The Ryukyu Star an Okinawa JET publication
Changes O k inawan A utumn / / Secret A dventu res / / the O k iJ E T E xper ience
Fall 2011
Contents
8
Seasons Change Autumn in Okinawa
10 Changes: Arrival Learning to Swim
12 Changes: Return Just Turn the Key
5
15 The Secret Adventures The Tale of the Lost Tail
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Editors' Notes Ever wondered how many times a day we change shoes? … Yeah, I wouldn’t bother counting either. But all the same, my mind often wanders to new cultural and environmental differences I’ve adapted to since moving away from my life in Australia, to my current home, Miyako. One of the most obvious changes this year has been to what has for so many years been fondly named the YAK. It was always interesting to read the latest YAK. My particular interest was in what people got up to in their very different circumstances on different islands. When I was appointed as the new editor, it was a little overwhelming to know where to start, but I was thankful that Autumn was
When Ayli and I took the reigns from Kate and Emily, we decided that it was time for a change. Both she and I spent hours researching other prefectural JET magazines and noticed that a large percentage were online, in a digital format and were easily available to anyone both within those prefectures and outside of them. Those magazines became not only windows into small communities, but ones in which those communities could connect various experiences in Japan to
appointed as the visual editor. I can only applaud and wonder at what Kate Viernes and Emily Bucherati managed to pull off last year. I also greatly appreciate the very many willing people who took part in the survey, the re-naming competition, and those who’ve contributed to the very first issue for the 2011/2012 year. I look forward to facilitating the Ryukyu Star’s progress this year with Autumn and of course, with the PAs, Ryan and Elizabeth, who are always at the ready to help.
of the world. Likewise, the magazine’s undergone (and will continue to undergo) a lot of superficial changes, but what won’t change, and what I hope will never change, is the essence of this publication – that it’s produced by and is the voice of the OkiJET community.
Ayli Chong
The Okinawan sky often graces us with gorgeous sunsets. Some sunsets are breathtaking, while others are less dazzling; but one thing’s for sure, they're always different. Even though they’re never the same, they’re essentially the same sun making it’s way to the other side the rest of the world. With AJET Connect joining in this year, we decided it was time to move the YAK into new territory. Our focus though was not specifically on audiences beyond our community. We both believed that having a solely digital publication would relieve our PAs from the grueling print shop process, save the resolution and color that was lost in the print version, and also save natural resources. In thinking of how we could represent Okinawa proudly to ourselves and to our friends, family and other JETs within Japan, a name change seemed like the first step in our process of rebuilding the magazine. The name YAK, while having its own JET related history, seemed unconnected to Okinawa itself and from the comments made on our survey, the OkiJET community largely agreed. Ryukyu Star was chosen from the list of choices not because the Star is a
tabloid publication that we plan to emulate but because Okinawa prefecture is famous for both its star sand and its beautiful night skies, with a myriad of stars that most of us have never had the chance to see before moving here. Ryukyu was chosen because it reaches back into the prefecture’s history, when Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom. We hope you enjoy Changes, the latest publication from our OkiJETs. Thanks to all who have contributed to this issue. The professionalism and talent in the articles, photography and artwork helped make this a magazine I am proud of. I hope all of you are too.
Autumn Widdoes
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Notes from the Kencho So, Elizabeth was considering writing an introduction to, uh, herself (come for the information, stay for the enthralling PA bio!) but when we spoke, we decided there was too much important information to put here to fit that in. We’re right into parties, the holidays, cold season, and just past the first few months of a new batch of arrivals (including Elizabeth), for Pete’s sake. Read on, and if you have any questions, ask your coordinator or write in to your adoring PAs. 1) Winter can be a lot of fun, but it can also suck with its short days and, in Okinawa, cold winds. Don’t underestimate how cool it can get here; be prepared with a thick sweatshirt or jacket in your closet. Wash your hands often to
avoid getting sick. Flu season is also on its way, so if you are interested in getting a flu shot, please be aware that it is not covered by your health insurance! 2) Don’t underestimate how crappy you might feel either, especially you new JETs who might not have settled in yet. If you feel like you need help, please never hesitate to call us, or call:
AJET Peer Support Group (8pm to 7am): 0120-437-725 The JET Line (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6 pm) 03-5213-1729
service or a reliable friend ready should you get drunk. Never forget how stiff the penalties are! 4) Christmas and New Year are a time for many of us to go home and visit loved ones. Check with your coordinator, bosses, etc about holiday time BEFORE buying your ticket, though. Your coordinator will probably want your itinerary, too. Those are the basics. Everyone plan well and stay safe. We’ll see you around!
