API Spring Newsletter 2016

@api

Spring 2016

Layout and Design Melody Tsukahara

HELLO

Incoming letters From your 2016-2017 National Reps

Nancy here! I am an upcoming 2nd year ALT from sunny and bustling California, but am currently living in Toyama prefecture! I have tumultuous relationships with Netflix and limited edition flavored ice-creams. I am ecstatic to be of service for the upcoming year!

Growing up Vietnamese-American and around peers of a similar background, I never really understood what it was like to come from a multicultural background until I started to notice the small micro-aggressions in Japan. However, I really had no one to talk about it to. Most of my friends here are white and some have actually never lived in a heterogeneous environment. It was the first time I had question my identity as being Asian(-American). The community has really helped me avoid internalizing my frustration, which I had previously thought were stupid to talk about. I believe that API AJET is essential to supporting many ALTs and I would love to play a role in shaping it, creating awareness, and networking within the community!

Nancy Ngo

Kia ora koutou (hello everyone). My name is Dana Leaming and I am one half of the national representative team for API AJET. The other half is Nancy Ngo so check out her profile as well. I am from New Zealand and am going into my third year as an ALT in Tottori – ken. I am part MÄ ori and Pakeha, (New Zealand European) and I am looking to bring some of Polynesia to the API table. If I were to be gifted a superhero power it would be an ability to wear white pants without, 1 looking creepy 2 looking creepy and possibly from the seventies and 3 looking really creepy and dropping every possible food from every food group on them. I think the API group is an awesome place to share experiences and learn from others regarding cultural identity and what it means. My main aim this year will be to encourage more cross cultural discussion between the Pacific Island cultures and the Asian cultures within this special interest group.

Nga mihi, Dana

Outgoing Letters Dearest members of the API AJET community, It was my honor to serve you as National Co-Representative for 20152016. As part of new leadership, we were able to get a few things done, such as reaching out to program coordinators who helped us inform some incoming JETs of the group with the lack of Tokyo Orientation, holding Google Hangouts, and revamping our website and streamlining our social media. We were also able to maintain and continue past traditions, such as our second annual National Meet-up in Osaka, and publishing our API newsletter. All of this would not have been possible without the help of our block leaders from all over Japan: Rebecca, Jaime, Harris, Teresa, Himani, Melody, Stuart, Dana, Sachi, Nick, and Matt.

Of course, there’s always room for improvement, and I hope that API AJET will continue to thrive by striving for attainable goals that supplements what many of us came to Japan to do.

Our experiences in Japan of struggle and joy differ from the mainstream narrative of a foreigner in Japan in so many ways. By coming together, we can build the foundations of our identities. In doing so, we can move forward to building bridges and continue to learn from the diversity of our peers.

I hope API AJET will continue to be a supportive safe space for the native-English speaking API diaspora in Japan. I wish the best to next year’s National Representatives, Nancy and Dana, and welcome Sophia as a new Block Leader in Kanagawa. I hope that members will support them by contributing some time and their skills to organize for this special interest group and its allies.

Enjoy Japan!

Yours truly, Cat Dinh

From your 2015-2016 National reps Hey everyone, I can’t believe I’m already writing an outgoing letter for API AJET. I still remember when I first applied for a Block Representative position and was approached to take on the role of a National Representative. At first, I was hesitant and skeptical that I could take on such a role with my other obligations, but it all worked out in the end. I was very lucky to have Cat as my Co-National Representative.

Thank you for your dedication to API AJET and all your hard work!

I also had a great team of Block Representatives that put so much effort into the group. Thanks again to: Jared, Rebecca, Jaime, Harris, Teresa, Himani, Melody, Stuart, Dana, Sachi, Nick, and Matt.

I’m going to be honest, being a National Representative was not easy; it was very challenging to say the least, but was well worth my time. My passion to help spread awareness about API related issues to the greater API community in Japan really helped me push through and keep me focused throughout the year.

I am really excited for the future of API AJET. I am especially enthusiastic to see where this group is headed with Dana and Nancy at the helm. I also want to welcome Sophia and Matt as new Block Representatives for Blocks 4 and 6 respectively. I will still be around as the Block 9 Representative next year and I’m looking forward to another strong year with API AJET! Best regards, Ryan Hata

Reflections from the API Meet-up

Angela Zhang, Niigata-ken, originally from California, 2nd Year ALT I was a little hesitant about going all the way to Kansai for a weekend to meet (mostly) strangers, but I'm really glad that I went! Everyone was really nice and I had a great time. The planned events and enkais were a great way to get to know people! It was also nice to talk to other API JETs in general and about API topics. It's been a bit strange being a foreigner who doesn't look like one, and it was nice to chat and hang out with people who get it. My only regret was taking the night bus (never again).

