Eamon's World

Eamon's World

"Attitude determines altitude"

The tale so far ...

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Copyright & Copy: 2003 Eamon Gilleece

Page last updated: Friday, 08-Aug-03 23:36:41 PDT

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	(9th AUGUST) Finding internet access is hard - that's why I haven't wrote here for a while. My non-working life is great at the moment. Late wake ups, lazy days and late nights. I'm enjoying every moment of it because once I move to Tokyo, it will be the complete opposite!! (29th JULY) No more school, no more work, no more human voice box, no more false smiles, no more direct translations of what I say in class, no more underutilisation ... I am free! The strange thing is, I will miss it all terribly. Working as a high school English teacher has certainly been the greatest experience I couold ever have hoped for. (25th JULY) Anagram of "Mother-in-law" = Woman Hitler! (23th JULY) Recently asked an interesting question: would you rather have eyes too far apart or eyes too close together?! What would your answer be? (18th JULY) Today was the closing ceremony at my base school. I made a nerve wrecking speech in both English and Japanese to the entire school in the gym. I was surprised at how emotional I felt. After two years at this school I have grown very attached to the surroundings, the teachers and of course the students. It's hard to let go. (15th JULY) At long last, the struggle is over ... I am going to move to Tokyo. (4th JULY) Enough of the Japanese ... I wonder can computers back in the UK read Japanese characters? Anyhow. Recently, my Israeli friend was barred from re-entering Japan. She had been here for 3 months working and when she got back from her holiday in Thailand, immigration refused her entry. Why? Well, purely on grounds of her nationality! Although Israelis are some of the nicest people I have met in my life, they are heavily discriminated against in Asia. They are not even allowed to enter Malaysia! I take my British passport for granted, but it is not until something like this happens to someone close to you that your realise that the weight of a person's "group" indentity is more important than their "individual" identity. We have very little control over this perception - I cannot begin to imagine the pain my friend went through, especially when herJapanese black stamp barred her from going back to Thailand and also returning to Japan within 5 years. (27th JUNE) ああ　日本語はへんですよ！毎日をべんきょしますがまど下手です！！！ (19th JUNE) I was asked to write my opinions about 国際化 (kokusaika - internationalisation) recently for a Phd paper. Here's what I wrote: As for Kokusaika, I am aware of the Nakasone's strives towards it in the mid-80s. A movement primarily concerned with raising the image of Japan abroad. This according to David McConnell in "Importing diversity - the JET programme" was the major reason the JET programme was created. To create a better image of Japan as an open and approachable society to foreign nations (hopefully their investments would soon follow!) If we look at Kokusaika purely in relation to the JET programme, I think JET has been a huge success. Not only does it expose young students to people from all over the globe, speaking English with native accents, but it's also a great platform for those foreigners to enter Japan. JETs get orientations in Tokyo, Enkais at their schools, group trips etc that other private English teachers don't have access to. Although, the original intention behind creating such a programme may have been a one way thing - it is now definitely a TWO WAY THING. Practically speaking, the programme hasn't been much of a success. Japan stills lags behind countries like Afghanistan on EFL scores and there is a general scent of apathy towards the oral element of English communication. "This will only change when oral testing is given equal footing to grammar in the stupid uni entrance exams" I remember a teacher at my school saying this to me a while ago. If such a thing did happen, I would feel my work was actually going towards something more tangible that just the gaijin circus act I sometimes feel like I'm performing in. We are permitted to spend three years on the programme. We are highly encouraged to leave the country after this time expires (they even pay for our leaving tickets!) For the process of kokusaika to bloom fully, JETs should have the option to stay longer. Not only would they become more integrated into the schooling system but they could form everlasting roots in the local community that wouldn't be severed. Surely this is a cornerstone to internationalisation? This proposal, however, seems like a distant utopia - a foreigner working his way up the ranks at his/her school???? As for kokusaika in general in Japan ... well, I believe that Japan embraces foreign cultures in a way that is visible and obvious. Look at Japanese hip-hop music, foreign sport (English football and American baseball) foreign loan words (gairaigo) etc. Stars like David Beckham are idolised in Japan but try naming one Japanese person (apart from Ichiro) that are given such respect and honour in the west??? Japan still contains certain elements that are inherently racist such as the "uyoku" political group, the "No gaijin" onsens and nightclubs and onerous foreign company (gaisheiki) taxation. Economic prosperity naturally creates such in and out groups. On a global stage Japan is not alone in displaying such bigotry and racism but is still light years away from creating an environment were foreigners can move freely and integrate smoothly. (13th JUNE) Rain, rain go away, come back another day ... (11th JUNE) Top 5 dislikes about Japan 5. Bad teeth. The other day I saw a girl on the train with what appeared to be, three teeth growing out of the same place in her mouth! 