JET Program CIR Report
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(Reports from Bert) |
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CIR Report November 2019 (1)
Hello everyone. I’m Rani and I’m the new CIR in Kanazawa! I am writing this a little after the three-month anniversary of my stay in Kanazawa. Thinking about that makes me very surprised. It does not feel like only three months have passed since my arrival in this wonderful city. If I look back at the sheer variety of experiences I have had the pleasure to participate in, I cannot help but feel my heart swell with happiness, look up, and smile. Sometimes when I’m walking home from work with my colleagues or exploring the town with my friends I see something like the houses that line the river, tapering off into the distance with the mountains rising up behind them and it hits me that I’m really back in Japan. The other day I bought a bottle of tea at a convenience store because I forgot to bring my own drink. It was a cold day and I knew we would be outside for hours so I made a quick run to the closest store to make sure I would stay hydrated throughout the day. As I walked out of there, warming my hands on the plastic bottle I was holding I told my friend that was with me, “I love Japan” and she laughed. That bottle stayed warm for over 5 hours. After I heard that I was selected for the JET program, I couldn’t believe it. No, really. Apparently, my predecessor and my supervisor where mystified with how I just refused to accept that I had, in fact, been selected and that me going to Japan was officially decided. I was just so happy and shocked and the thought that I would really, truly, definitely be returning to Japan just didn’t seem real. When it finally sank in, I started freaking out about the tiniest preparations. Somehow the big things, like moving my entire life to the other side of the world for the foreseeable future, didn’t bother me in the slightest. It was the little things that kept me up at night; like how many white shirts I would need and whether I should put my gifts for my colleagues in my hand luggage or suitcase. (To answer these questions; enough for the occasional 3-day programs and orientations and the suitcase is fine since it’ll arrive in Kanazawa before you). I remember scouring the reports of my predecessors for answers that I couldn’t find – and didn’t really need because of course, in the end, everything worked out completely fine. The JET program is incredibly well organised. The second I got to the airport, there was someone there to talk me through the first part of the trip. Once I was in the plane I took out my little envelope of information and I’m very glad I did because the person sitting next to me suddenly asked if I was also with the JET program. She had seen the JET-logo sticker I had taken out while debating when I should put it on. As it turned out, both she and the girl sitting next to her where also new JET participants that had their seats booked on the same flight. They were the first friends I made on this new adventure. Once in Tokyo, from the second we got off the plane a bunch of people holding boards with “JET Program” on it were ready to guide us to the busses that would take us to the post-arrival orientation (which was also our hotel and absolutely breath-taking). The transition from Tokyo to Ishikawa progressed just as smoothly and before I knew it, I was on my way to Kanazawa City Hall to greet everyone and get some paperwork out of the way (before even dropping by my apartment because I would be getting the key only in the afternoon). That first night I slept like a log on my own little futon, in the Japanese-style room of my own apartment, awaiting the first full workday at my new job.  The view from our hotel in Tokyo One of the things I’m especially grateful for regarding that first day is the fact that we went through all the major paperwork, meeting the mayor, meeting my colleagues, giving my gifts from Belgium and getting to see my own desk for the first time, without even taking a single break (aside from a quick stop for lunch). I know they could have planned some of these things the day after, or given me more time to settle in my apartment before getting a tour around the office, but I’m glad they didn’t. This way, when I went to bed that first night, I knew what to expect the next day. I knew that I had a day of easy exploration at my own pace ahead of me instead of a busy schedule for the nth day in a row. The office wasn’t a vague, stereotypical office I conjured up in my mind based on movies and books with no idea where my own place was. Instead, it was a bright place with an easy-going atmosphere despite the busy transition-period and filled with kind-hearted people ready to support each other and answer any and all (and there were many) questions that a newbie like me might have.  