Sophia Chow, Kanagawa-ken, 1st Year ALT I was only able to join for the reflective brunch on Monday, but I was really happy I had a chance to meet other API JETs and discuss new goals and activities for the future. As a first-year JET, I was a little apprehensive as I didn't really know anyone else in the group, but everyone was very warm and welcoming. I was really glad that there was such a comfortable and open platform for sharing thoughts, and through listening to other JETs talk about their personal backgrounds and motivations for getting involved with API AJET, I could see how important API issues were to everyone. I think it would be great to have more regional meetups in the future, and I also look forward to participating more with the group.

Nick Tasaka-Mejia, Nagasaki-ken, 2nd Year ALT Rap to the tune of Fresh Prince: So this is the story, all about how I went to this O-sa-ka town, now i`d like to take a minute im gonna try, to tell you all about the awesome things bout API. From west Nagasaki yeah, Far away, To Osaka, it took me bout half of a day Getting off plane and im thinking yip-pee, ya know, Bout to make me some new tomodachi, When a couple of faces that were totally new Started saying something like yoroshiku, I had this one little thought and I had to smile, I thought, “this bout to be the most fun that Ive had in a while” I met up with some peeps and when they came near Their clothing was all fresh, and then I shouted “come `ere!”

If Anything, I know they thought “this guy is weird” But I thought nah, forget it More Asians Come Here!

We showed up at the glico, bout 7 or 8 And we all yelled at ryan, he`s late and we`re haters!

But Looking around me, I did not feel alone, All of these API`s Made me feel at home.

Jaz Lau, Shizuoka-ken, 3rd Year ALT The API meetup was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people with similar backgrounds and experiences. Although I wasn’t part of any of the set activities, the best part was just getting to know people from different areas and making new friends from all over Japan, whether that was lounging in the accommodation, stuffing our faces with kushikatsu, or chatting on the train. Thanks API! Jillian Ocampo, Akita-ken, originally from Houston, Texas, 1st Year ALT I loved the events especially in exploring the best in what Osaka has to offer. My favorite parts were eating all the good Osaka food and exploring the different parts of Osaka. I really also enjoyed meeting most of the API members and knowing I'm not really alone here in my time in Japan.

I am happy and glad to have met some awesome people!

I'm looking forward to the next event during a holiday or so.

Lily Sun, Ishikawa-ken, 1st Year ALT It’s been three days since I’ve been back from Osaka. On Tuesday I was checking out wallpapers for my phone and came upon a picture of the Billiken statue where we all got our photo taken after the kushikatsu in Osaka, and I said, “I was just there two days ago!”

It was a whirlwind weekend of laughter, hugs, facepalms and food. I met many interesting people and there were many thought-provoking discussions that took place. It’s ironic that as I add strangers that quickly became acquaintances as friends on Facebook, I am wondering if I will ever see them again.

Sometimes I feel like the modern world is so cruel. We make connections so easily, but after one weekend of intense playing it’s hard to think that there is no guarantee we will ever meet again. It’s hard to even imagine each others’ lives because everyone experiences things differently. I can only assume that we are all approaching the JET experience with an open mind.

I was born in China and moved to Canada when I was 10 years old. Throughout my academic and post-academic career, I’ve thought a lot about what it means to be Chinese-Canadian. The JET Programme of course adds a new layer of nuance to that identity. For me, my experiences are not rooted to one location, but are stretched across different places. This is why having an established identity is so critical to be successful in a new environment. In this case, I believe our identity is linked to our intrinsic belief in who we are and how we want to live, and not to a specific place. Our identity becomes the seed with which we plant the trees, bushes, and flowers everywhere we go. With time, we each create a garden of beauty, memories and laughter that could potentially enrich others’ lives, however sometimes temporarily. In a world of impermanence, this is somewhat poetic.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to explore Osaka with all you lovely people. I gained a lot of insight and valuable experiences from my time in Osaka. I can only hope you did too!

Ryan Hata, Tottori-ken, 2nd Year ALT When Cat and I first talked about the 2nd annual API AJET National Meet Up, I was excited to expand on the one day meet up in 2015. We started looking for possible dates and decided that doing it on a three-day weekend would be best since many people would be coming from out of town.

I could not have envisioned such a successful event. Sure, there were some bumps with various events, but I believe they were all resolved in the end. I just wanted to publicly give another shout out to Cat for helping me organize the meet up as well as all the Block Leaders for not only traveling to Osaka, but planning numerous events from afar.

For me personally, I really enjoyed the time catching up with old friends throughout Japan as well as meeting like-minded people who are interested in advocating for API JETs in Japan. It was a nice relief to be doing events and have activities, which weren’t so formal because I was in an environment to discuss seriously issues a lot more freely and comfortably.

I truly believe this meet up was a great place to build, strengthen, and expand on connections with people throughout Japan. I am eagerly looking forward to where we can take API AJET next year!

living in limbo

By Matt Ryan

In America, I am viewed as Japanese. In Japan, I am viewed as American. The reality is that I am a fourth generation Japanese-American. I was raised with customs originating from Japan, celebrating oshougatsu, eating sakura mochi around Hinamatsuri, giving Koden at funerals and of course knowing the proper technique to using hashi. Growing up I felt very Japanese compared to my peers and felt like I knew how to be Japanese.

However, there are many things that I have done and lived that have separated me from the typical Asian American narrative. Most of my friends are white, my girlfriend is white, I grew up in Culver City (which according to some statistics is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in the world) and I lived with a Jewish Fraternity during college. My name is Matthew and my middle name is Ryan and my parents do not speak Japanese. I have never been one to have only Asian friends, as I feel one should surround themselves with individuals all different mindsets and upbringings.

As a result of this cultural dichotomy, identity has always been a thing I struggled with.

This became even more apparent than when I went back to my ancestral homeland by way of the JET Program. Unlike many other ALTs, I do not stick out like a sore thumb within my local community. I can move around undetected, far away from the confused/excited glances from the people around me. This has its benefits, especially if I am in a rush, as I don’t have to answer the million “where are you from?”, “how long are you here for?”, “where do you live?” questions that plague many ALTs by just walking around.

Blending in does have its downsides though.

I usually try to hold out on pull the foreigner card as long as I can, mostly because to me its a crutch, and I’d rather actually learn something out of the experience. Because of this I have been reprimanded by an employer for not speaking enough Japanese or being KY, something I doubt any of my peers will ever experience. I have been told certain things I do are unbecoming to a teacher at my schools and teachers seem to be a lot more blunt with me, generally speaking.

Most people here have a massive difficulty understanding the concept of what an Asian-American, Asian-Canadian is. In some of their minds, it is impossible to be more than one thing as living in a homogeneous society like Japan has conditioned them to think. Most of them ask me questions like ‘what do normal American families do during ______?’, to which I respond there is no such thing as the normal American family. One of the best qualities of Japan is a sense of unity among people, as many buy into the old proverb of 出る釘は打たれる, or ‘the nail that sticks out will be hammered down’.

My biggest takeaways from living in Japan are as follows: 1. I am not Japanese2. I will never be Japanese 3. Because of my face I will continue to be treated as a Japanese person in certain circumstances. The reality of the situation is that although it is frustrating, I accept it wholeheartedly as I am a guest in their country.

general population. But like me, going off of appearance alone, he did not stick out, however his identity and personality was something so much different than normal. For him, he found his niche in Korean society working at his current job, as many foreigners and locals alike can see his true value in society.

I thought to myself “maybe this was just a Japan-only thing”, however, two weeks ago I went to Korea for the first time in my life.

I was at a small but trendy craft beer bar, like the kind you might find somewhere in a trendy section of Santa Monica or the Mission. I went outside to make a phone call and one of the bartenders went outside for a smoke. After I finished up the call and realized he could speak English we got to talking.

To my surprise, he didn’t just speak English, he spoke perfect English (something I have grown unaccustomed to living here in Asia) and told me his name was Hector.

One of my biggest takeaways of that night was gaining a greater consciousness of the API struggle that comes with living in one’s ancestral home. For many of us in the API community doing JET, EPIK or other foreign jobs that have us leave home to go to our ancestral homelands is not about merely learning about a foreign culture. Its something much more visceral, its about gaining a sense of identity and our place within society abroad and at home. However, we must remember that its not just the ALTs or teachers who struggle with this, its people like Hector and others who are trying to make the best of the situation and try to persevere.

its about gaining a sense of identity and our place within society abroad and at home Hector was born and raised in Thailand but was Korean by blood and like all Korean males and would soon have to serve in the army. He went to an international school in Thailand and as a result he was a lot more western-minded than anyone else, besides other foreign teachers I have met here in Asia. He told me that he himself had similar frustrations with living in Korea and people looked down at him at times for not speaking perfect Korean and not blending in with the

The notion of personal identity is something that most of us struggle with or try to preserve by choosing to live in foreign countries. To many of us, while in our respective countries, we are viewed by our ancestral homelands, not what country live in. Ask any person in the United States to describe someone and most likely they will throw out words like Japanese, Korean, Oriental or Asian as cultural identifiers. The most important factor of all is how you were raised rather than what ancestral background is because it is not representative of you as a person. I may look like I’m from Japan, but experience taught me it couldn’t be farther from the truth.

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