familiar with other history besides Japan or a little bit about Asia. I felt ashamed that I could not answer to some of the ethnic names.
The easiest ethnic group for me to come up with was definitely Asian, especially male Asian. Since I lived in Japan for more than twenty years and was educated in Japan. The history class at school was mainly about our own history and sometimes the relationships with other countries. Of course, it’s easy to remember their names because it’s in my first language. Also, still there are TV dramas which describe historical people, so it was easy to think of them. The next easiest group was Asian female. The main reason is the same as Asian male, but it was harder to come up with female before 1700s. Whereas we learn many female historical people related to politics, women could not attend political events then. More females are recorded historically than female. Therefore, I didn’t have much knowledge about them like I do about Asian male.
The easier ethnic groups besides Asia were white and black. Japan has had a relationship with America since a long time ago, and we learned it at school. I could still remember some of people I learned. However, for black people, I came up with a person for only 2000s and 1900s. I know them because they are very famous of their working for human rights or job as a president. They were revolutionary in a long history. On the other hand, black people before 1800s didn’t cross my mind at all. I think this is because people were used as slavers and couldn’t attend political events.
I feel so embarrassed that I couldn’t answer at all for people of Latin and Middle East. All I know is a terrorist from Middle East. I don’t know any female from those areas. I think it’s because simply I didn’t learn about them much at school and because of my lack of interest.
I wasn’t educated in America and I studied history from Japanese side, so I don’t really know the history of the United States. However, I guess it was pretty much about white people including America itself and Europe since many people came from Europe. I suppose that Black ethnic group was not talked much until lately when some black people stood up for their rights. African Americans were forced to work as slavers and were discriminated as well. The mainstream of America was white Americans. Maybe people might have had not think it was important to know about them.
This quiz made me think of reviewing the rest of world history besides ethnic groups that I’m familiar with. There should be many important findings that I still don’t know.
Questions: I want to know what it was like to study history in the United States at school. Was it mainly about America? Did you also learn about Latin America or North America as well?
What do you think about differences between ethnic groups which were taught and were not taught at all at school? Do you think you would be interested if you needed to take classes about other ethnic group history?
The easiest ethnic group for me to come up with was definitely Asian, especially male Asian. Since I lived in Japan for more than twenty years and was educated in Japan. The history class at school was mainly about our own history and sometimes the relationships with other countries. Of course, it’s easy to remember their names because it’s in my first language. Also, still there are TV dramas which describe historical people, so it was easy to think of them. The next easiest group was Asian female. The main reason is the same as Asian male, but it was harder to come up with female before 1700s. Whereas we learn many female historical people related to politics, women could not attend political events then. More females are recorded historically than female. Therefore, I didn’t have much knowledge about them like I do about Asian male.
The easier ethnic groups besides Asia were white and black. Japan has had a relationship with America since a long time ago, and we learned it at school. I could still remember some of people I learned. However, for black people, I came up with a person for only 2000s and 1900s. I know them because they are very famous of their working for human rights or job as a president. They were revolutionary in a long history. On the other hand, black people before 1800s didn’t cross my mind at all. I think this is because people were used as slavers and couldn’t attend political events.
I feel so embarrassed that I couldn’t answer at all for people of Latin and Middle East. All I know is a terrorist from Middle East. I don’t know any female from those areas. I think it’s because simply I didn’t learn about them much at school and because of my lack of interest.
I wasn’t educated in America and I studied history from Japanese side, so I don’t really know the history of the United States. However, I guess it was pretty much about white people including America itself and Europe since many people came from Europe. I suppose that Black ethnic group was not talked much until lately when some black people stood up for their rights. African Americans were forced to work as slavers and were discriminated as well. The mainstream of America was white Americans. Maybe people might have had not think it was important to know about them.
This quiz made me think of reviewing the rest of world history besides ethnic groups that I’m familiar with. There should be many important findings that I still don’t know.
