Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Japanese Food
JAPANESE FOOD
Given that Japan is a group of islands, where do you think they get the majority of their food? From the ocean. What would that include? Fish, shrimp, oysters, all kinds of seafood. Yes, sushi, too. Sushi does not mean raw fish in Japanese, however. Sushi refers to the rice that is on the bottom of the sushi. The rice which has rice vinegar and sugar mixed into it is what is actually called sushi in Japanese. So, there is sushi that does not have raw fish or raw seafood on it. There is another name for raw fish (just slices of raw fish). This is called sashimi. Both sushi and sashimi are not what Japanese people everyday. They eat it more on special occasions or at sushi restaurants.
What kind of vegetables might the Japanese get from the ocean? Seaweed. There are many different names for seaweed in Japanese, a different name for each different kind. One kind is the kind of thin seaweed found on the outside of many sushi rolls. This is called nori. There is another kind of seaweed that is very common and almost eaten daily by most people. This is called wakame. It is often found in miso soup. Miso soup is made of fish stock and fermented soybean paste (called miso in Japanese). It often has wakame in it, tofu (bean curd), and green onions.
The staple that is normally eaten in Japan is rice. However, more and more bread is being eaten in Japan as well. One thing interesting is that rice and bread are normally not eaten at the same meal.
A normal, home-cooked meal in Japan might consist of rice, miso soup, salmon, spinach with some ground sesame seeds on it, acorn squash (a little sweet), salad, and green tea. This is my favorite kind of Japanese food; ordinary, everyday food. And it is all cooked, by the way.
Historically, there has not been much difference between morning meals and meals at other times of day. In other words, Westerners often think that what Japanese people eat at breakfast is not breakfast food because of our preconceived notions of what breakfast food is. They do eat more and more eggs, ham, toast, and cereal. I have never heard of donuts for breakfast, though. Donuts are considered more of a sweet. One one might sit down at Dunkin Donuts with a cup of coffee and a donut (not three or four) in the afternoon. One breakfast food that I see at coffee shops often is a "mixed fruit sandwich." The filling in this sandwich is whipped cream mixed with canned fruit cocktail. This would most often be served with either hot tea or coffee.
Hope you get to try as many Japanese foods as possible!
Given that Japan is a group of islands, where do you think they get the majority of their food? From the ocean. What would that include? Fish, shrimp, oysters, all kinds of seafood. Yes, sushi, too. Sushi does not mean raw fish in Japanese, however. Sushi refers to the rice that is on the bottom of the sushi. The rice which has rice vinegar and sugar mixed into it is what is actually called sushi in Japanese. So, there is sushi that does not have raw fish or raw seafood on it. There is another name for raw fish (just slices of raw fish). This is called sashimi. Both sushi and sashimi are not what Japanese people everyday. They eat it more on special occasions or at sushi restaurants.
What kind of vegetables might the Japanese get from the ocean? Seaweed. There are many different names for seaweed in Japanese, a different name for each different kind. One kind is the kind of thin seaweed found on the outside of many sushi rolls. This is called nori. There is another kind of seaweed that is very common and almost eaten daily by most people. This is called wakame. It is often found in miso soup. Miso soup is made of fish stock and fermented soybean paste (called miso in Japanese). It often has wakame in it, tofu (bean curd), and green onions.
The staple that is normally eaten in Japan is rice. However, more and more bread is being eaten in Japan as well. One thing interesting is that rice and bread are normally not eaten at the same meal.
A normal, home-cooked meal in Japan might consist of rice, miso soup, salmon, spinach with some ground sesame seeds on it, acorn squash (a little sweet), salad, and green tea. This is my favorite kind of Japanese food; ordinary, everyday food. And it is all cooked, by the way.
Historically, there has not been much difference between morning meals and meals at other times of day. In other words, Westerners often think that what Japanese people eat at breakfast is not breakfast food because of our preconceived notions of what breakfast food is. They do eat more and more eggs, ham, toast, and cereal. I have never heard of donuts for breakfast, though. Donuts are considered more of a sweet. One one might sit down at Dunkin Donuts with a cup of coffee and a donut (not three or four) in the afternoon. One breakfast food that I see at coffee shops often is a "mixed fruit sandwich." The filling in this sandwich is whipped cream mixed with canned fruit cocktail. This would most often be served with either hot tea or coffee.
Hope you get to try as many Japanese foods as possible!