4. Japanese incapablity to answer direct questions. Try asking a store clerk a quasi-difficult question and see how many people they "consult" before returning an answer. 3. The price of everything! 2. Charisma men - Brad Pitt in Japan, Mr. Bean back home! 1. ぼそぞこ (Bosozoku) - These are the Japanese kids that rip around town on motorbikes with loud exhausts, making as much noise as possible. I wonder what indadequacy they are trying to compensate for???!! (9th JUNE) Amazing to see a mobile phone in the DocoMo shop that has a 1.3 megapixel camera. The picture quality is amazing! Soon digicams will become obsolete as companies such as J-Phone and DocoMo allow users to access this high quality processing straight from their phones. (5th JUNE) Just over a week to go before the big JET football tournament in Nagano. I'm so excited! Last year the Kyoto clicks won the wooden spoon and this year we are gunning for the big prize - the grand trophy! I hope my recent scoring form holds up! (30th MAY) Stuck in a strange vortex at the moment - when I open my eyes, its all gonna be gone ... my school, Kyoto my apartment. (15th MAY) Hair today, gone tomorrow ... (12th MAY) やった！Finally managed to get an interview with a good head hunting firm in Tokyo! I've been trying to meet them for ages! I've actually got four i/vs with different firms on Friday. It's gonna be a gruelling day but I know at the end of it, I will have a firm idea what my future in Japan holds. Wish me luck!!!!! (7th MAY) For the first time, I got back from a holiday out of Kyoto and felt relief. Not that it was a bad holiday, it was a riot - but methinks I am growing a wee bit attached to this town. God help me when I have to leave in the summer!!! (25th APRIL) Off tomorrow to Okinawa with Ed - bloody excited! It's gonna be a real treat to get away from the trials and tribulations of Kyoto! (22th APRIL) In a country were we are most vunerable to the uncontrollable - tsunamis, earthquakes, nuclear radiation ... there is one force I cannot explain and, for the life of me, cannot control. Do you know what it is? Love. (18th APRIL) Here is something that just baffles me: why do Japanese kids make stupid "waaaaaaaa" noises when they play baseball???? (14th APRIL) Oh what a weekend! From fetal-positioned, drunken Japanese, cherry-blossom viewers in Kyoto to Israeli "favours" in Osaka, it was a weekend to never forget! (11th APRIL) Why the fuck do Japanese washing machines not use hot water?! Well, it's that time of year folks - cherry blossom time! Got some great "viewing parties" lined up this week. Peace! (9th APRIL) I was dismayed to see the pro-war rallies in Belfast last night on BBC world. They are literally "Loyalists" no matter what the case. It's funny, all the people I know in favour of war haven't visited any war museums. After a visit to the American war museum in Saigon and especially the Peace memorial museum in Hiroshima, I finally understand a simple truth that cuts through everything: War should NEVER be the answer. (7th APRIL) Quote of the day comes from pompey James: I may officially be a twat but I am still Dr. Bleach! (5th APRIL) The cherry blosson trees are fully blooming now, they look so lucious. Just spent a good half hour looking at www.skyscrapers.com. AMAZING SITE! Now I'm off to Rhiannon's b'day bash. We are gonna party like it's 1999! (4th APRIL) My favourite joke of all time: What do you call a fly with no wings? A walk! (3th APRIL) What goes around comes around. Last April's changes at my schools were almost too good to be true - Rakuhoku's tooth-sucking, despotic Kyoto sensei was ousted and my "Two Cherry" neighbour was removed and sent to a sanity-saving area of the staff room. Little could I believe the luck of it all. However, I have just got to face up to the fact that you can't have everything as a JET. This year Nakata sensei, my ex-supervisor and true friend has been sent to another school. I will miss him sorely. Never a procrastinator, he solved my problems quickly and always brightened up my day with his wit and quasi-British humour. Not only is he gone but I have been told that I can only visit Rakuhoku (my fav school) one day a week. I've been promised that the remaining 4 days a week at Hokuryo are going to involve me being "utilised" in a way I didn't think possible! As this is the JET programme and I know what a good days work for an Irishman entails, I somehow doubt this but what I am sure of is that sometimes magically, things just seem too good to be true when the reality is very different.