Questions: I want to know what it was like to study history in the United States at school. Was it mainly about America? Did you also learn about Latin America or North America as well?
What do you think about differences between ethnic groups which were taught and were not taught at all at school? Do you think you would be interested if you needed to take classes about other ethnic group history?
2010年5月29日土曜日
My Ethnicity
My answer to the questions is very simple. I am hundred percent Japanese. Most Japanese were born in Japan and were not from other countries. My parents were also born in Japan, and so were their parents. The Japanese live on a land composed of many islands and it was closed historically. We don’t see so many ethnicities in our country as people do in America. If I say exactly, my mother’s parents are from Amami islands which share a little different culture from the mainland. They share similar culture with Okinawa which was an independent country a long time ago. My father’s parents are from mainland but so close to Amami islands.
I don’t think those difference where we are from in the country, but I do think that my ethnicity as a Japanese influence who I am. Japanese people are pretty much influenced by Confucianism which came from China, Buddhism, and Shinto which we worship ancestors and nature gods. Like in China and Korea, collectivism is very much important to us. I really hadn’t realized this until lately since we took it for granted. However, I have realized that I am influenced by it so much as I spend time in the States. Whereas Western people tend to be assertive and directive, and an individual tends to stand out, Japanese people are not supposed to be and do so. To us, harmony with others is so important, and we should think of others like their feelings and faces before ourselves. I still struggle with speaking up in class and I tend to keep quiet when I am with so many people. This experience made me realize that I am influenced by our ethnicity through religion and culture.
I think that our appearance can tell where we are from and this causes some different communication styles. Asian culture treasures elder people and we respect them very much. It is normal to bow each other when we see older people than us and when we meet others for the first time. However, I don’t do that when I meet with Western people because they have another communication styles. One example that our ethnicity influences the way we communicate with us can be found when I meet with Korean people. We can tell that we’re from different countries by our slight differences of our faces and the different languages. When I see a Korean guy on campus, he always bows a little bit to me while waving his hand. He seems confused if he should have Western communication style or our Asian communication style. I also feel confused if I should bow to him because we know that we share the similar custom and I need to honor him because he’s older than me, but we’re not from the same country and we’re in America.
When once I was having dinner with a Korean friend, there were his friends to the next table coincidentally. My friends and other Koreans bowed each other, and his friends thought I was a Korean, too since they didn’t hear me speaking in Japanese then. I knew that they are from Korea, so I was not going to bow because we’re not from the same country. However, they bowed to me and I had to bow them back. It was interesting because they and I don’t usually bow to Western people even they’re older than us or when we meet for the first time.
When Asian students communicate with students from other Asian country, especially Eastern Asia, it is funny to see because we communicate in English but we share the Asian culture and the way of thinking and life.
Does age matter in communication styles when you communicate with others in your culture?
Do you think it is important to know what ethnic background you have?
I don’t think those difference where we are from in the country, but I do think that my ethnicity as a Japanese influence who I am. Japanese people are pretty much influenced by Confucianism which came from China, Buddhism, and Shinto which we worship ancestors and nature gods. Like in China and Korea, collectivism is very much important to us. I really hadn’t realized this until lately since we took it for granted. However, I have realized that I am influenced by it so much as I spend time in the States. Whereas Western people tend to be assertive and directive, and an individual tends to stand out, Japanese people are not supposed to be and do so. To us, harmony with others is so important, and we should think of others like their feelings and faces before ourselves. I still struggle with speaking up in class and I tend to keep quiet when I am with so many people. This experience made me realize that I am influenced by our ethnicity through religion and culture.