Japan Facts
- FACTS ABOUT JAPAN
Population: 127 million (2006) (U.S. is 300 million)
Ethnicity of People: Over 99% Japanese
Language: Japanese
Land: Roughly equivalent to the size of California
Land consists of four main islands with many small islands. The main islands are Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. Japan is quite
mountainous.
Largest cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka,
Climate: Varies greatly – from sub-arctic to sub-tropic. Most of Japan has four seasons and a rainy season from early June to mid-July.
Electricity: 100 V (60 or 50 Hertz depending on location)
Time Zone: GMT +9 (14 - 1 5 hours ahead of CST)
Weights & measures: Metric
Currency: Japanese yen
Prime Minister: Taro Aso (2009)
Government: Democracy with upper and lower house and Prime Minister. The emperor has no governmental power.
Emperor: Akihito (since 1989, married to Empress Michiko)
Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity
Transportation: Mainly use public transportation. Driving is on left.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
~The Land of No Skunks~
The fourth graders I taught this week really thought it was interesting to think about the fact that there is no such animal as a skunk in Japan. Skunks do not live in Japan.
I am still laughing to myself thinking about the roadtrip I took around the western U.S. with my Japanese archery teacher from Japan. We passed many dead skunks and just assumed that he knew what the stench was. The next time I visited him in Japan I found out that there are no skunks in Japan and that he has no idea what a skunk smells like. Guess I can assume what he thought as we passed the dead skunks on the road!
There is an animal in Japan that is very common in Japanese culture that we do not have here called a tanuki, a Racoon Dog. They kind of look like racoons with dog bodies on the bottom. So, the fourth graders thought that this tidbit of information was interesting as well.
The two facts could be used to lead into lessons on geography, evolution, customs, cultures, countries, how one assumes that things in one's native country are the same as things in other countries, etc.
I am still laughing to myself thinking about the roadtrip I took around the western U.S. with my Japanese archery teacher from Japan. We passed many dead skunks and just assumed that he knew what the stench was. The next time I visited him in Japan I found out that there are no skunks in Japan and that he has no idea what a skunk smells like. Guess I can assume what he thought as we passed the dead skunks on the road!
There is an animal in Japan that is very common in Japanese culture that we do not have here called a tanuki, a Racoon Dog. They kind of look like racoons with dog bodies on the bottom. So, the fourth graders thought that this tidbit of information was interesting as well.
The two facts could be used to lead into lessons on geography, evolution, customs, cultures, countries, how one assumes that things in one's native country are the same as things in other countries, etc.
Friday, April 3, 2009
It's Nothing To Change Shoes 20 Times Per Day!!!
As many of you are aware, shoes are not worn inside homes in Japan. American children can easily understand this because they understand that not wearing shoes in the home could keep the home cleaner. Just for your information, however, slippers are usually worn in the homes. The family members usually have their own personal slippers; and guests will be offered the use of guest slippers. These slippers are not worn on the ground (or in the entrance of a given place where the shoes are left) for any reason, however.
The idea that many Americans hold that one does not put on another person's shoes/slippers does not apply in Japan. Everyone readily wears the guest slippers offered by the host. In some cases, restaurants, hotels, or other places of business might even provide slide-on sandals to the guests. Japanese-style hotels, for example, usually have slip-on sandals by the door to put on to take a stroll around the grounds; and Japanese restaurants where one sits on the pillows on the floor usually have slide-on sandals so that guests can easily run to the restroom without having to put on their real shoes, which might be more cumbersome to change in and out of.
What children seem particularly surprised by is the fact that there are many places other than the home where one does not wear shoes. (Note: we need to think about the fact that the word for outdoor shoes in Japan is different than for other types of footwear. They have many different names for all of the different kinds of footwear that they have. So, explaining it is a little difficult in English.) Children are especially suprised by the fact that Japanese children do not wear shoes inside their schools. Actually, they wear a type of shoe, which we will hereafter refer to as school slippers, while they are at school. The school slippers, however, never touch the ground outside or the floor at the entrance of the school where the outdoor shoes touch, before the children change into their school slippers. For a visual image of a school slipper, one could imagine a slide-on canvas shoe.
Other common places in Japan where children (as well as others) might remove their shoes include such places as restaurants, offices, or religious locations. As for restaurants, some restaurants, especially more traditional, Japanese restaurants might have seating on pillows on the floor and would require one to remove one's shoes. Many offices also require that one remove one's shoes and put on slippers before entering. Also, many historical places, especially Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, require removing one's shoes before entering. In tourist locations, there are often no slippers provided. It is expected that you will have clean feet and socks (without holes) that you can wear while inside. It is fairly common for Japanese women to carry clean, white socks to put on when they are out sightseeing in such places.