Elizabeth and Ryan
3) Parties! Lots of fun. Winding up in jail for drunk driving, not so much. Drink responsibly and have the number of a taxi
From AJET With Love Hello all! As some of you may know, my name is Adam, and I am the current National AJET Block 11 Representative. First, a formal, introductory bit about me written in the third person: Adam was born in Kumamoto, Japan, but grew up in Los Angeles, California. He graduated about a year and a half ago from the University of California, Davis with a BS in International Relations, and a minor in Japanese. Currently on his second year of JET, in the prefecture of his birth, Adam continues to enjoy his
hobbies of playing sports, and spending quality time with his friends and girlfriend. Now, five informal facts about me written in the first person: I am a Happa. (Half Japanese Half American) I am an only child. I passed the JLPT level 2 in high school, but my Kanji is atrocious. My favorite color is blue. I extremely dislike bugs, especially those of gargantuan proportions present in the countryside.
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Finally, back to professional prose. It was my sincere pleasure meeting some of you during Tokyo Orientation. Since running for Block 11 Representative several months ago, it has been my goal to bring together the prefectures of Southern Kyushu and Okinawa, and instill a better sense of community between JETs in Kagoshima, Okinawa, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto. The Block event Ichi Kyu Bee held on the weekend of October 1st and 2nd was a chance for JETs to meet and make friends with JETs and Japanese people from different prefectures.
Watching the sunset became kind of a ritual for me that started with childhood family vacations and continued on into my years living in southern California. I am so glad I get to enjoy them here in Japan too. Okinawa's sunsets are so beautiful and continually changing...
Angi Brzycki
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(Continued from page 4) I understand that it is both expensive and difficult for OkiJETs to travel to Kyushu, and vice versa. Despite this fact, I would like to organize an event which encourages interaction between the different prefectures. We are currently considering an interprefectural soccer tournament for sometime in January, and it would be awesome if some Okinawans came out! Personally, I would love to visit within the next year, and if I am able to, want to meet as many of you as possible. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!
Adam Chludzinski P.S. I'm the mime.
The Ryukyu Star
Issue 1/Fall 2011 An Okinawa JET Prefectural Publication General Editor Ayli Chong
Design/Layout Autumn Widdoes
Contributors Grant Minagawa Hilson Reidpath Elizabeth Reuter Kathryn Strong Jacqui Toulson
Shisa Sun Logo Jeridel Jd Banks
Sunset/Cover Photos Angi Brzycki
by R.
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Autumn in Okinawa First the wind starts to get stronger, thick and heavy; rolling through the kibi fields like a brush in tangled hair. Then you begin to notice that night time is creeping in earlier and earlier with each day. By the time dinner has been made the last crests of pink and red are falling down the horizon. You become hesitant to enter the ocean, your nipples tighten and goosebumps round up your arms as you stare at the water before a Saturday morning swim, but you dive in anyways, and once fully submerged, with the blood circulating through your core, you wonder why you were hesitant in the first place. Children begin coming to school with jackets tied around their waists and the amount of kyu-shoku left over increases - indication of the number of students at home resting a cold away. The large tents and colorful strings of multi-national flags are packed safely away. With the distractions of sports festivals and track meets out of the way, five-day weeks once again begin to make regular appearances on the schedule. Supermarkets flood their aisles and displays with outlandish amounts of nabe soup packages - as though to imply it would be an insult to one's family to serve anything else. Mikans are piled high in the fruit section, a molten blend of bright green and orange, their skins unnassumingly hide a sweet flesh that
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makes you pucker less and less as the days move on. Togan drops down to incredibly discounted price of 9 yen per 100 gram (or at least you think that is cheap, you don't often pay attention to the price of togan, not knowing what to do with one were you buy it, even at these incredible rates). The number of mosquitoes thin out and without realizing it the 6 inch, yellow-bellied spiders have dried up, left for wherever they go during the chillier months, certain to return in the spring to spin more man-sized webs betwixt trees and light-poles. So too gone are the migratory birds from Hokkaido and Russia, stopping briefly to rest as they head farther south for the winter. Though in all honesty, they, like autumn in Okinawa, were never really here to begin with. Hilson Reidpath is a 3rd year ALT living on Miyakojima, Okinawa.
