FUJI ROCK!!!

I went to my first music festival at the end of July-FUJI ROCK! My friends, never have I wanted to escape back to a world of music and questionable bathing.

The festival was in the mountains of Niigata prefecture. It was hot, but not the oppressive and suffocating humid weather in Kyu-shu. It reminded me of a California spring. Becky, Owain and I left on Wednesday night and arrived Thursday afternoon. It was an epic journey of boats, trains, subways, and buses. We arrived at the campsite in the late afternoon, got our wristbands and maps and trekked up the hills to find a spot to pitch our tent. We found a spot that was slightly hilly and it was interesting to sleep in. Every once in awhile we would slide down to the bottom of the tent. My first nights sleep was fine, but I was craving the comfort of my futons back home. Thursday night, I secretly wondered what the hell I was doing here and how I would make it for another three nights in tent with three pegs.
By the second night I was too drunk, tired, and too high on the music to care.

(I forgot to count how many pegs we had before leaving and thus we had only three pegs. If it rained at all during the festival, it would have been hell on Earth.)

So, I won't bore you with the detail to detail moments.

There were so many amazing bands and we saw what we could. My favorite act was probably Justice. But then there's Radiohead and that was....mesmerizing. It's true. Music can make you high. And it's better for yah lungs! I fell in love with Ed Sheeran and danced like a maniac during Annie Mac. I loved the Stone Circle where a group of random people gathered and made music with drums and pet bottles. By the end of the festival, I didn't want to leave, but I really wanted a proper shower. 

Ready for Fuji Rock!

Owain is somewhere in there....

Just a bit of the campsite.

Ed Sheeran

The Kooks

I ran into the guy on my right so many times during the festival and  finally introduced myself to him during the final moments of the festival. Maybe we'll run into each other again...it's up to destiny. 

Update on Annoying Menace

Update on Annoying Menace...

I've been reflecting on the latest post. When I wrote 'racism,' I was actually unsure whether to actually call it that in Japan. Would xenophobia be a better description?

Anyway, something interesting happened yesterday as I was leaving from school. I walked by the first year class room on the way out and as I did, I waved at all my students and they did the  silly student things, like waving frantically and giving high fives. I lingered for a bit to talk with them when one of the boys from the baseball club came through the door. All the girls started calling him "black, black, black boy." I was kinda confused. Sure, he got really, really tan during the summer, but it's no  reason to shout at him. Anyway, I told him,

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, I too have dark skin and its beautiful."

He stopped listening. I was going to try talking with him again when one of the girls said,

"No sensei, you're white."

I wasn't quite sure how to react and I gave her a confuzzled look and quickly said goodbye.

Umm, yeh. I'm still confused. I know my students and I are coming from two different outlooks on race and skin color and just everything, but huh? I really wonder what its like through their eyes....

Year in Review

First, Happy belated birthday to my blog! I kept it going for a year! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!

And happy one year anniversary to living in Japan!!  Thanks to everyone who made the first year amazing!! The dance parties, karaoke sessions, enkais, epic journeys across Kyu-shu and beyond, movie nights, beach parties, and festivals... Thanks to my family and friends for their support through the great, the good, the bad, and sad, the frustrating, the shocking and sometimes horrible moments( very, very few of those. Thank you, God!) Here's to another year of more adventures on Iki and elsewhere!!!

Iki life got me feelin like Rita Hayworth in her prime! (Photo Credit: Katherine Brauer via Instagram)

That Annoying Menace....

My friends and family have asked me on several occasions about racism in Japan and what it's like being black here. I've avoided writing a post about it because one-I can barely understand the racism in my home country, let alone the issues of another, two-I felt it wasn't my place to comment since I'm not Japanese and don't plan on building the rest of my life here. I'm just passing by...

Keep in mind as you read this, that all countries have their issues with difference and there is no (at least not one that I know of) country or culture that is washed clean of the issues of discrimination. These are just my insights. Like I love the U.S.A, I l love Japan, despite it's issues. Please don't let this diminish your view on Japan. Every country got problems! 

Well, it turns out I'm not passing by and I'll be here for another year. I'm now considering staying for three (don't tell my parents). Because of this, I'm beginning to throw away reason number 2. I feel it here, racism, discrimination, prejudice, all of it. I do feel that my experiences growing up as a person of color in the States has helped me to be more patient with discrimination I may find, slight or not. I do have my rants though....