Another important fact to remember is that there are special slippers to be used only in the restrooms, or water closets. In other words, if one is visiting someone's home or in a school, with one's slippers on, one will change out of the slippers that one is wearing and put on the restroom slippers to use while in the restroom. The idea here is that the restroom is unclean and one does not want to effectively contaminate the rest of the house by using the same pair of slippers in the water closet as in the other parts of the facility.
Another important factor still is that on tatami (straw mat) flooring, the traditional and often considered more formal flooring in Japan, one does not wear any type of slipper or shoe. If you are in a home or facility with a hall with hardwood flooring and are going to enter a room with tatami flooring (usually with the sliding paper doors as well), one needs to remove one's slippers and enter either is stocking feet or barefooted.
In general, if one is in Japan, one ought to watch what happens with shoes or slippers everytime there is a change in flooring, a change in level of flooring, or a threshold or doorway. Before making the change, check to see what other people are doing or ask and point to your shoes or slippers. Adults in Japan usually understand that we do not have the same shoe or slipper custom as they and will assist you and appreciate your being cognisant of such. If you accidentally do the wrong thing, correct it as soon as possible and apologize profusely. The words, "I'm very sorry" are very understood and appreciated in Japan.
The idea that many Americans hold that one does not put on another person's shoes/slippers does not apply in Japan. Everyone readily wears the guest slippers offered by the host. In some cases, restaurants, hotels, or other places of business might even provide slide-on sandals to the guests. Japanese-style hotels, for example, usually have slip-on sandals by the door to put on to take a stroll around the grounds; and Japanese restaurants where one sits on the pillows on the floor usually have slide-on sandals so that guests can easily run to the restroom without having to put on their real shoes, which might be more cumbersome to change in and out of.
What children seem particularly surprised by is the fact that there are many places other than the home where one does not wear shoes. (Note: we need to think about the fact that the word for outdoor shoes in Japan is different than for other types of footwear. They have many different names for all of the different kinds of footwear that they have. So, explaining it is a little difficult in English.) Children are especially suprised by the fact that Japanese children do not wear shoes inside their schools. Actually, they wear a type of shoe, which we will hereafter refer to as school slippers, while they are at school. The school slippers, however, never touch the ground outside or the floor at the entrance of the school where the outdoor shoes touch, before the children change into their school slippers. For a visual image of a school slipper, one could imagine a slide-on canvas shoe.
Other common places in Japan where children (as well as others) might remove their shoes include such places as restaurants, offices, or religious locations. As for restaurants, some restaurants, especially more traditional, Japanese restaurants might have seating on pillows on the floor and would require one to remove one's shoes. Many offices also require that one remove one's shoes and put on slippers before entering. Also, many historical places, especially Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, require removing one's shoes before entering. In tourist locations, there are often no slippers provided. It is expected that you will have clean feet and socks (without holes) that you can wear while inside. It is fairly common for Japanese women to carry clean, white socks to put on when they are out sightseeing in such places.
Another important fact to remember is that there are special slippers to be used only in the restrooms, or water closets. In other words, if one is visiting someone's home or in a school, with one's slippers on, one will change out of the slippers that one is wearing and put on the restroom slippers to use while in the restroom. The idea here is that the restroom is unclean and one does not want to effectively contaminate the rest of the house by using the same pair of slippers in the water closet as in the other parts of the facility.
Another important factor still is that on tatami (straw mat) flooring, the traditional and often considered more formal flooring in Japan, one does not wear any type of slipper or shoe. If you are in a home or facility with a hall with hardwood flooring and are going to enter a room with tatami flooring (usually with the sliding paper doors as well), one needs to remove one's slippers and enter either is stocking feet or barefooted.
In general, if one is in Japan, one ought to watch what happens with shoes or slippers everytime there is a change in flooring, a change in level of flooring, or a threshold or doorway. Before making the change, check to see what other people are doing or ask and point to your shoes or slippers. Adults in Japan usually understand that we do not have the same shoe or slipper custom as they and will assist you and appreciate your being cognisant of such. If you accidentally do the wrong thing, correct it as soon as possible and apologize profusely. The words, "I'm very sorry" are very understood and appreciated in Japan.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Me, Myself, and I
Greetings. My name is Michelle Haney Brown. I have been a perpetual student of Japan for over 25 years.