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Learning to Swim It’s still raining. I’d been told that summer is the rainy season, that from here on, the weather will be getting cooler, and the typhoons will cease. That was in late September, and it appears that October is feeling vengeful. So far, everyday is the same: dreary, drippy. Although I was almost used to having my clothes stick to my body, my bangs plastered to my eyelids, suctioned there by sweat, I was excited by the promised change. Now: different weather, same result. I still feel like I should wring myself out by the end of the day. When I check the forecast every morning, hoping for an overnight miracle of blue skies and sunshine, I can’t help but glance wistfully at the juxtaposed Southern California chart. Warm weather and clear skies. And yet, I can’t bring myself to envy my friends in the Inland Empire, because it’s been almost three months, and I still think, “God, I live in paradise,” everyday when I drive to work. Even the days when I arrive at school half drowned, and sea sick from a turbulent ferry ride, and I can’t see the sky, and the bottom two inches of the hem of my pants are caked in mud. It might be that I’m still in the first phase of culture shock, that I’m flying through life elated with the newness of everything around me. But, I don’t think so. An afternoon spent crying for want of a grilled cheese sandwich seems to suggest that I’ve moved beyond that. And while certainly the until recent sunny weather has helped to ease the transition, I can’t help but consider how entirely my life has been transformed in the last few months. I’m not going to say now that I’ve been altered into a new and improved version of myself in the space of a few months. No, I’m certainly the same person who I’ve always been. I’m still impulsive, accident prone, and an awful cook, but
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I have become more self-sufficient. In the past, I’ve either lived with my parents, or in a dorm; I’d never lived alone before moving here. And because there were always other people whose job it was to take care of me, I’d never learned how to take care of myself. Then I moved here, and I had no choice. As I told my JTE, “Moving is always difficult. Moving to a foreign country…some days it feels impossible.” Things that I think should take a few minutes, takes hours, and sometimes something as small as trying to read the ingredients at the grocery store can cause a complete meltdown. Is there meat in this sauce or is there not? The struggle, though, of getting by everyday, makes every day that I get through seem so meaningful. When I arrange for a package to be delivered to my apartment, when I pay my bills, when I say good afternoon to my neighbors, each small success is magnified. I feel a swell of accomplishment at even these simple tasks. Crossing things off lists has never been so fulfilling. After all, in the past “buy shampoo” meant walk to the store across the street, and buy the brand I always buy, because my mom always bought it, because it’s what I’ve been using my whole life and my hair has never fallen out, so it must be okay. Now it involves a multi-lingual adventure and making choices on my own.
I’ve seen it; yes, I enjoyed it…I have no shame when it comes to romantic comedies.) The point is that it’s daunting to leave the place where you’ve always lived, leave the people you’ve always lived with, and start life on your own. Add to that a change of country and language and, well, it’s a sink or swim sort of situation. So far, it feels like I’m treading water. I’m still in the adjustment process, and that’s okay. What’s important is that it’s a process, and I’m moving forward. While my move to Japan may have happened overnight, my settling into adult life, and more particularly adult life abroad, is going to take a bit more time. After all, if it took me until last week to realize that my oven is in Celsius, not Fahrenheit, imagine how long it will take me to really figure things out. Kathryn Strong is a 1st year ALT living in Motobu, Okinawa.
