How do you fall in love with someone??

Hi guys!

Sorry for the late update!

Christmas is coming 2 weeks later, and there are a lot of couples in everywhere!! Sooo jealous!!

How do you spend Christmas day and with who??

I think Western people spend with family and Asians, especially Japanese people spend with boy/girlfriend.

Though I gonna go to Taiwan to meet my Taiwanese friend in Christmas this year, I had a terrible memory in Christmas!! It happened last year!!

It's really like the lyric of "Last Christmas"!!

Last Christmas I gave wonderful and expensive present with my heart, but the very next moment he gave me a MisterDougnuts' schedule book(This can get for free)!! →

What do ya think??

Even though we are in the same Japanese culture, I got a big culture shock!!! Huge culture shock!! haha

This is not what I am gonna talk today. I gonna talk how people fall in love with someone or how people become a couple.

The other day, in my class, I found that there is big difference of that between cultures.

In Japanese culture, we get a phone number or e-mail address first to get to know the person you like.

But, this is totally different with American and European cultures!!

They talk with someone you like directly to ask go out!! I think this is related to the difference of communication style, because they are low-context language and we are high-context language. For that reason, we need to take long process to go out with someone but they don't.

I don't know which the better strategy is, but if a boy speak to me directly to go out I feel he is a playboy!haha

Christmas is coming~~!!

Hey, guys!

It's getting colder day by day, isn't it??

I could not update my blog because I had caught a cold.... Sorry!

As I said in the title, Christmas is coming!!! Yay!!

Since November started, town is covered with beautiful Christmas illumination!!

Then, I went to Universal Studios Japan last weekend to see wonderful and romantic Christmas illumination!!!

Unfortunately the weather was not good, so I was not able to see the whole Christmas show there, but big Christmas tree was really beautiful!!

When I was seeing the Christmas tree, I was also thinking why Japan ( or Japanese people) likes Christmas so much. Because our country is not christian, and even we are Buddhism country.

Moreover, it is really weird thing that we cerebrate New Year as Japanese ( or Buddhism) way like eating soba in New year's eve, and eating traditional food called Osechi in New year day!

But, we cerebrate Christmas with Western way like decorating trees, eating Christmas cake, or waiting for Santa.

I think those things really represents Japan isn't religious country. It is good thing to accept new things from outside, but it is more important to keep having own characteristics or beliefs.

I still like Christmas, though!haha

Best season has come to Kyoto!

Hi guys!!

I haven't updated my blog since last week.... Sorry!

In last weekend, I went to Arashiyama in Kyoto to see red leaves with my friend!

It was sooooooooooooooooo much more beautiful than I expected!

I think Kyoto is the best place to see wonderful red leaves in Japan because Kyoto has nostalgic mood and a lot of historical structures.

Oh!! Can't forget food in Kyoto!!

There are a lot of Japanese sweets shop everywhere in Kyoto, and they are soooo delicious!!

That's why I love Kyoto!! It is kinda far from my house, though!!

These days, I noticed there are still many many things about my country and culture which I don't know. The reason I think so is that I learn new things about Japan in Inter cultural business communication class.

Yesterday, we learn Japanese business words like " Thukiai-zangyo", "Nemawashi", "Haragei" and so on. Of course I knew the meanings of some words, but there were some I didn't know the correct meanings, or there was a word I did not know even the meaning!!!

What does " Haragei" mean!?!? I thought it was belly dance!! haha

It has this meaning, but in business field it was totally different!!

"Haragei" means the person who deal problems with considering his experience or courage!!

I love to learn foreign countries' cultural things, but I think it also really important to know about my own culture and language.

Too expensive!!!??

Hi, guys!!

It's already the middle of November!! Time goes tooo fast!!

Christmas is coming next month~!! I'm really looking forward~~:-D

That is not what I wanna talk today!haha

Anyway, " How much do you think foreign business man have to spend per day in Japan?"

This was a topic of the class yesterday!!

I thought 5000yen ( $50) was enough to spend.

Haha, you think that is too small, don't you?

Yeah, you are right!! The answer was 22000 yen ($220)!! But, this is only in Osaka!!