I think that our appearance can tell where we are from and this causes some different communication styles. Asian culture treasures elder people and we respect them very much. It is normal to bow each other when we see older people than us and when we meet others for the first time. However, I don’t do that when I meet with Western people because they have another communication styles. One example that our ethnicity influences the way we communicate with us can be found when I meet with Korean people. We can tell that we’re from different countries by our slight differences of our faces and the different languages. When I see a Korean guy on campus, he always bows a little bit to me while waving his hand. He seems confused if he should have Western communication style or our Asian communication style. I also feel confused if I should bow to him because we know that we share the similar custom and I need to honor him because he’s older than me, but we’re not from the same country and we’re in America.
When once I was having dinner with a Korean friend, there were his friends to the next table coincidentally. My friends and other Koreans bowed each other, and his friends thought I was a Korean, too since they didn’t hear me speaking in Japanese then. I knew that they are from Korea, so I was not going to bow because we’re not from the same country. However, they bowed to me and I had to bow them back. It was interesting because they and I don’t usually bow to Western people even they’re older than us or when we meet for the first time.
When Asian students communicate with students from other Asian country, especially Eastern Asia, it is funny to see because we communicate in English but we share the Asian culture and the way of thinking and life.
Does age matter in communication styles when you communicate with others in your culture?
Do you think it is important to know what ethnic background you have?
2010年5月28日金曜日
Observing people
I went to a coffee shop that I never stayed. I have been there a few times, but I
always only ordered my drink and left there. I felt really weird because my main
reason to come to this coffee shop was not to buy coffee but to observe other
people. I felt that I already broke a rule as I walked into the shop. I was thinking
which table I should choose as walking close to casher. While waiting for my
drink, I put my bags on the seat near casher so that nobody would take it. I
wanted to observe people waiting to order on a line.
I took my notebook out from my bag, and started writing findings. But no one looked at me with suspicion because it was normal to read or study in the coffee shop. However, I felt bad when people saw me while I was looking at them. I immediately looked away with poker face and then I pretended to that I was thinking.
The most common thing among people in the shop was touching themselves frequently. They all seemed to be thinking what to order. A woman was scratching her head and some other people were touching their faces, especially around their mouth while thinking. I think touching around mouth indicates one is thinking. Several girls were holding/touching their bags or crossing their arms. I assume that people didn’t feel comfortable with doing nothing but waiting for their turn.
When a worker gave menu book to people while waiting, she bent her back a little bit so that she can show that she respects the customers and she is modest. In Japan, workers and customers are not equal, but workers need to show loyalty to every customer with gratitude to them. We even have a saying, “customers are gods.”
People also seldom talked while waiting even they were with family, friends, co-workers, or girlfriend/boyfriend. If they talked, the topic was which coffee or cake they were going to get. They didn’t even have much eye contact because they were staring at the menu.
I realized that there was a difference between men and women. When two young women came to the shop, they were standing closely to each other. However, when three men in business suits came, they were standing a little apart from each other, even though they seemed to know each other already and be co-workers.
Also, even while ordering, they didn’t have enough eye contact with workers. They still stared at the menu, and read it loud. All the workers said hello and asked, “What can I get for you?” to customers. Customers didn’t say hello back, but said what they wanted to get. The conversation was only about the coffee. They never talked anything else. I could not see anybody waiting for their drink after ordering, because I needed to turn away from my seat and I thought it was really strange to do that. Instead, I observed two middle-aged women sitting near from me. They were facing with each other, and talked a lot. I couldn’t hear what exactly they were talking about because of music, but I could see that they kept talking for a long time. One of them was holding her coffee cup all the time and bending forward. It was interesting to see their various facial expressions. They sometimes seemed very serious but they also laughed a lot.
I think that people are not supposed to interfere or talk with others because they are enjoying themselves, such as talking, reading, and studying. If you tried to start conversation with others sitting next to you, people would definitely show that they think you’re suspicious and try to stop the conversation quickly. I also found interesting that workers and customers never started conversation. In America, not always but often, workers ask how we are doing, we also ask them back, and we even start conversation when ordering, but this doesn’t apply to coffee shop in Japan. People might think they are invading their privacy if workers start asking some questions besides the coffee. I guess there are still other differences in interaction with people in Japanese coffee shop and American one.