Kanazawa City Hall In just three months’ time, I have had an amazing variety of jobs and experiences. I don’t even know which to delve into here and which to gloss over. Though I know I should probably edit myself a little. (I was aiming for a five-page report at the most but I’ve barely described my arrival in Kanazawa and I’ve just started on my third page… oops. On a related note, if you’ve come this far in my ramblings and you still want to keep on reading: thank you.) The first few days of my job was “get to know the computer system” and “rummage through the many, many, many, many reference materials regarding Belgium and Gent that have accumulated over the years”. On top of that, my first Monday in Kanazawa was an official holiday, so it was a nice and relaxing first few days. After that, things got progressively more crazy (in a good way). First I got busy with introducing myself to the people I would most likely be working with these next few years and getting to know Kanazawa, as well as various types of translations from Japanese to English. After that, the preparations for the first events started up. These events are the main focus of my job as these are the foreign exchanges that connect Kanazawa with Gent. My first event was an international Jazz exchange, followed by an amazing, citywide Jazz event where the brilliant Gent-based Jazz group “De Beren Gieren” were set to perform. Other Gent-Kanazawa related events that have since happened were a few visits to both cities by both citizens and officials, a “Global Gourmet Event” which was attended by the owner of “Yuzu”, a beautiful chocolate shop in Gent, and of course the yearly Kanazawa Marathon, in which runners from Gent have participated since its first edition.  Kenrokuen; the gardens of Kanazawa. This is one of the places guests to the city are usually invited too. Only two weeks into my new job, I was interviewed for the local paper. Later, I attended a disaster-prevention event as an interpreter that was organised by one of my colleagues to help prepare foreign exchange students in case of emergencies. I have attended events, guided tours, and museums to give feedback on how accessible they are to foreign tourists. I’ve been to a symposium by Japanese high school students that went on an exchange to Russia, as well as a specified orientation for the incoming Ishikawa JET participants and the Mid-Year Conference for CIR’s in Tokyo in my time here. I have given lectures about Belgium and Gent to various age groups and I have interpreted for foreigners with children who live in Kanazawa and have to attend systemic check-ups for said children. This is just a small overview of the jobs that were thrown my way these last few months.  Disasterprevention Event (I’m so proud that I did all of that in just one page.) To finish this report, I would like to introduce some of my favourite places in Kanazawa. I know I’ve only been here a few months but in that time I’ve discovered a few places that make me feel at home. Not because they remind me of Belgium (because that would just make me a little sad and nostalgic) but because they make me feel like I am without a doubt in Japan and that I have my own little place here in Kanazawa. For this first report, I’ll start with three, and we’ll see how far we get by the end of my time here. The first I’d like to introduce is Nishi Chaya. This is one of the three tea districts in Kanazawa and frequently overshadowed by its more famous sibling, Higashi Chaya. However, I personally prefer Nishi Chaya to Higashi Chaya. This is in part due to how tourist-y the second is, but mostly thanks to how adorable the first is. From the photo below, you get a nice idea of how quiet and peaceful the place is. What is not obvious from first glance is that this photo shows both the beginning and end of Nishi Chaya. It’s a really cute, atmospheric and less crowded counterpart to Higashi Chaya. Of course if you haven’t visits Higashi Chaya yet it’s a definite must-see, but since I’ve already seen it I’m more likely to return to Nishi Chaya and enjoy a stroll past the old buildings and a nice cup of tea without the crowds.  Nishi Chaya The second place I’d like to introduce is the D.T. Suzuki Museum. This is without a doubt my favorite museum in Kanazawa right now (though I really love the Turrell room in the 21st Century Museum for Contemporary Art as well, but that’s for another time). The beauty of this museum is its architecture. It was designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and he manages to unite a beautiful atmosphere of traditional Zen Buddhism with a thoroughly modern feel. Another key aspect of this museum is the fact that there are very few explanations written by the calligraphy pieces exhibited here because the purpose of the museum is enjoying the feeling that the specific works awaken rather than learning the meaning intended behind them. This, combined with a carefully constructed contemplative space near the end of the tour make for a truly relaxing and peaceful experience.
The final place that I would like to share with you today is actually a river. The Saigawa is one of two rivers that run straight through Kanazawa and connect the mountain range on one side of the city with the sea on the other side. Of the two, the Saigawa runs closer to city hall and is therefore the one that I meet the most. Its banks are beautiful and its waters shows the many faces of Kanazawa throughout the year (especially the rainy one, though I tend to not take out my camera in the rain).
Here is where I end my first report. I hope that I will keep up writing these, but I know myself and life generally distracts me from things like this. We’ll see how far I get. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much if not more than I did writing it and hopefully until the next one. Well wishes from Kanazawa, Rani |
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(Reports from Bert) |
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