Dream Seed Farms
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Yoga
    • Dream Seed Yoga
    • Moon Yoga
  • 和紙あかり
    • Washi Akari Shop
    • DIY Workshops
    • Photo Gallery
  • Share House | シェアハウス
  • 網地島王国
  • About Us
    • アメ〜リカな時間チラ見!
    • つつじ野
    • EDE >
      • EDE Report English
      • EDE Report Japanese
      • EDE Pictures
      • EDE Farewell Video
    • Contact

『潮音』コラム • 8月 - August's Column

9/7/2016

1 Comment

 
(English version below)

"If it is to be it is up to me."


イフ・イット・イズ・トゥ・ビー・イット・イズ・アップ・トゥー・ミー
Picture
“If it is to be it is up to me.”

When I was in middle school, our school motto was on a big sign which read “if it is to be it is up to me.” I saw it everyday and I am still now realizing how much of an impact it has had on my life. It even impacted my experience learning Japanese. I could not learn Japanese unless I set my mind to making it happen and actually studying as much as I could.

Before I first came to Japan, over twelve years ago, I had never learned any Japanese beyond some food names and maybe a few words from pop culture.  I spent several weeks before departing for Japan just learning how to read and write「あいうえお」in hiragana.

So, once I arrived in Iwate, I would teach English during the day, and at night I studied Japanese. I bought all kinds of text books, and even had three different Japanese teachers. On different nights, I would learn hiragana and some simple kanji from one teacher, grammar and writing from another, and conversation from another. The other nights, I would study alone. I did this for many months until it was time to apply for the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), which I did by myself even though the application form was all in kanji.

Boy, was that ever a mistake! Apparently, I signed up for the “Level 1” test, because Level 1 means beginner in America. I was shocked by my mistake and totally unprepared to take the Level 1 test which was actually for those fluent in Japanese, so I just left. I lost all interest and motivation to study, and didn’t pick up a text book for many years.

After I got married and moved back to America I thought I would not need to learn so much Japanese anymore. However, even after we decided to move back to Japan I stubbornly refused to study. Consequently, I struggled a lot on Ajishima and in general when I first arrived on the island.

My inability to communicate with those around me really exacerbated my post-disaster depression. This would last for a couple years until the fateful day my wife saw an advertisement for a free Japanese class for foreigners in Ishinomaki. I was resistant at first, but I thought back to my middle school slogan. I decided to make a small addition: “if it is to be it us up to me to be part of a community.” The choice to act is always our own, but, as I have learned, it is tough to go it alone.

About three years ago I started attending the Tanoshi Nihongo Kyoushitsu (Fun Japanese Class) offered by Kokusai Circle 21. I cannot begin to thank my teachers enough for all their support and encouragement. My Japanese is nowhere near perfect, I couldn’t write this column without their lessons and my wife’s generous input, but because of my teachers I have been able to integrate myself into the Ajishima community. I still smile and nod my head even if I don’t understand people, and I have no idea what to make of the island dialect called “Ajishima-ben.” But, I can have a conversation about most things, and I keep learning something new everyday.

I have benefited so much from my studies, and I have seen how it helps other foreign students integrate into their communities too. If you have the time and passion, I would encourage you, my readers, to reach out to any foreigners in your lives, and help them enroll in Japanese class if they haven’t already. And, if you want to take it a step further, you could volunteer your time as a teacher. The impact you would have would go well beyond your students, and help bring the whole community closer together. Thank you.
1 Comment
Renée
4/6/2018 03:52:21 pm

Rick, I am so proud of you for putting yourself out there and facing your challenges head on, and to Michie for her persistence and encouraging you to fulfill the dreams you both have.

Love you!

Renée

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Dream Seed Farmers
    夢の種光房

    Rick & Michie labor in love, tending their fields, creating, enjoying, and living on Ajishima, a tiny island off the northeast coast of Japan.


    和紙あかり Lamps

    Washi Akari
    Check out our Dream Seed line of Washi Akari Lamps. Custom order or make your own at one of our many workshops.

    言語を選択できます
    日本語コチラから↓

    Archives

    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    June 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All
    ヨガ
    ヨガ
    Ajishima
    Ajishima Clean Up
    Ajishima Park
    Ajishima Summer Festival
    Ecovillage Design Education
    Ede
    Festival
    Fuyukoi
    Garbage
    Ishikoi
    Justgiving
    Lamp Making
    Rainy Day Edition
    Recycle
    Reduce
    Refuse
    Repair
    Reuse
    Share House
    Snow Day Edition
    Washi Akari
    Workshop
    Yoga
    冬恋
    和紙あかり
    和紙あかり
    石恋
    石恋
    網地島公園
    網地島公園
    網地島夏祭り

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.