In Tokyo, it's gonna be higher because everything( food, accommodation, etc) is more expensive than Osaka!!

These days, much more business man come to Japan from all over the world...

How can they manage their money!? They are all rich man!? Their companies pay for them??

CHANGE has come to America!

Hi, guys!
Big change was happened in the U.S. yesterday!!
Yeah!! New president was elected from black people!!!



I thought he would win this election, because his passion for becoming president was great.
And, I think his speeches and words have power to move people's heart.
So, I hope he makes America much better country, and solve many problems America has right now like global warming and economy recession.



But, what I was surprised most was the reaction American people did at the moment Obama won. Some people were hugging each other, and the other were crying!!




For me, I though it was like a big festival!! I have never seen people behaved like this in Japan.

So, I think Japanese people do not so much pay attention to own country's politics.....So sad....






One more thing which made me surprise was that American people's loooooong line of waiting for election. People were waiting for 3 or 4 hours to get election booth!! Can you believe that?It's never happened in Japan!! And, finally American citizens choose Obama, though he is black people!! This is the biggest change of America, I think!!

Stereotype

Hi, guys!!

Yesterday was Halloween, wasn't it? Did u celebrate??

I went to school, and I was many people who disguised themselves with cartoon characters, mummy, and so on. It really reminded me of Halloween party in the U.S.

Anyway, today's topic is "stereotype". I think everyone has some stereotypes to someone or something.

Yesterday, in the class, we were talking about "stereotypes".

What I was surprised most was all classmates from other countries said Japanese people have camera and take a lot of pictures during traveling!!

Hummm...I think it is not a lie, but it is not can be said Japanese travelers take more photos than other foreign travelers, because I saw many visiters from other coutries taking photos in sighseeing spot like USJ, Osaka, Kobe in Japan.

So, I am curios about why our classmates incuding teacher have such stereotype to us. Is it because that Japanese like traveling? I think taking pictures are the best way to record the precious memories!!

Japanese style of job hunting

Hi, guys!

Today's weather is so nice, isn't it?

But I stay at home... My mom and dad are in Hokkaido right now!! That's unfair!!haha

As I wrote in my blog the other day, season of job hunting has started in Japan.

And, I went to job orientation (説明会）at Teijin the day before yesterday.

It was interesting and useful to get to know the distribution firm is, thought I was really tired after finifhing.

These days, I am thinking that Japanese style of job hunting which is unique and something weird. I don't know other countries', but maybe they are not the same as Japanese.

In Japanese style, it takes really really long time to get final offer from the company.

The process is like this:

1. get the accunt in the job-hunting web site

2. search companies you wanna work

3. entry some companies through job-hunting web site

4. get a mail from companies you entried

5. go to participate in company's orientation

6. take a written test ( or web test) ← That's sucks!!

7. If you pass a test, you can go to job interviews ( 2~4 times) →

8. Get a final offer from a company

See? It is a loooooong distance to get a job in Japan. And, I think this system was made since the Internet was widly popularized, so there are many job-hunting web sites in Japan. I also feel that job-hunting is toooo commercialized by that wer sites. They give us a good opportunity to consider our career and advices how to succeed at job hunting, which are good points of web sites.

But, they also have bad points that season of job seeking starts earlier year by year, they make job hunters hurry, and it is really difficult to chose from tooo much information.

I am a job seeker now, and I already feel difficulties to chose good companies for me from too much information in web site. When I was in America, I did not see senior ( or junior) students who wear black suit, busy doing job hunting, and say something like " I have to do job-hunting".

I don't know Japanese job hunting is good or bad... What do ya think?

Japanese culture is really "Not touch" culture??

Hi guys!!

Today's weather is not good, though it is Sunday.....

And, I found an interesting article in newspaper today!

It is about "Japanese hot spring".

I love hot spring!! It makes me relax~~!!

And, Japan is really famous for hot spring among travelers from foreign countries.

I think there are also hot spring all over the world, but it is really rare to take a bath with naked!! But, in Japan, it is normal thing, and everyone does.

So, article said that many Japanese hotels which have hot spring made a sign with detailed derection of bathing for foreign travelers.

Now, one thing came up in my mind that I discussed in a class.

"Touch culture and not-touch culture"!!!