 Sometimes, I feel more relaxed in Japan than in the U.S.  Sometimes,  when I'm in the U.S., I feel like the system is out get to me and it stresses me out whenever I have to go city hall or something official. The times I feel stressed in Japan are when I feel like the token foreigner and all eyes are on me. Sometimes I prefer the stress in Japan.....

Like the chopsticks....

Jasmine, you can use chopsticks!

I used them back in the States.

I thought only the Japanese could use chopsticks. They're hard to use, huh? Yeah, for foreigners it's hard. 

-_____-

I think I've been very lucky though. I'm surrounded by people who are caring, kind, and willing to exchange stories with me and other foreigners. My students are wonderful, but some are still intimated by me. It's taken a full year for some of them to even say hello to me. I also think it's hormones. I work with teenagers and damn they're moody! 

One time my students asked the vice principal for help on an English phrase( his English was okay) and he gave them a quizzical look and said

                   "Jasmine-sensei is a native English speaker. Why don't you ask her?" 

And slowly like a timid puppies they walked over to me. 

But I've heard sad stories about foreigners being heavily and overtly discriminated against. And for some it has turned people away from Japan, which is a shame. Japan is really cool place. Give it one more chance? 

However, meeting some people in Japan reminds me of some white friends I had growing up who claimed that were colorblind, but called me "Oreo" or our Asian friends "Banana" and proudly declared they caught "Yellow Fever."  Often times, if a Japanese person says something offensive, they don't realize it...until they see my face. And it's nothing that makes me angry. It's just annoying. 

Like the hair

Sitting at a computer and I feel the slight tug at my roots. Ah, it's the office assistant getting a good look at my hair. 

Honey, if you must, ask first. 

Sometimes people stare like I just dropped out of the sky. And sometimes people avoid the aisle I'm in when shopping. Japanese media is really sad and it turned me off from re-installing the cable. Anything horrible or associated with crime, you can bet the person behind it is a foreigner. I have felt belittled and treated like a child. One time at a school, they were surprised that I cleaned so well during cleaning time. Umm, foreigners clean too....

There are slight annoyances and if I ever experience an extreme overt act of discrimination, you know you'll hear me at the embassy. Believe it.  

But hey, don't feed the fire with hate and anger. Quench it will smile...and if necessary, a protest at the embassy.  =D 

P.S. I'm really only hitting the surface of this. I could go on and on and using all the texts of critical race theory in my mind's library. There are so many layers and I'll attempt to unravel them as this blog continues into its second year.  If you have questions or comments and feel the need to skype with some coffee and a bit of Audre Lorde poetry, let me know!  Or just message me and comment. I'm more than happy to continue to the discussion! 

P.P.S If you don't know who Audre Lorde is....look her up, now. RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Kyoto-Sensei

I met you, a scared 22 year old fresh out of college and far from home and the comforts of family and friends. You took me under your wing. My age reminded me of your own children and I guess that made you feel inclined to care for me.  I eagerly tried to do everything and you calmly told me to observe and learn. You told me to chill out, which I thought I'd never hear from an old Japanese man. We argued over what makes the best breakfast. I still think toast, oatmeal, and orange juice is the way to go. You stuck with your roots claiming that there is nothing better than rice and miso soup with hot green tea in the morning. You were the first to come to school and the last to leave, even though you were dog tired. I remember hearing you snore at your desk from the staff room computer. I let you sleep.. I thought you could do with a bit of rest.

I loved our inside jokes. The word "try" has a deeper meaning now. I hope you didn't mind when I dared you to eat a glob of wasabi. Thanks for being honest about my Japanese skills. It really does suck., but thank you again, for believing that I can get better.

Nakao-Kyoto-sensei, I miss you. I'm left with wishes that I could have done more, could have said more, a goodbye at least. That last day I saw you, you were going to the hospital. I had no idea for what and how serious the condition was..  Fear and worry glazed your eyes and it jabbed at  my heart for I had never seen your eyes like that before. After the ferry arrived at the port, I hurried off hoping I can give you a sincere "odajani, take care," squeeze your hand and say "ganbare. do your best" However, all I saw were rushing people off to their connections in Hakata Station or epic shopping excursions in Tenjin. You must have hurried off the boat to get the hospital as soon as you could. I waited and you never appeared from the boat.


Now, I make up spiritual bullshit to cope with the fact that I'll never see you again.

I pray at my self-made altar to Mary, mother of Jesus, Maybe the wind will carry my thoughts to you. If I pray hard enough, maybe your spirit will hear. I wait for a response, or a sign that maybe you heard. However, the only movement is the flame from the candle. My faith falters a bit, but I know it's because I want instant gratification, instant relief.