JET Programme Series: Get lost with me in the right direction, welcome to Uchiko - Patricia Lewis
2022/3/23
JET Programme Series: Get lost with me in the right direction, welcome to Uchiko - Patricia Lewis
Greetings from Uchiko Town, found in the middle of Ehime prefecture on the Island of Shikoku. Uchiko is a town of about 16,000 people and most well known for the Historic District, large chestnuts and their sweet perfect persimmons and Mikans.
The most difficult part so far was getting used to winter as I had never experienced winter before. I am the type of person that always prefers to be in a hotter setting than a cold. I remember at University not being able to focus in the lecture theatre because of how cold it was. Now, imagine that for three months. I should mention though that the winter in Uchiko is one of the least harsh in all of Japan and so that is one of the reasons I choose this part of Japan. I didn’t know that choosing this part of southern Japan would also bring me to the warmest and kindest group of people that I have ever met.
Not only are my neighbors and townspeople always accommodating and helpful, but the teachers and staff I work with have played a huge role in making me feel comfortable and welcomed. I was very blessed to be assigned to teachers that are effective and open communicators, teachers who always ask how I am doing and how my weekend was. They always ensure that I am in the loop as to what is going on and what they need from me.
So far, I will say that I can feel myself becoming a gentler and more mindful person basically more Japanese. I was eating my school lunch the other day and noticed that I eat very aggressively, like a starving monster ha-ha. This was funny to me as I now understand what my colleagues have been seeing for the past couple of months. Now, I am a pro at eating with chopsticks and eating less conspicuously.
I had my first onsen experience a few weeks ago. Firstly, let me just give anyone who has never been to an onsen before a little advice. Do not shave your legs half an hour before going to an onsen, you’ll thank me later. So, we get to the onsen and I attempt to go in, and I could not. I stood there one foot in and the other foot outside making the most horrifying faces. My friend Dillon is looking at me like “just get in already.” Eventually, I did manage to get most of myself immersed in the water. At the end, I reaped the benefits as I had the best night sleep that I had ever had in my entire life. Now, I am always ready to go to the onsen, hairy legs and all.
It’s such a strange thing to hear but at this point one of my favorite things to do is to go to the grocery store and just look at all the different types of vegetables and products that are available here. I have also had to adapt the way that I cook some Trinidadian dishes, learning what alternatives I can use to the things that I can’t get here.
One thing I didn’t expect was how interested and eager the people of Uchiko would have been to learn about Trinidad and Tobago and our culture. I am the first person they have ever met from Trinidad and for some of them the only brown person they have ever met. It’s funny sometimes the amount of attention I get wherever I go. But, it’s always a positive experience as I know they are just curious.
There have been many platforms on which I was able to share my culture thus far. Since it is now the springtime and the cherry blossoms mark the beginning of spring, I decided to share with the students how we welcome spring back home. Although we don’t have a spring season it is tradition to celebrate “Holi or Pagwa”. I showed the students pictures and videos of the colorful powder being thrown and explained to them that it marks the blossoming of new life in the summertime just like how the cherry blossoms mark the beginning of new life in Japan. It was lovely to be able to connect with the students about springtime traditions even though we don’t actually have spring in Trinidad. At the end I asked them if they would like to play “Holi” and the answer was an enthusiastic and resounding yes. It’s such an honor to get the opportunity to shape the way these youngsters learn about Trinidad and Tobago.
I was asked in a question and answer session by a student “since coming to Japan what do you like the most?” I think students always get the same kind of answer such as a type of food or a site or an experience. But, I was very honest when I answered by saying “the people”. The teacher told the children my answer and they were all flattered I could tell, but that was the truth. The children here are so respectful, obedient and of course genki. They make the teaching experience so gratifying. Even if being an ALT is a routine task, I feel excited each day to know that I can never guess what a student can say today that’s going to be hilarious. Or what drawing a student might do today that will impress me or the random “Patorishia sensei, I love you” which always warms my heart.
On the flip side I was able to share other aspects of Trinbagonian culture with the more mature folks of Uchiko through our Eikaiwa classes. What is an Eikaiwa you ask? Eikaiwa literally translates to mean “An English conversation”. This is a class held once a week by me to allow anyone who is interested in learning to speak English a chance. They also, get a chance to learn about Trinbagonian culture. I remember in one of my classes, I had just showed the most conservative but realistic video of Carnival that I could find all the while feeling uneasy because Japanese culture is more on the conservative side. At the end I was very nervous about the response that I might have gotten, but to my surprise one of my students who is 65 years old said “Can you teach us to dance like that?” Well I was shocked, flattered and excited all in one.
Not only that, but I was recently asked to teach Indian dance to the community which I exuberantly welcome. I can only imagine the fun we are about to have. I am especially excited to see my older students who are in their 60’s and 70’s move. Mind you, people in their 60’s and 70’s in Japan are so vibrant and look much younger than what we picture. I came to my town with the full intention of learning Japanese styled dance which I am still open to, but I will say that I have fallen in love with Taiko drumming and have started classes. I love that I am actively involved in cultural exchange and that both myself and the Japanese people are so excited to learn from each other.