In 1982, I was an AFS exchange student to Japan for one year, during which time I lived with a Japanese family, who I am still close to to this day, and attended a public high school. My experiences during that year and my perpetual study of its culture, people, and customs has changed my life and my view of the world and how we people on earth interact with one another.
My passion is to spread cross-cultural understanding between the peoples of the U.S.A. and Japan. I now believe that my calling lies not only in the intercultural understanding between citizens of Japan and the U.S. but also -- to push this one step further and broaden the perspective-- to spread understanding between people who are different from one another and to become not just more tolerant but more joyous in accepting the differences that make us all unique.
I am making an impact on the world by touching the lives of young people in my community and will begin teaching in the fall. Heretofore, I have worked with students in various capacities, substituting, teaching Japanese language and culture at a Montessori school, tutoring bilingual students for TAKS testing, which is done by the state of Texas, and volunteering within the local school district and within the city of Austin.
At Johnson Space Center, for several years, I have taught a two-day course called Japanese Cross-cultural Training that I designed for the employees and contractors who work with the Japanese people involved in the space program. I also do cross-cultural consulting and training for businesses who do or want to do business in Japan. I used to sell AT&T international long distance services to a variety of international business customers, many of whom were from other countries. In Houston, I have many customers who were from Mexico or other Spanish-speaking countries and, in Los Angeles, I worked with many Japanese customers. Before doing this, I handled the Japanese customers for a company called Granada Corporation that sold, processed, and exported beef to Japan, imported shrimp from Panama, and did much research, siring, cloning, etc. in the cattle industry in conjunction with Texas A&M University. In addition to these corporate jobs, I have done relocation training for Japanese people relocating to the U.S.; tutored in Japanese, English, Spanish; and taught life and cultural skills.
My educational background is that I have a Master's in Japanese Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a Bachelor's in Asian Studies with a Minor in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and am a member of Phi Beta Kappa. I have recently passed the Texas state tests to teach a variety of subjects and grades and am currently finishing the requirments for my teaching certification and am looking forward to teaching soon. I speak English, Spanish, and Japanese and love to travel.
I love to learn and love to share my international experiences in Japan and other countries with others and hope that you find my blog entries enjoyable, enlightening, and helpful.
I am not a teacher, but an awakener. -- Robert Frost
In 1982, I was an AFS exchange student to Japan for one year, during which time I lived with a Japanese family, who I am still close to to this day, and attended a public high school. My experiences during that year and my perpetual study of its culture, people, and customs has changed my life and my view of the world and how we people on earth interact with one another.
My passion is to spread cross-cultural understanding between the peoples of the U.S.A. and Japan. I now believe that my calling lies not only in the intercultural understanding between citizens of Japan and the U.S. but also -- to push this one step further and broaden the perspective-- to spread understanding between people who are different from one another and to become not just more tolerant but more joyous in accepting the differences that make us all unique.
I am making an impact on the world by touching the lives of young people in my community and will begin teaching in the fall. Heretofore, I have worked with students in various capacities, substituting, teaching Japanese language and culture at a Montessori school, tutoring bilingual students for TAKS testing, which is done by the state of Texas, and volunteering within the local school district and within the city of Austin.
At Johnson Space Center, for several years, I have taught a two-day course called Japanese Cross-cultural Training that I designed for the employees and contractors who work with the Japanese people involved in the space program. I also do cross-cultural consulting and training for businesses who do or want to do business in Japan. I used to sell AT&T international long distance services to a variety of international business customers, many of whom were from other countries. In Houston, I have many customers who were from Mexico or other Spanish-speaking countries and, in Los Angeles, I worked with many Japanese customers. Before doing this, I handled the Japanese customers for a company called Granada Corporation that sold, processed, and exported beef to Japan, imported shrimp from Panama, and did much research, siring, cloning, etc. in the cattle industry in conjunction with Texas A&M University. In addition to these corporate jobs, I have done relocation training for Japanese people relocating to the U.S.; tutored in Japanese, English, Spanish; and taught life and cultural skills.
My educational background is that I have a Master's in Japanese Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a Bachelor's in Asian Studies with a Minor in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and am a member of Phi Beta Kappa. I have recently passed the Texas state tests to teach a variety of subjects and grades and am currently finishing the requirments for my teaching certification and am looking forward to teaching soon. I speak English, Spanish, and Japanese and love to travel.
I love to learn and love to share my international experiences in Japan and other countries with others and hope that you find my blog entries enjoyable, enlightening, and helpful.
I am not a teacher, but an awakener. -- Robert Frost
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