Snow is Falling

The second snowstorm of the season has hit Otaru! As promised, the Hokkaido snow is "dry." On Saturday evening, I witnessed a lightning storm whilst the snow was falling. I've seen plenty of snow and many a lightning bolt in my day, but never simultaneously!

In celebration of the snow, my neighbor Andi and I grabbed our winter gear and headed outside the dormitory for some sledding and to resurrect Frosty. It didn't take long before others find their way outside. Maybe it was the snowballs we threw at their windows?

Warming up the camera 

Happy Thanksgiving

As you baste your turkey and slide the cranberry sauce onto Grandma's china dish, I want to thank you. It has been my great fortune to have the support of dear friends and family as I continue this journey called life. According to The Beatles, "All you need is love." I couldn't agree more which is why I am blessed to have such a strong circle of family and friends. As I sit half a world away from home, I have not forgotten the sacrifices that the brave men and women of our military have made. Earlier today, I listened to a friend, fellow international student, and South Korean reflect on his mandatory years of military service. He was fortunate having not had to enter combat, but fears his younger brother might not be so lucky. As bargain hunters gear up for Black Friday, many young servicemen and women around the globe fear they will soon be standing in a different line. I will spend this Thanksgiving counting my lucky stars.

Construction Update

For months now, we international students have been living an arm's reach from a construction site. Workers have been building a second dormitory rumored to be available to Japanese students wishing to live on campus. Living on the first floor of the international dormitory, the only view from the balcony has been a tall, white wall functioning as a construction barricade. That is changing today! After class, I discovered workers removing the eyesore. Some students are comparing it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. I quickly grabbed my iPod Touch to film this monumental event.

日本 Halloween

What are the chances? 

Mario is captured by Otaru police women Dari and Hyunjin

Disgruntled member of Blue Man Group

What's more American than Kentucky Friend Chicken? Taken with
my Japanese Senseis Tomita-san, Abe-san, and Tokano-san

Mario and Luigi (Andi and Lukas) protect the toad (Qu Zhan)

Monika and Lee are the 80's work out divas

The Joker and a bank robber conspiring

Serving tray with chicken is part of Colonel's ensemble 

Pictures from Otaru

Supermarket Tour

I've been grocery shopping in Japan for a couple months now and wanted to make a video to show my friends back home some of the unique products. My cameraman wasn't available for this shoot so I managed on my own. I hope you enjoy!

Onsen

I spent the evening of my 23rd birthday soaking in an Onsen along with my Austrian friend and neighbor Andy. Similar to the picture below, an Onsen is a shallow outdoor pool with hot, mineral water circulating through it.  

Popular with natives and tourists alike, these natural hot springs are located throughout Japan thanks to the volcanic activity below. Onsens have long been a part of Japanese tradition. Relaxation and rejuvenation is now the primary motive for visiting rather than hygiene. The particular Onsen we visited is called Asarigawa Onsen and is about a 40 minute bus ride from the university dormitory. Patrons are expected to strip down and scrub up. It is not only good manners but also strict policy to thoroughly clean the body before entering the body. As with many things Japanese, cleanliness is next to Godliness (or Buddha-ness, if you will). It seemed as if I spent more time soaping myself than soaking; nonetheless, I could feel the calming, therapeutic benefits for many days after.

Big in Japan

In younger years, I graced the pages of my hometown newspaper for such acclaim as "B-Honor Roll" and "Boy's State Delegate." Now, after only two months in Japan, I've been quoted in The Otaru Journal following an interview at Japanese Culture Day, mentioned in a previous post. It seems I may have a future promoting any Japanese products that are tasty and/or delicious. The quote reads: 

アメリカのジェツップ･ジェイコブ･ライアンさん(23)は、「抹茶も和菓子も美味しかった

English translation: The American Jesopu Jeikopu Raian-san (23) said: Japanese Green Tea and Sweets were very delicious.  

View full article at http://otaru-journal.com/2010/10/1030-2.php

"Mmmm... Oishii Desu"

Japanese Culture Day

A group of us international students participated in "Japanese Culture Day" in Otaru on Saturday, October 30th. Below is an short video from the Otaru Journal showing a few highlights of our experience. All of the students in the video are international students with whom I share a dormitory, classes, and friendships with. I can't say enough about how generous our hosts are to have shown us traditional Japanese tea ceremony, flower arranging, and an art project. 




A short appearance by yours truly. I am recorded saying "Oishii desu" which means "very tasty" or "delicious" in English. What can I say --I am a man of few Japanese words.

Fall Semester Begins

Classes started on October 4^th. The first week of classes is used as an introductory week where instructors spend a half hour outlining the course plan. Different than The U., classes here at Otaru University of Commerce, or Shodai as students and locals call it, meet for 90 minutes once a week. More demanding classes such Intermediate Microeconomics meet for two 90-minute sessions each week throughout the semester and are worth 4 credits. Classes meeting once a week are valued at 2 credits. Similar to South Dakota, students are expected to manage about 15 credits per semester and graduate after four years. Japan operates on the “Bachelor” and “Master” degree system, now considered the international standard. European countries such as Germany have recently transitioned to this system because of its international recognition. My tutor and friend Yuichi is in his fourth year at Shodai but has only one class to take his last 2 semesters. It is typical for fourth year Japanese students to complete more than 15 credits per semester and supplementary courses between semesters in order to devote their fourth and final year to job searching. Having a year to secure employment is probably a good idea especially given today’s economy. My Fall semester schedule as follows:

Monday: Introduction to Japanese Management, 2:30-4:00

Tuesday: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, 8:50-10:20; Elementary Japanese, 10:30-12:00; Intermediate Microeconomics, 2:30-4:00 and 4:10-5:40

Wednesday: Elementary Japanese, 12:50-2:20

Thursday: Elementary Japanese, 10:30- 12:00; Introduction to Japanese Law, 12:50-2:20; Business Project Seminar, 2:30-4:50

Friday: Comparative Studies of Culture, 12:50-2:20; Elementary Japanese, 2:30-4

Student Union at Otaru University of Commerce 

Aside from business-related courses, I am also studying Elementary Japanese. I have already completed an introductory, intensive beginning Japanese course which lasted for 2 weeks shortly after arriving in September. To this point, we have studied Japanese writing systems of Hiragana and Katakana, phonetics, vocabulary, and sentence structure. I am not quite ready to start a conversation in Japanese with a stranger, but I am pleased with the progress I’ve made in just a few weeks.

The Fall semester will last about 16 weeks plus an additional week for final exams from February 9^th through the 18^th. Spring semester will start on April 1^st, leaving about a month and a half between semesters. Much time for an international student to explore Japan and Asia!

Review of First Month

Lots of rice, noodles, seafood, sushi, chopsticks, green tea, polite people, laughter, quiet conversation, Kanji, Katakana, slippers, style, studying, Sapporo beer, vending machines, Yen, karaoke, mountains, walking, compact cars, white taxis, buses, trains, trees, water, recycling, technology  and national holidays.

I've been here for a little over a month and have had many interesting interactions with the locals. My summary above should give you somewhat of an idea of Japanese culture. While the two are different, there are many aspects of Japanese culture I would like to take back to the USA. Of course you can visit me to find out for yourself!

Sushi

Mmmm.   Need I say more. Available in numerous, affordable combinations, Sushi is never farther away than the school cafeteria or local supermarket.   I've been known to have it for breakfast.





Susan prepares Sushi rolls before a group of international students
at Cafe White in Otaru on Saturday, September 11.  



Studying Japanese

On September 14th, intensive beginning Japanese class started.  We meet for 5 hours a day to practice phonetics and the writing system. Similar to Chinese, Japanese uses a series of character symbols to represent a sound.  Fifteen students including myself are taking the course.  The regular fall semester begins on October 5th at which time I will be in a semester-long Elementary Japanese course.  It has been challenging but I know it is important to learn and understand the language and culture which I have been invited to be a part of for the next year.  Additionally, I will take courses relating to international business and intercultural communication.

Where I am

You've figured Japan by now. "The Land of the Rising Sun" is comprised of 6,852 islands.  Of the largest four, Hokkaido is home to Japan's fifth largest city, Sapporo, and only a 20 minutes train ride west is Otaru.  Once a bustling port town, Otaru now depends primarily on tourism to support its 150,000 residents.

Otaru sits on the northern island of Hokkaido. Through my readings, I am finding that Hokkaido was inhabited only by native people, Ainu, until around the mid-1800s.  At that time, Japan colonized Hokkaido mainly for its land and resources.  Accordingly, the land and structures of Otaru resemble design and architecture not so different of that in the western hemisphere likely because of its contemporary construction.  While compact, the buildings, both commercial and residential, of Otaru hug the mountainous terrain.  Steep mountains frame the city to the south and levels off a bit just before turning to coast waters of the bay.  The land is green now but I'm warned that winter isn't far away which brings cold temperatures and piles of snow.  Thanks to the mountains, snow brings many opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, so I say -Bring on the Snow!

Compact Parking

My friend Yuichi drove me to the bank which warranted this exotic compact parking experience.

I've Arrived!

Overlooking Otaru Atop Mount Tenguyama

After months of anticipation and 28 hours of travel, I've landed in Otaru, Japan. I've spent the first days exploring the city by foot, gathering some necessities, and becoming acquainted with fellow international students at the international house which we are residing for the next year. Today my tutor, Yuichi, escorted me on errands to city hall for alien registration (we laughed at the use of alien), to open a bank account, and to activate a mobile phone. Yuichi speaks good English and spent a year abroad himself in Atlanta, GA. His assistance is priceless!

My room

My room is cozy but has many amenities --private bath, oven, stovetop, desk, wardrobe, balcony, and most importantly -a bed.

Bags Packed

After careful planning, I managed to fit the next year of my life into an 26 x 18 x 11, my backpack, and laptop carrying case.  AND then a duffel bag was added when the big suitcase was 13 lbs overweight.  This was my attempt to pack small --I think I've succeeded.  I'm starting my journey via car leaving from my hometown, Presho, Tuesday morning at 6AM.  The longest of my flights is Minneapolis to Tokyo at 12.5 hours.  I am scheduled to arrive in Otaru close to midnight Japan time on Wednesday.

I am very excited to begin this adventure!

Saying Goodbye

Grandpa Corky, Aunt Celia, Mom Carmen, sister Tiffany, and Me

The goodbyes started on Friday, August 20th when a host friends and family gathered at Hutch's Lounge in my hometown of Presho, SD to bid me adieu. With the help of Elli's iPod, we rocked out until closing time.  A very big thank you goes out to Alicia, Elli, and Diedra who drove for hours to spend the evening with me.  My Grandpa Corky and Aunt Celia made a visit all the way from Oklahoma and Texas, respectively.  The newest member of the Jessop family, Josie, was also in attendance.