As you know, Japanese culture is definetly "non-touch culture".

We don't hug even with parents, or don't with boyfriend/girlfriend in public place.

Of course, we don't kiss like Western people do.

But!! Don't you think something weird??

Yeah, I am talking about Japanese cuture thinks being naked in hot spring is OK though it is "not-touch culture"!!!

But, I still love Hot Spring!! hehe

Cultural difference....?

Hi, guys!!

As you know, economy is getting worse and worse day by day, and even big company like Lehman Brothers bunkruped......

What ' s gonna happen next....? I am really worried about my job hunting....

The other day, I watched news program on TV, and they focused on interesting point which is connected with cultural difference.

The topic was " Apology"!!

They compared Japanese CEO and American CEO.

That program said that Japanese CEO ( or president) whose company was bankrupted always say sorry with crying in the interview. Gateway and Yamaichi stock company, for example.

But!! They said American CEO had not done to do so. In the case of Leaham Brothers' CEO, he looked confident and did not cry. He said " I did do well, and I do not regret what I had done."

In the end of this program, one essayist commented it was because of cultural difference.

Yeah, that is right. I think so, too. But....

Which CEOs are ideal for company or employees?? Japanese one who kept saying sorry?

American one who took a defiant attitude?

I think Japanese one is better than American in Japan, because CEO has a responsibility to keep company well but the result was failed. I think CEO has to apologize.

Hummmm, to say sorry or not ; That is the question...

Movie again!!

Hi, guys!!

I went to see a movie yesterday with my friends!!

Movie again!! haha



I think this year is the special year I have been to the theater so often!!!

Especially from last month, I already have watched over 5 movies!!



The movie I saw yesterday was......

Japanese one which is called " Yogisha X no Kenshin". Sorry I don't know English title...

Maybe.... "Devotion of Suspect X" in English!

This film was originally from famous novel which was written by Keigo Higashino, and it connects with famous Japanese drama called "GALILEO", so actors and actresses in this film were the same as drama.

Story was that one genius named Tetsuya Ishigami devoted himself to save a lady he loved, because she accidentally killed her ex-husband. So, police could not solve this case because it was really clever trick.

And!! There was another genius guy whose nickname is " GALILEO"!! He was gonna solve this case.... But..... Those two genius were friend!!! When Galileo realized Ishigami was the criminal....

If you wanna know more, GO TO THE THEATER!! hehe

These days, I watched only foreign films like HANKOK and WANTED. And, I preferred to watch those movies than Japanese ones. But, I felt that Japanese films are also nice and Japanese actor&actress are playing very well by watching " Yogisha X no Kenshin" yesterday.

Movies I saw last week!

Hi, guys!

I haven't updated my bolg again!! hehe

Last week was kind of busy because I had to go to get a new passport, go shopping with my mom, go to classes, go to see a movie with my friend, etc....

Yeah, as you can see, it was mostly because of pleasure!!hehe

Then, I gonna introduce movies I saw last week.

First one is " Mr. Baseball". I watched in the class. Has anyone watched this??

Before I watched, I did not know even know the title!! haha

This movie is about that American baseball player came to join Japanese baseball team ( Chunichi Dragons) and finally he made a new record as foreign player in Japan.

However, it was first time to come to Japan for him and he was forced to go to Japan, so he did not know Japanese culture like taking-off shoes, the way of taking a bath, and even Japanese language!!

As you can imagine, he experienced a lot of culture shock.

But!! One day, he met a beautiful Japanese lady, and she helped hime to get accustomed Japanese culture. But!! This lady was really strong and not like a normal Japanese lady!

I also got culture shock by her!! haha

If you want why, watch "Mr. Baseball"!!! I think this movie help you to know Japanese culture and how difficult to live in the othre country.

Second one is " WANTED"!! I watched this in the theater with my friend!!

I thought this was just an action film.....

But it was not!!! It was over action film!!

Bullet went clean through a head, blood streamed from head, and........

I do not remember because I almost always close my eyes during that scene!!

So, after a movie ended, I feel no energy in my body!!

But, Anjelina Jolie was really cool!!!

Time has come....

Hi guys!

Can you guess what I am talking about??