Question: What do you think you usually do while waiting for something or somebody? Do you do the same kind of acts like people I observed?
always only ordered my drink and left there. I felt really weird because my main
reason to come to this coffee shop was not to buy coffee but to observe other
people. I felt that I already broke a rule as I walked into the shop. I was thinking
which table I should choose as walking close to casher. While waiting for my
drink, I put my bags on the seat near casher so that nobody would take it. I
wanted to observe people waiting to order on a line.
I took my notebook out from my bag, and started writing findings. But no one looked at me with suspicion because it was normal to read or study in the coffee shop. However, I felt bad when people saw me while I was looking at them. I immediately looked away with poker face and then I pretended to that I was thinking.
The most common thing among people in the shop was touching themselves frequently. They all seemed to be thinking what to order. A woman was scratching her head and some other people were touching their faces, especially around their mouth while thinking. I think touching around mouth indicates one is thinking. Several girls were holding/touching their bags or crossing their arms. I assume that people didn’t feel comfortable with doing nothing but waiting for their turn.
When a worker gave menu book to people while waiting, she bent her back a little bit so that she can show that she respects the customers and she is modest. In Japan, workers and customers are not equal, but workers need to show loyalty to every customer with gratitude to them. We even have a saying, “customers are gods.”
People also seldom talked while waiting even they were with family, friends, co-workers, or girlfriend/boyfriend. If they talked, the topic was which coffee or cake they were going to get. They didn’t even have much eye contact because they were staring at the menu.
I realized that there was a difference between men and women. When two young women came to the shop, they were standing closely to each other. However, when three men in business suits came, they were standing a little apart from each other, even though they seemed to know each other already and be co-workers.
Also, even while ordering, they didn’t have enough eye contact with workers. They still stared at the menu, and read it loud. All the workers said hello and asked, “What can I get for you?” to customers. Customers didn’t say hello back, but said what they wanted to get. The conversation was only about the coffee. They never talked anything else. I could not see anybody waiting for their drink after ordering, because I needed to turn away from my seat and I thought it was really strange to do that. Instead, I observed two middle-aged women sitting near from me. They were facing with each other, and talked a lot. I couldn’t hear what exactly they were talking about because of music, but I could see that they kept talking for a long time. One of them was holding her coffee cup all the time and bending forward. It was interesting to see their various facial expressions. They sometimes seemed very serious but they also laughed a lot.
I think that people are not supposed to interfere or talk with others because they are enjoying themselves, such as talking, reading, and studying. If you tried to start conversation with others sitting next to you, people would definitely show that they think you’re suspicious and try to stop the conversation quickly. I also found interesting that workers and customers never started conversation. In America, not always but often, workers ask how we are doing, we also ask them back, and we even start conversation when ordering, but this doesn’t apply to coffee shop in Japan. People might think they are invading their privacy if workers start asking some questions besides the coffee. I guess there are still other differences in interaction with people in Japanese coffee shop and American one.
Question: What do you think you usually do while waiting for something or somebody? Do you do the same kind of acts like people I observed?
2010年5月26日水曜日
Far and Away
There are two main characters in the movie, “Far and Away.” Joseph is a poor man who does not own his land in Ireland. Villagers in the same area hate their land owner so much and Joseph tries to kill him. On the other hand, Shannon, the land owner’s daughter, is very wealthy but wants to get away from her home because of her family, especially her mother. She is too strict and controls everything about Shannon. Joseph and Shannon have a common dream which is to have their own land, but the basic reasons to immigrate to America are different. Joseph wants to start a new life with his own land without harsh land owner, and Shannon has a desire to live free from her family and she wants to live in a modern country, America, because she likes to be modern.
They arrive in America knowing only each other. Shannon is glad to be able to sell spoons which she stole from her mother, but it turns out that Mr. McGuire was going to steal them even though he was being kind to her. Meanwhile, Shannon’s parents decide to go to America with Stephen when their house is burned by taxpayers who hate wealthy land owners. Joseph and Shannon are the first two to immigrant to the States and her family follows her.
It is hard to move to a new place without knowing anybody in there. They need to start from nothing. They have to find a place to live and find a job. In this movie, Joseph is a strong guy and he can earn a lot of money by fighting. However, if he could not fight well, he would have had to find another job without any place to live. For new people, it is easier to live in a community with people from the same country. They have the same kind of tradition and way of thinking, and they can help each other easily. Especially, if people immigrate to a new place where others do not speak in the same language, and they do not know how to speak that language, it would be so difficult to communicate with each other. They definitely need someone to help them out.
Also, people struggle with gaps between their dreams and the reality. Joseph keeps winning the fighting match. However, the power of rich people works in America, too. The boss of fighting place needs Joseph to defeat an Italian guy for a local politician. He and Shannon get kicked out of their house and they also lose their job when he finally loses the match with the Italian guy. They are separated when Shannon gets a gunshot on her shoulder even though they love each other. Joseph goes to Oklahoma for free land, and Shannon also does with her family and Stephan who wants to marry her. They and many others need to race so that they can get a place they like. Finally, Joseph and Shannon get a nice land for themselves.
People can’t just always have fun in a new place. They have many difficulties to adjust themselves to the new place. In my case, I am not an immigrant but an international student, but I needed to face some troubles until now. Adjusting to a language, a new culture, different communication style, and new people are exciting in some parts but also tough and scary. I know what they are like, so now I’m willing to help people from other country in Japan. How do you think you can help people from other place to adjust to a new environment?
They arrive in America knowing only each other. Shannon is glad to be able to sell spoons which she stole from her mother, but it turns out that Mr. McGuire was going to steal them even though he was being kind to her. Meanwhile, Shannon’s parents decide to go to America with Stephen when their house is burned by taxpayers who hate wealthy land owners. Joseph and Shannon are the first two to immigrant to the States and her family follows her.
It is hard to move to a new place without knowing anybody in there. They need to start from nothing. They have to find a place to live and find a job. In this movie, Joseph is a strong guy and he can earn a lot of money by fighting. However, if he could not fight well, he would have had to find another job without any place to live. For new people, it is easier to live in a community with people from the same country. They have the same kind of tradition and way of thinking, and they can help each other easily. Especially, if people immigrate to a new place where others do not speak in the same language, and they do not know how to speak that language, it would be so difficult to communicate with each other. They definitely need someone to help them out.
Also, people struggle with gaps between their dreams and the reality. Joseph keeps winning the fighting match. However, the power of rich people works in America, too. The boss of fighting place needs Joseph to defeat an Italian guy for a local politician. He and Shannon get kicked out of their house and they also lose their job when he finally loses the match with the Italian guy. They are separated when Shannon gets a gunshot on her shoulder even though they love each other. Joseph goes to Oklahoma for free land, and Shannon also does with her family and Stephan who wants to marry her. They and many others need to race so that they can get a place they like. Finally, Joseph and Shannon get a nice land for themselves.
People can’t just always have fun in a new place. They have many difficulties to adjust themselves to the new place. In my case, I am not an immigrant but an international student, but I needed to face some troubles until now. Adjusting to a language, a new culture, different communication style, and new people are exciting in some parts but also tough and scary. I know what they are like, so now I’m willing to help people from other country in Japan. How do you think you can help people from other place to adjust to a new environment?
2010年5月24日月曜日
2 Truths and 1 Lie
Hello group members!
1. My dog's name is Peach in Japanese.
2. I am a big fan of baseball.
3. I am taking this class back in my country, Japan.
1. My dog's name is Peach in Japanese.
2. I am a big fan of baseball.
3. I am taking this class back in my country, Japan.
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