MIXed FEELINGS

MIXed FEELINGS

That was me, happily smiling away a week ago when I went to Arashiyama for the autumn leaves viewing.

The scenery was spectacular and I had a wonderful time loving Japan and its colours.

However, after watching this 2 videos from the past 2 lessons in class. I just can't help wondering what really lies behind Japan. All that was portrayed and all that I've seen, was it all just a big white lie?

Was I ridicule by the things I see OR was I naive enough not to look into it deeper?

source

First of all, the meaningless lives of all this men and women. Spending thousands worth of money just to be entertained by several Uh-hum, Uh-hum, looking men. I just can't believe the government would even issue licence for them to work legally. It's totally absurd.

Source

Then, there's another bloody documentary of unveiling the secrets behind the cove. People slaughtering Dolphine, with not much of a reason why they are doing so. As explained in the documentary, dolphine meat are poisonous and inedible. 

I've known for a fact that Japanese eats a lot of raw fish and different kinds of them. But mass slaughter of harmless creatures with no supporting reason behind it (besides money) is unethical . 

It's like there's a huge dark part of Japan the world knows nothing about.

On the other hand, some part of Japan portrays the most beautiful and breath taking scenery just like this picture I manage to capture when I was at Kiyomizu dera. I love the view and I admire the beauty of it. It's like living in a fairytale land where dreams come true. But to some extent, people think going to Host Club can make their dream come true. 

I don't know when I started having this mixed feelings for Japan. Part of me tells me Its such a beautiful and pure country, another part of me shows Japan as a weird and ruthless nation.

 Unlike this picture below, that shows a clear beautiful reflection of the lovely trees itself.

 Sometimes what you see is not always what you get. And what you can't see will always bring a certain surprise to your life.

Hello, Nice to Meet you...

Hello, Nice to Meet you... What is your name? Where are you from? What do you like about Japan? 

Excuse me!

Those were the little things elementary kids learnt in the English Camp organised by Kansai Gaidai University.

It was a 3 hour English Camp that I've recently participated 2 weeks ago. It was fun but STRESSFUL at the same time. Let me tell you why...

What is the first thing that comes to your mind whenever you hear that there will be a bunch of elementary children visiting your school ?? Sounds, giggling/laughing, fighting/crying.. いろいろな声（こえ）All sorts of sounds... But wait!! Look at the Japanese kids.... Quiet, Shy, Obedient, everything an average parents would dream of, and it exist in JAPAN.

I wonder how they were taught to be in such 'good manners' and I wonder is there some part of them that has this 'devil'  waiting to unleash its destructive powers and go all crazy and wild? Throughout the entire programme, elementary kids were taught a few important English phrases and played games that involves learning English. It is amazing to see how discipline those kids were. They do not voice until and unless they were asked to. 

Surprisingly, the children were very cooperative for the 3 long hours. Personally, I never like kids because I think they are noisy and sometimes a nuisance. But here, the children get to know one another and played quietly and peacefully. They even raised their hands when they have questions.

                     Aw.. Such angels. 

However, sometimes they were a little too reserved and quiet that It makes it difficult to communicate with them. That's why it's so stressful because when I asked a question, they won't answer.

Although there were children as young as 5 years old to as old as 10 years old. I'm surprise at how little English they know. In this century, English is the lingua franca. Japan and its people have come so far as to reach one of the top most over developed country but the people here don't speak much English, which is AMAZING. Furthermore, more and more foreigners are studying Japanese as their second, third, fourth language and what not, including myself.

HOW ON EARTH DID JAPAN GO SO FAR? 
I wonder at times....It might all start from the small little things like education, at home or at school. As the saying goes "It's the little things that matter that adds up in the end"
JAPAN, Never Cease to Amaze Me

アルバイト？

アルバイト？(Part time job)

My topic for this week's blog is about Part Time Job in Japan. 

3 months has past since I arrived in Japan and started my new journey.

Living in Seminar House 4, I was given the great opportunity to meet many people, both foreigners and local Japanese and have come to be close friends with some.

The picture below is a Japanese friend who also studies in Kansai Gaidai University.

She, like many other Japanese students, work part time to earn a little extra, for living expenses.

Through a short interview with her, I found out that most Japanese Students, and almost 90% of her classmates does part time jobs.

 According to her and several other friends that I've asked, working part time has become part and partial of their lifes ever since High School. People in Japan try to earn the extra money for many reasons, such as paying their house rent, extra expenses and for rainy days..etc. Many people I've come across in Kansai Gaidai University works part time, even the Exchange Students. 

I am curious as why a student should work when they are suppose to focus on their studies instead. Why is everything in Japan so expensive that students here seem to survive off working several part time jobs? In Malaysia, students only work part time during the semester break. Never or rarely will you come across any student who works part time for reasons such as paying their house rent or to earn some pocket money. It is as though it has become a norm to work Part Time to support oneself in Japan. 

( I don't know how it's like in other parts of the world )

My friend, although she receives financial aid to support her education through the Japan Government, she mentioned it is still not adequate and some students

 To me, this situation is kind of sad. After we graduate, we will have to dedicate a few decades of our lives into working, but now we can't even enjoy life, studying and participating in more activities?

I'm not saying working Part Time is definitely a bad thing but I personally do not favour the idea.

Maybe The Japan Government should try and help these students by setting up more funds to support their tertiary educations. After all, this young children of the nations are going to be the Future Leaders.