Today, I'm gonna talk about.........

JOB-HUNTING!!!!!

I think if you live in Japan, maybe you see some advertisement somewhere from the begining of this month. In the train, on TV commercial, by magazine, etc.....

When I see advertisement, I really feel worried because I am a job seeker!!!

This is an example of an advertisement.

I do not know why Japanese season of job-hunting comes so early and makes job-hunter( Senior or grad student) soooo narvous. Comparing with America, I did not see students who dress formally and busy to go to one after another firms. Although I do not know American job-hunting style very much, I am sure that Japanese style is wierd.

Season of job-hunting starts pretty early, we need to find a job before graduation, and there are many web sites for job-hunting.

One thing that makes us annoy is self-analysis!!!

We have to analize ourselves so deep to make better resume, so we really must be really careful and consider a lot!! Of course, it takes a long time to finish.....

I have not finished yet.... OMG!!

Since last week, I have started analyzing ( too late!), but it is really difficult....

When I was senior in undergrad, I also did, but I did not feel harder than this time.

I think it is because I changed what I want to do and what I want to be.

It is easier to change my mind, but it is really difficult to look for my ideal job.....

That is why deep self-analysis is necessity!!!

So, this video really heals my heart.

This is the link of that video. http://www.veoh.com/videos/v15604771RPPtheEK

What does " How are you?" mean?

Hi, guys!!

OMG!! I have not update since last month!!

I experienced many things last week, but if I write all of them it'll be too long and boring, so I gonna select 1 thing!!

It is about one interesting discussion in my class. Can u guess what we discuss?? hehe

As you can read in title, we talked about what " how are you?" is real meaning.

In this case, which person should say first?? Man?? Woman?? I think man should do first. haha

Have you ever been asked " How are you?" by stranger, especially American?

It really do happens in America, because I experienced!!

And, It was my first surprise because Japanese people, we don't speak to strangers without constraint. But, in America, people speak to me with saying " How are you?".

During waiting a bus, in campus, in cafeteria, in airport....... It happens everywhere!!

Although I was scared at first, I became to like their asking " how are you?" culture.

But!! " How are you?", " How are you doing?",and "How's it going?" , those questions can easier to respond for me, because all I need to say just " Good!".

" What's up?" was really tricky, because I did not know how to answer.....

When I went to shopping mall with my friend and we met a really handsome American boy who is in our same class. And then, he said " What's up?" to me.......

I really did not have any idea to respond, so I just smiled to him...... So sad!!

I really really regaled not to know the answer phrase, because it was good chance to talk with handsome American guy!! haha

I think " How are you?" is the good and convenient phrase to start talking with strangers.

Comparing with Japanese, I think there is no phrase as " How are you?".

Maybe "元気ですか？" has the same meaning, but it is not casual.

English is sometime useful, but sometime really difficult.

Music saves culture shock!?

Hi, guys!

In last class (Wednesday), we learnt about culture shock!

In that class, almost everyone came to Japan just 3 weeks ago, and some are first time to come to Japan, so I think some students already experienced culture shock.

Of course, I did experienced in America!!

Everyone is bigger than me.....

Every American talks tooooo fast to understand.....

Food is tooooo much and oily for me ......

Traffic system was sooooooooooo bad in Pullman (the city I stayed)......　haha

Lots of things were different for me in America!!

And, in the end of the class, teacher talked about how to cope with culture shock, and he gave advice to listen to music!!!

That's what I really did in America!! I think I could not survive with music there!!

Music really healed my heart;-D

I LOVE MUSIC!!

Before I went to America, I was really hooked by American pops and rocks like Avril, Greenday, and so on. BUT, suddenly I stopped listening them and became to love J-pop like Sukima-Switch, Kobukuro, and Johnny's.

They are SUKIMA-SWITCH. Their songs, especially "BOKU NOTE", "KANADE", " ZENRYOKU-SHONEN" were really cheered me up.

While I stayed in America, I sometime really felt down and even regreted coming.

But, looking back to those days, the experiences I got there( including culture shock) were really worthy for me. And, it was really good opportunity to touch different culture and know more about my Japanese culture through music.

NO MUSIC, NO LIFE!! ;-D

Univarsal Studios Japan!!

