winter 2003
Volume 8. Number 4
The JET Quarterly Update The newsletter for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of British Columbia
iN THIS ISSUE JETAABC AGM & Shinnenkai February 7, 2003 Details page 3 From Japan focus on achieving more of a balance i.e. Donald: 1-2 Anitra not just all work, but also some form of reLife Lessons in laxation/outside activity.
Clay
3 4
JETAAI Recap JETAABC AGM & Shinnenkai
Book Review Japan on the Web Movie Review
5 6
JETAABC Events & Announcements Consulate / CLAIR Announcements Editor’s Thanks
7 8
Classified Ads About JETAABC UpcomingEvents
About Us
Bowls of various sizes
From Japan - Thoughts From A Third-Year JET: Life Lessons in Clay By Anitra Donald (neechiwa@yahoo.com)
Current ALT, Annaka-shi, Gunma-ken Happy New Year, everyone! In the busy rush of the holiday season, I thought I would take a moment or two to jot a few ideas down for Stefan, who has been very patient with me! Thanks, Stefan! When considering various ideas and topics for this article, I thought I would read over what I had written for the Summer 2000 newsletter (*editors note: Anitra wrote a spot in the July 2000 newsletter 3 weeks before she left for Japan). I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered the roller coaster of emotions I experienced on a daily basis prior to my departure that July. However, I knew that whatever lay ahead for me in my Japanese adventure, I would come away a changed (and hopefully wiser) person. As most of you probably remember (or perhaps you’ve tried to forget!), culture shock is a very real issue. However, I found that my life in Japan began to take on some semblance of normalcy when I started to
I realized that I was interested in cultural pursuits and so for a time, tried one thing after another. I studied ikebana at my local bunka centre. I also did some kirie (traditional paper cutting art) under the direction of a local lady. I learned how to wear a kimono. I attended a nearby taiko class. I studied Japanese cooking. I even did the rounds of all the local izakaya s (grin). But I kept on looking. I was searching for just the right hobby for me. Finally, I decided to pursue the rumours that I’d heard of a famous potter living in my town and after some investigation, was able to track down the directions to his place. After driving down meandering country roads for a while, I came upon a very rustic looking building on a hill, faintly reminiscent of West Coast post and beam architecture, yet wholly Japanese. I ventured in, and introduced myself to the potter, Noboru Aoki, and his gracious wife, Reiko. They quickly assured me that though I would be their first foreign student, I was welcome to study with them when I was able and their kindness was like a salve on the abrasions I’d earned on a daily basis in the scuffles with my strict and stern BOE. continued on page 2
Sushi set, plates & hashioki