Notes from Nicole: Reflections of a Life Abroad

At SingleWomenRule.com, we encourage you to revel in life’s magic and feel truly fulfilled, whether the knight in shining (or newly refurbished armor) ever arrives.  We share stories of people, women in particular, who are doing just that.  Meet SWR Member Nicole Clark-Somerville who is in Japan pursuing a M.A. in in Public Administration/ Conflict Resolution. In her new monthly column on SingleWomenRule.com, she’ll be sharing her life’s magic with the SWR family.

Nicole, a Connectciut native, left the U.S. in 2006 to work as a Human Rights Observer in Guatemala.  Nine months later she returned to the U.S. and landed a job working as a PK4 teacher at a bilingual (English/Spanish) school while pursuing a post-graduate certificate in the Science of Early Childhood Development at Georgetown University. In June 2008, she left D.C. for a job offer teaching 1st and 2nd grade at the British English International School in Cotonou, Benin Republic. She worked in Cotonou until May 2009.

We pick up with Nicole in July when she first arrives in Japan.  All photos are by Nicole Clark-Somerville.  – Keysha

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July 18, 2009
After the first day of my Intense Japanese course, I quickly understood when Japanese say intense, they mean it.  The Japanese language consists of three alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. The three alphabets are mixed when writing and reading, so it’s not good enough to just memorize one alphabet.  (For those of you who are not too familiar with what these may look like, take a look at this helpful website: http://subsite.icu.ac.jp/jlp/basic/). 

Think of English’s 26-letter alphabet; now imagine each letter having five sounds, that’s Hiragana. Next, imagine a second alphabet that has the same sounds but written differently, that’s Katakana. Finally, a third has 1000 characters that mean a host of different things when alone or paired with other characters, that’s Kanji.  

Thankfully, the mind is a wonderful and amazing machine and under pressure it performs above and beyond what you can even imagine. After just three weeks, I am reading and writing Hiragana and Katakana. Kanji is a lifetime commitment in my opinion. Ahhhh, how easy life would be if it were just filled with Hiragana!!!

July 25, 2009
In Japan, there aren’t garbage cans on every corner like in most Western cultures; instead people have to hold their garbage until they can properly dispose of it.  If you don’t, you’ll be fined.  The garbage categories are: combustible, non-combustible, plastic items, waste paper, second hand clothes, pet bottles, and empty bottles and cans.  Wheeeew!  A different garbage category is collected each day of the week. My roommate and I stood in front of the garbage one evening in the house debating which one should the Q-tips go into.  Uggghhh!

July 21, 2009
I attended a traditional tea ceremony demonstration.  The presenters explained that a tea ceremony traditionally was a form of rebellion during the Imperial Period of Japan. The small entrance to the room symbolizes no matter what social ranking you may be, all have to bow down and become the same level when entering the tea room. The 4 Most Important Principles: Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility.

How to drink the tea:
1. Bow when you receive the bowl
2. Take the tea bowl with your right hand
3. Turn the bowl clockwise twice, then drink.
4. When finished, make a sipping sound so the host knows you have enjoyed the tea.
5. Wipe where your lips touched and turn the bowl counterclockwise

July 23, 2009

“Ohhhh. I just need to go #1 and FAST!!! Somebody HELP!!!! Where is the paper? How do I get the seat up?”  Some of these toilets are operated by a keypad on the wall or on the arm of the toilet seat top. The toilet can heat the seat, play music, and makes a flushing sound to cover the embarrassing body sounds. It sprays, dries, and perfumes! The flushing is tricky and most embarrassing if you can’t figure it out while there is a line outside waiting. Sometimes there is a sensor and will flush automatically when you move. Others have a sensor pad on the wall where you must wave your hand over it. As I’ve learned, when all else fails, just push all of the buttons! LOL! FYI: How to use the toilet needs to be a part of every orientation to Japan!

August 8, 2009
I met frickin’ Billy Blanks! Tae Bo guy; remember?  What’s funny is this: he’s selling DONUTS!!!! How odd! Maybe this is so that once the buyers of his donuts get fat; they will buy his Tae Bo DVD!!!!!!! LOL!

Mothers! Don’t you LOVE this! I took this pic while in the restroom stall. You can easily sit your toddler in this seat while you do what you need to do. Now this is THINKING!

August 22, 2009
Today, I went to the famous Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza, Tokyo.  The theater has been around since the 1800′s; the building has been burned and bombed but still stands and the people of Japan take great pride in the structure.  The theater will be closed for construction starting in the spring of 2010 for two years. The manager said the theater wants to make more money, and since it’s in a prime location, they’re adding rentable office space.  Ginza is the wealthiest section of Tokyo and is home to famous foreigners and famous Japanese . Every designer store you can think of is here: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and a host of others I don’t recognize but know they must be exclusive since they’re on the same street.

Unfortunately, with the density of Tokyo, property owners usually build upward and this beautiful traditional theater will be altered for the almighty yen. It makes me feel so sad that around the world cultures are being destroyed because of capitalism. Money doesn’t bring everything.

September 5, 2009
I just bought a bicycle! Yipppeee! This bike is awesome and so convenient. No more walking for me! Most Japanese use bicycles as a form of transportation. You can conveniently bike to a train station and park your bike for a free three hours. I love it! I also joined the gym on my street. I am so ready for the school year! I’m giving myself the second week in September to really get my schedule down. No winter pounds this year!

October 14, 2009
Can someone tell me what Nose Mint is????

Mt. Takao hike and visit to Buddhist Temple.

October 31, 2009
After a scenic ride on Japan’s steepest cable car, I went to the Yakuo-in Temple in Mt. Takao to observe a traditional Buddhist ceremony – a GOMA  – a fire ritual that leads people to a higher spiritual realm.  The temple may have been erected around the end of the eight century.  It was so interesting to be in a building that has been standing longer than my own country’s existence!

Once inside (shoes off and all),  I sat crisscross waiting for the GOMA to begin. The Japanese who were entering the temple engaged in a final ritual which includes a type of prayer request. These requests are written on a small wooden stick by those who would like to have something specific that they want to be considered for in the ritual.
The sticks are then placed in a box and are later collected by the priest that enters for the ritual.

The priest casts these small wooden sticks that symbolize people’s defilements, into the purifying fire. The fire opens the path to enlightenment. Participants receive wooden tablets called GOMAFUDA , which are considered tosymbolize the Buddhist god namedIzuna Daigongen. Japanese who follow Buddhism enshrine these tablets  in their homes and chant before them with deep dedication. Other activities at Mt. Takao include its monkey park, wild plant garden, famous waterfalls, view of Mt. Fuji, and season events.
The people of Mt. Takao were so laid back and took the time to appreciate the life around them. They appeared to be less materialistic and more family oriented than the people in Japan. I didn’t see one Louis Vuitton on the streets in Takao.   What a difference a few train stops can make!