Launching into adulthood isn’t an easy process. Isn’t there a sub-par Sarah Jessica Parker/Matthew McConaughey movie depicting this? (Yes, there is; yes,
Motobu from the ferry to Minna photo by Kathryn Strong
Dusk at Miyagi Island, Okinawa photo by Angi Bryzki
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Just Turn the Key My trip back to South Africa (it still feels strange to call it “home”) was long, messy and tear-filled. Twenty hours of flight time, seventeen hours waiting in airports, 50,000 yen and 120 US dollars spent on overweight baggage and overpriced airport lounges finally resulted in delivering an exhausted, fed-up, broken-down me into my wonderful family’s waiting arms. Since that day in August, which feels both like yesterday and many lifetimes ago, my life has taken many similarly crazy turns, both for the better and for the worse. I had heard all the horror stories from previous ALTs who had been in Okinawa perhaps a little too long. Stories of friendlessness, joblessness, reverse culture-shock and lack of understanding from anyone around them. I felt like this prepared me for what was ahead, but it was still hard to adjust to having to report back to my mother every time I went out, not having a cellphone nor any idea of where I should go or what to do anymore. The first two weeks were rough as I struggled with jetlag and cabin fever, as I had no way of leaving the house. I am happy to report, though, that things are starting to look up. My lovely stepfather had the foresight to know that I would need something to look forward to, and had booked us a twoweek trip through the Southern Kalahari. For just over a week we went from camp to camp and enjoyed staying in cabins overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen while listening to black-backed jackals howling outside. For the last four days we joined the Nossob 4x4 Eco-Trail, which had us and four
Even behind the relative safety of a Land Rover door, the golden stare of a lioness is bone-chilling!
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Jacqui Toulson, an ALT from South Africa, lived in Okinawa from 2006-2011.
other cars driving through the desert and over towering sand dunes, ending our days at open campsites. Our craziest evening involved pitching our tents while a famous Kalahari storm rolled in over the dunes. Bear in mind that it’s currently the dry season, which means that both storms we went through had been imported especially for us. During the strongest point it meant that every one of us was wrapping our bodies around at least one tent pole hoping desperately we wouldn’t be blown away. After the wind finally subsided the lions decided to come out to play. They made their presence very known by growling loudly while we were attempting to cook dinners over a fire. We opened our bonnets and attached spotlights to the car batteries to keep a lookout, which attracted... yes, dear ALTs with your flushing toilets and your canned bug-spray... they attracted scorpions. Lots of scorpions. It hardly needs to be said but that night I slept in the car. Back in the city, where I had the best and longest bath I have ever had in my life, I realised I had rekindled my passion for wildlife photography. I am now working on a children’s book of wildlife pictures. Upon our return, as well, I had received an email from the Japanese embassy, offering me a job. Applications and interviews over, I now have a temporary administration job at the embassy starting in December. The job itself isn’t ideal, but I am happy that I get to work at a place where I can practise my Japanese (all day it turns out - even the interview was entirely in Japanese) while working with fantastic people. Another ex-ALT, Melody Ngobese, and I were invited to a lunch at the ambassador’s house where we met embassy workers, the principal of the Japanese school in Johannesburg and heads of Japanese companies. We’ll also be attending an embassysponsored Japanese film festival next weekend. As if that weren’t enough, while attending a series and
photographic seminars, I was fortunate enough to meet two of my idols - Jodi Bieber (no relation to Justin), a Time Magazine photographer, and Kingsley Holgate, a modern-day David Livingstone who travels around Africa in his Land Rover making documentaries and providing mosquito nets and eyeglasses to those who need them. All of these events together have made me very positive about the next few months. Until my job at the embassy starts I plan to take Holgate’s advice of starting an adventure - “Just turn the key.” Tomorrow I will get into the Land Rover, drive to Where The Wild Things Are, take photos, turn around and hopefully be home in time for dinner. Rinse and repeat for the next two months, submit book mock-ups to publishers and potential sponsors, start job, finish job and continue. To those of you who are worried about your eventual return home, my advice is to be sad. For a while. Then stop. Explore your home, find things you used to love. Find new things to love. Take risks. Keep your ties with Japan - it’s a place that has changed you inexplicably and permanently, even if you don’t realise it yet. Be positive. Be excited. Be newly enchanted with the world around you. No matter where you are, it’s a pretty enchanting place. For up-to-date photos of my adventures, check http://jaxpix.tumblr.com
Jacqui with Kingsley Holgate
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The Secret Adventures of Rekio by Grant Minagawa The tale of Rekio the Lion is as old as time… or at least as old as this watch, which was purchased for the sake of keeping track of said time. Rekio has travelled far and wide, across entire oceans and to the very peaks of bookshelves and toy chests, to find a treasure beyond treasures. His adventures continue, even to this day, despite many challenges and close calls. Our hero comes from very humble roots. He was born to an Italian mother and an Okinawan father in Hong Kong in 2007. One day, his parents mysteriously disappeared, and he was put up for adoption in a local souvenir store. He was adopted and raised in a strange, far-away land known only as Hawaii. He learned how to be a ninja, and was happy playing with his master’s other minions, known as Toys.
There was once a week that was made entirely out of gold! Rekio’s master must have used the gold to buy plane tickets because he got to go to Taiwan! The Guandu-Temple-Shisa was nice enough to chat, but the little lion couldn’t find any relatives there.
But the little lion longed to return to Asia and find his missing parents. When his master was posted on the tropical island of Okinawa, Rekio jumped at the chance… and into his master’s luggage. His master was not pleased when he found the little lion. Rekio was allowed to search for his family on the condition that no one saw him… ever.
Water is bad news for a little wooden lion like Rekio. Our hero once found himself in a center full of flowers, Shisa, and Tropical Dreams. Luckily, Gross-Spitting-Water-Shisa didn’t throw him into the dark pools. These Tropical Dreams must be bad ones! Occasionally, Rekio misses his island home… well, his other island home. The Tikis-By-The-Sea help him feel at home and gives him oversized umbrellas. They’re all great guys, but a little salty.
Grant Minagawa is a 2nd year ALT based in Ishikawa, Okinawa.
Thus, the Secret Adventures were born.
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Part V: The Tale of the Lost Tail Rekio decided to ask some Elder Shisa for help in his quest. He found some at a Very High School in Naha. They lived in plain sight, so the little lion had to be extra careful. He nearly got spotted by his natural predator, the school girl.
The Elder Shisa told him that he could find the answers he sought within himself. Go figure.
The little lion tried to take the advice of the Elder Shisa and look within himself. He found Bizarro-Mirror-World-Shisa. Mirror Shisa was very annoying, and copied everything Rekio did. He saw a map in the mirror world and tricked the Mirror Shisa to move out of the way. Our hero headed to his next destination: Miyako Island ! ! !
Rekio began his search on Miyako Island. He thought it’d be easy to find Shisa on such a flat island, but he was having a hard time. After an entire day of searching, he decided to take a rest on a nearby wall. It wasn’t a wall! The evil Wall Fish grabbed the little lion and took a bite out of his tail! The little lion squealed in little lion agony and ran away.
The little lion was so scared and embarrassed! He found a police officer named Mamoru-Kun and tried to explain the situation. Mamoru-Kun was too busy dealing with traffic safety to help the little lion. He was even losing paint… or was that drool? This was going nowhere, so the little lion left.
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The little lion wandered Miyako, unsure of what to do next. There were evil Wall Fish and other monsters here, not to mention beaches full of water at every turn. It was a dangerous place. Rekio must have been delirious, because he even thought he was in Germany at one point! He decided to hide in shame for the rest of the trip.
At the end of his fruitless, humiliating journey, Rekio met the MiyakoAirport-Recycled-Shisa. The Airport Shisa was huge. He stood in plain sight, despite his strange, slightly frightening appearance. He told the little lion that looks didn’t matter. Shisa must be brave and not embarrassed all the time; their job is to protect! The little lion learned a valuable lesson!
Epilogue: The little lion decided to tell his master about his missing tail. He expected his master to be very angry at him. The little lion was shocked to see the missing piece of his tail in his master’s bag! Rekio’s master explained how he found the missing piece after the little lion ran from the evil Wall Fish. Rekio was so happy! Now to find some glue!!
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Contributors
Jeridel "Jd" Banks is a 2nd year ALT from California, USA. Before entering the JET Programme, Jd was a student at San Diego State University studying Pre-Physical Therapy and Fine Arts. Her love for anime, manga, and Japanese culture influenced her decision to not just become an ALT, but to also learn how to draw in the first place. In spite of having dreams of drawing and designing, Jd enjoys teaching her high school students now.
Angi Brzycki has a slight obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to taking photographs. People (friends) often made fun of her when she would show up at parties with 3 or 4 cameras and no booze. They were rather impressed when she'd walk around 2 fisted (a camera in each hand). Angi has been taking much less party pictures since moving to Okinawa, instead she snaps photos of sunsets (nightly), food (sushi), stray cats (grey), and random graffiti (seawall). Someone recently asked her if she takes pictures to remember what she might forget. She reflected and realized, she couldn't remember what she wore or ate for lunch the day before. Currently, Angi is an ALT of two high schools (one commercial/one technical).
Ayli Chong is the editor of the Ryukyu Star; one of only two Australian citizens residing in Miyako; and a keen music appreciation enthusiast who’s developed the fine art of pretending she’s Japanese behind her Asian façade and poor Japanese ability. Her two previous occupations were editing and proofreading materials for two different major educational institutions in Australia. As such, her already poor eyesight continues to decline as she obsessively reads, re-reads and corrects the very few errors in everyone’s submissions to the Ryukyu Star. She’s moved from working at 5 elementary schools in her first year, to 7 junior high schools as a second year ALT.
Grant Minagawa is a 2nd year ALT from Hawaii (USA). He lives and works in Central Okinawa, where he has deluded himself into thinking that he holds some sway over the other ALTs in the area as their Blockhead. His chronic inability to say, ‘No,’ and frequent workaholic indulgences are just a couple of reasons why he has no time for more productive pursuits. On the rare occasions when he does have free time, he is a Travel Ninja; blending in across East Asia and surprise-attacking locals with appalling language incompetence. Together with a little wooden sidekick, he writes the “Secret Adventures” comic strip series for the Ryukyu Star.
Hilson Reidpath is a 3rd year ALT who lives on Miyako Island. He is hoping that his article will help him remember where he left his pen and journal.
Elizabeth Reuter, Muni PA and CIR, is a gleefully hopeless geek for whom life is all about learning new things, meeting new people, and writing about learning new things and meeting new people. Thus, she's spent about four of the last ten years abroad in Japan and Mexico, and is having her first novel published in November. She's held a lot of odd jobs over the past decade, including secretary, store clerk, book editor, telephone representative, article writer, and library page. She did not choose Okinawa when applying for JET but now loves a lot about it and is glad she was placed here, though that won't stop her from popping over to mainland whenever possible to squee at new places.
Kathryn Strong is a 1st year ALT who lives in Motobu, Okinawa. Jacqui Toulson was an ALT in Okinawa from 2006-2011. She currently resides in South Africa. Autumn Widdoes is the designer and visual editor of the Ryukyu Star. She is a 2nd year ALT. Having spent last year on Ishigaki Island, she now lives in Naha and loves it. When she has free time, she writes, reads, wanders the city (and the island) and dreams. She sometimes writes in her blog "Eigo no Bento" about her experiences teaching ESL and living in Okinawa.
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New Name We’ve changed names, so we have a new address! Please contact the editing team of the Ryukyu Star at ryukyustar@ajet.net from now on. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Purikura contest! Bust out your best poses at your local purikura – we’re looking for the most creative OkiJET purikura. Submit your entries to ryukyustar@ajet.net now! Submissions due by Friday January 20, 2011. * Up to three submissions per person permitted.
Next theme: Tickled Pink What delights you so much that it tickles your checks to turn pink? How about these Okinawan pink things: dragon fruit, hibiscus, pink shisa, …? The next issue is scheduled to coincide with the month of Valentine’s Day!
Call for submissions This magazine doesn’t just appear out of nowhere – we need contributors. Accepting submissions now until Friday January 20, 2011 - articles, photos, illustrations, anything! Whether you’d like to share something as a guest (just as a one-off) or if you’d like to become a regular contributor, contact ryukyustar@ajet.net Here are (plenty) of areas in need of an adoptive contributor:
Hot for Teaching - school related activities, ideas, games, club advice Love and Relationship Advice Recipes (with food photos) Illustrator Outer island correspondents Sports – karate, best gyms, other activities Okinawan culture - Festivals, favourite hougen phrases, etc Arts/Culture - review art exhibitions, movies, books, music, live concerts, etc Community involvement - highlight volunteer activities Travel correspondents - within Japan and outside of it Mini-Class: photography tips and tricks I <3 Japan! What you specifically adore and love about Japan
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by R.