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!!!!!!
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