Visual Araragi, Nagano

Culinary Endeavors II

While American-style hamburgers are readily available,
the Japanese much prefer the hamburg steak.

And they do enjoy the sweetest strawberries I've ever tasted.

Miku-chan and Sefu-sensei

This is a picture one of my preschool students, Miku-chan, made for me in class today.  The Japanese hiragana reads “Miku-to-Sefu” or “Miku and Seth.”  My name can either be written as せす (se-su) or せふ (se-fu) using hiragana.  However, foreign words and names are usually written using katakana characters.  Both are phonetic representations of all the sounds in the verbal Japanese language and function similarly to our own Roman phonetic alphabet.  Young children learn hiragana first so that they can read and write effectively while working to master the 2,000 kanji (Chinese characters) used in everyday Japanese.  Text is written using a combination of the three because the language has no spaces or punctuation.  Individual words can only be distinguished by a change in character type.  Adults and older children will usually write my name as セス(se-su) in katakana.

Classes II

Expression of Love, Part I - Valentine's Day

Oh, Valentine’s Day.  What many women look forward to, most men dread.  In Japan, however, it goes the other way.  Foreign men who have long suffered through the “vital” ritual on the 14^th of February will find that this country offers a welcomed retreat from the pressure.  It is the women, here, that buy chocolate as a way to express love and friendship.  Traditionally shy, Japanese women are able to confess fluffy feelings today with the help of Godiva.  As teachers, expect to receive many a gift from students.  Enjoy it while it lasts because, as with all things, the Japanese have a way to return the favor. 

The 14^th of March: White Day.  Exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, men are given a chance to reciprocate warm fuzzies.  However, the gifts are different.  White Day presents range from cookies and candy to collectable handkerchiefs.  It is customary that you provide a gift for any woman/girl that bought you chocolate in February. 

Before all the guys get upset about having to spend their St. Patrick’s Day Irish Car Bomb funds on sweets for students and admirers, I’ll remind you that this is Japan.  As discussed in my previous post “Harmony,” these people are about the collective.  It shouldn’t feel like an obligation or requirement to buys gifts and souvenirs for others.  After spending any time here, you’ll feel excited by the chance to return the favor.  It feels good to live in a mutually supportive atmosphere in which even the smallest of contributions is greatly appreciated and it’s fun to participate in holidays you don’t fully understand.  Everybody likes receiving Valentine’s gifts, why not pay it forward and spread the joy on White Day? 

Only in Japan

Teachers in America get apples.
In Japan, we get 5kg containers of stew. 

Classes

No Teeth!

This Week's Videos

These are a couple of short videos I shot to share with my family this week.  I thought you all might enjoy them as well.  The first is of one of my pre-school tots classes in Fujimidai in Toyohashi and the other is of a small local bakery in Shinshiro.