Hi, guys!!

Yesterday, I went to Universal Studios Japan~~~;-D

Unfortunately, the weather was not good, I really really had a good time with my funky friends!
In USJ, from September to October, they are celebrating Halloween.

There are a lot of jack-o'-lanterns and ghosts everywhere in USJ!!! So cute!!

Then, one thing comes up my mind!

Why Halloween is celebrated so much in Japan, even thought it is different culture??

I think Japanese people became to like celebrating Halloween so much in these days, maybe these 5 years. Of course, I had known Halloween since a little kid, but I did not celebrate like this.

Then, I searched what is Halloween in wikipedia. I don't know whether it is believable or not...

According to Wikipedia.....

"The modern holiday of Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (Irish pronunciation: [ˈsˠaunʲ]; from the Old Irish samain).[2] The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes [3] regarded as the "Celtic New Year".[4] Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.[5][6]"

Hummm, Halloween is the festival of Samhain and also the end of harvest!

I didn't know that!!

In Japan, we don't wear costume, walk around to visit neighbors to get some candies, and curve pumpkins.....

That is not true Halloween~~~~~~~!!!!

Recently, Japanese culture is mixed, mixed, and mixed with many cultures.

And, it's really influenced by Western culture because of longing, I think.

I also think both Japanese and Western culture are cool and respectable.

And, it is good thing to accept together, but more important thing is that we have to know about its background and origin.

Anyway, I had a great weekend in Universal Studios Japan;-D

Happy Halloween!!

Today's class!

Hi!!

As I said in last blog, I had a class today ( actually, yesterday!).

What we discussed in the class was a little bit difficult to understand to me.... My poor English...

The most difficult question was that what other people should know about your ( Japanese) culture to understand you.

And then, one student from Turckey explained that her culture is touch culture, so Turkish do not hesitate to touch other people ( even though he/she is stranger)!!

I was really surprised this fact because my culture is totally opposite!!

Japanese people do not ( or avoid) touch other people, do they?

Then, suddenly teacher asked us( my friends and me) what we though while we stayed in the U.S.!!! At first, one of my friend answered, and then, he asked ME!!

OMG~~~!!!!

I became really narvous because I am really easier to be narvous, but I tried to say something!!

I think I made many many grammatical errors, but I think I did do my best!! haha

Class was kept by talking about culture shock.

I felt again that there were various culture in the world.

In the end of the class, Prof. showed us a funny short movie.

I don't what it is, but really funny!!

Here is the link of it: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4

Actually this is not what I saw, but same kind;-D

When I saw this video, I felt the world is connected and all people is the same!

Good night;-D

Relaxing~~~~

Hi!!

It's nearly 1:00 am, but now is the time to relax with candles for me:-D

Tomorrow( actually today), I have the most difficult class called Intercultural Business Communication in Japan.....

As you can see, it is not Japanese class!!

Everything is ENGLISH~~~~!! Everyone speaks toooo fast....

Sometime I can not understand what they are saying~~!! haha

That's why I need relaxing time~~!!!

Although it is really hard class, it really recalls me of my studying life in USA.

Yeah, I had stayed in the US for 1 year. hehe

Anyway, we have studied " What is culture?"since last class.

And, I have to think about " Well-meaning clash" for next class.....

Hummm......Difficult question.....

I wish teacher won't ask me~~!! haha

Just joking;-D

I'll try my best!!

Welcom to My bolg!!

Hello, people who read my blog~~!! I'm Kanako;-D
And, Thank you soooo much for coming to my page;-D


I have never written blog, so this is my FIRST blog in my life!!
Of course, I didn't know how to set up and use it, so it took loooooooooong time to come to this page.... The most difficult thing was deciding the title of my blog!!!
I think it took an hour!! haha


Anyway, I got my blog!! Yay!!
From today, I try to keep updating (maybe) twice a week!!
I think I gonna write about a class I am taking( Intercultural business communication in Japan), my job-hunting activities, my cross-cultural experiences, and so on!!


Please check it out;-D


*Caution*
I'm really poor at English grammar and English composition, so I will make many many mistakes in my blog....
I am happy to be corrected, so please feel free to do so;-D