People often talk about their experiences about Japan and especially inaka Japan and it’s not always positive. What I can say is that especially as the only colored person in a sea of light skin, Uchiko Town has made me feel so special and so normal all at the same time. I have been having a wonderful time and the adventure has not even taken off yet. I can only imagine what is to come.
JET Series: Get lost with me in the right direction, welcome to Uchiko (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
The most difficult part so far was getting used to winter as I had never experienced winter before. I am the type of person that always prefers to be in a hotter setting than a cold. I remember at University not being able to focus in the lecture theatre because of how cold it was. Now, imagine that for three months. I should mention though that the winter in Uchiko is one of the least harsh in all of Japan and so that is one of the reasons I choose this part of Japan. I didn’t know that choosing this part of southern Japan would also bring me to the warmest and kindest group of people that I have ever met.
Not only are my neighbors and townspeople always accommodating and helpful, but the teachers and staff I work with have played a huge role in making me feel comfortable and welcomed. I was very blessed to be assigned to teachers that are effective and open communicators, teachers who always ask how I am doing and how my weekend was. They always ensure that I am in the loop as to what is going on and what they need from me.
So far, I will say that I can feel myself becoming a gentler and more mindful person basically more Japanese. I was eating my school lunch the other day and noticed that I eat very aggressively, like a starving monster ha-ha. This was funny to me as I now understand what my colleagues have been seeing for the past couple of months. Now, I am a pro at eating with chopsticks and eating less conspicuously.
I had my first onsen experience a few weeks ago. Firstly, let me just give anyone who has never been to an onsen before a little advice. Do not shave your legs half an hour before going to an onsen, you’ll thank me later. So, we get to the onsen and I attempt to go in, and I could not. I stood there one foot in and the other foot outside making the most horrifying faces. My friend Dillon is looking at me like “just get in already.” Eventually, I did manage to get most of myself immersed in the water. At the end, I reaped the benefits as I had the best night sleep that I had ever had in my entire life. Now, I am always ready to go to the onsen, hairy legs and all.
It’s such a strange thing to hear but at this point one of my favorite things to do is to go to the grocery store and just look at all the different types of vegetables and products that are available here. I have also had to adapt the way that I cook some Trinidadian dishes, learning what alternatives I can use to the things that I can’t get here.
One thing I didn’t expect was how interested and eager the people of Uchiko would have been to learn about Trinidad and Tobago and our culture. I am the first person they have ever met from Trinidad and for some of them the only brown person they have ever met. It’s funny sometimes the amount of attention I get wherever I go. But, it’s always a positive experience as I know they are just curious.
There have been many platforms on which I was able to share my culture thus far. Since it is now the springtime and the cherry blossoms mark the beginning of spring, I decided to share with the students how we welcome spring back home. Although we don’t have a spring season it is tradition to celebrate “Holi or Pagwa”. I showed the students pictures and videos of the colorful powder being thrown and explained to them that it marks the blossoming of new life in the summertime just like how the cherry blossoms mark the beginning of new life in Japan. It was lovely to be able to connect with the students about springtime traditions even though we don’t actually have spring in Trinidad. At the end I asked them if they would like to play “Holi” and the answer was an enthusiastic and resounding yes. It’s such an honor to get the opportunity to shape the way these youngsters learn about Trinidad and Tobago.
I was asked in a question and answer session by a student “since coming to Japan what do you like the most?” I think students always get the same kind of answer such as a type of food or a site or an experience. But, I was very honest when I answered by saying “the people”. The teacher told the children my answer and they were all flattered I could tell, but that was the truth. The children here are so respectful, obedient and of course genki. They make the teaching experience so gratifying. Even if being an ALT is a routine task, I feel excited each day to know that I can never guess what a student can say today that’s going to be hilarious. Or what drawing a student might do today that will impress me or the random “Patorishia sensei, I love you” which always warms my heart.
On the flip side I was able to share other aspects of Trinbagonian culture with the more mature folks of Uchiko through our Eikaiwa classes. What is an Eikaiwa you ask? Eikaiwa literally translates to mean “An English conversation”. This is a class held once a week by me to allow anyone who is interested in learning to speak English a chance. They also, get a chance to learn about Trinbagonian culture. I remember in one of my classes, I had just showed the most conservative but realistic video of Carnival that I could find all the while feeling uneasy because Japanese culture is more on the conservative side. At the end I was very nervous about the response that I might have gotten, but to my surprise one of my students who is 65 years old said “Can you teach us to dance like that?” Well I was shocked, flattered and excited all in one.
Not only that, but I was recently asked to teach Indian dance to the community which I exuberantly welcome. I can only imagine the fun we are about to have. I am especially excited to see my older students who are in their 60’s and 70’s move. Mind you, people in their 60’s and 70’s in Japan are so vibrant and look much younger than what we picture. I came to my town with the full intention of learning Japanese styled dance which I am still open to, but I will say that I have fallen in love with Taiko drumming and have started classes. I love that I am actively involved in cultural exchange and that both myself and the Japanese people are so excited to learn from each other.
People often talk about their experiences about Japan and especially inaka Japan and it’s not always positive. What I can say is that especially as the only colored person in a sea of light skin, Uchiko Town has made me feel so special and so normal all at the same time. I have been having a wonderful time and the adventure has not even taken off yet. I can only imagine what is to come.
JET Series: Get lost with me in the right direction, welcome to Uchiko (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives