Bangus (Milk fish)

I came to like bangus (milk fish) which is a kind of symbolic fish in the Philippines. I always get boneless and vinegar-marinated ones at a supermarket. Grilling bangus on the frying pan, the good smell that stimulates my appetite spreads. It never gets dry, and still has the moisture inside! Filipino people eat the fish together with chopped tomatoes and onions, and put extra vinegar on it. It has lower fat and calorie content compared to pork-based products.

Definitely good for your health!

Why can't we Japanese speak English well

Reading English sentences, most Japanese people try to translate them in Japanese in their head first, and the processing takes a long time. That is considered a bad habit in learning another language. 

In a Japanese school, the majority of teachers teaching English can not grammatically explain English sentences in English, for instance, not "This is subject" but "これは主語です". Do you think this manifests the problem that Japanese people can not speak the language, even though they have studied it for over 6 years in school?

In Meji era, about 130 years ago, there were people who were able to speak and write English accurately. Inazo Nitobe, who published the book "BUSHIDO: the soul of Japan" which is written about the Japanese spirits in English; something like a Japanese bible to introduce Japan all over the world. Okakura Tenshin, who introduced the Japanese traditional culture all over the world by writing a book in English, the book is called "The book of tea". Each of their English books were written accurately and perfectly that a native speakers mistook it for an American's work. Needless to say, both of them, of course, were able to speak English fluently. They went to an English school and learned the language under an American teacher. Hence, the class was conducted in English, not in Japanese. 

Nowadays, there are so many materials and opportunities to learn English in the range of its books to online Eikai-wa (英会話) and English-learning sites. But still, a lot of Japanese students have a difficulty when it comes to English. I assume that it is sort of linked to the development of technology, in short, the more technology develop, the lazier people become. It either makes people's lives more convenient and sophisticated or makes people feel lethargic. People seem to have gotten those environments. Something good has its side effect as a medicine. The side effect of the technology development is that people crave more of instant gratification, wanting a result readily. They seems more impatient getting temper and stopping to be deep thinkers Such an impatience definitely affects your habits, life and even leanings. 

Giving a lesson to Japanese students in English is probably one of the elements to boost their English skills. However, the problem with their English is more radical one. Why were Inazo Nitobe and Tenshin Okakura able to master English up to the level of native speakers without sufficient material related to English? It is because they were extremely eager to learning the language, and dedicated themselves to do so. Inazo Nitobe read up on an English bible over and over again that was the only way to learn English back then. He read all kinds of books available in a library as more English books were imported to Japan. Acquiring another language is a long journey. If people can not get the result, they give up right away. 

If I had interviewed Inazo Nitobe and Tenshin Okakura regarding how to master English, they would have answered, "It is depends on individual's effort". 

Philippine History and the Filipinos

I took Philippine history class last semester, so I would like to discuss it on my blog. and also share my point of view.

I became more aware about the Philippine through said class. Basically, I love to study history

, especially of a country I want to go to, because it is the best way to know more about it. After all, a country's history shapes its people and culture. By knowing about it, I can also develop a sense of affinity to them. Some people might say, "Don't look back at what's already done or what happened in the past". However, I disagree with that because history exists for learning from mistakes that the previous generation have committed, such as massacres and the World Wars, and also for passing on what they have achieved to the next generation. If people don't look back at the past, there would be no meaning to it. Sadly enough, those people would mist likely commit the same mistakes again.

As I build the relationship with the Filipino people, I have noticed that they are really proud of themselves. But now, I understand. It was derived from the history that the Filipinos went through. They struggled from colonization by several countries, and fought bravely against those countries towards their independence. 

My country, Japan, has never been colonized by any country, so it was a little bit hard for me to think of how the Filipinos felt during the colonial period, but I was able to see and feel their intense feeling towards independence by visiting historical places in the Philippines that was actually a requirement in our history class.

Jose Rizal, one of the revolutionaries, fought and died for the country. Emilio Aguinaldo was also one of the revolutionaries who succeeded in leading the country to independence in the end. The similarity of both of them was that they were patriots. This feeling if nationality was successfully inherited to the next generation. However, I can also think like this: they can not help being like that due to the experience of successive colonization by  several countries before. 

Patriotism has been vanishing in Japan ever since the country's loss during World War II. It is true that America suppressed the dignity that the Japanese had during the occupation. Many achievements by Japanese troops were erased from the textbooks used at school. I admitted that Japan did hideous things to other countries, including the Philippines. However, I don't think it's enough reason for the Japanese to lose pride of themselves

Why is the Philippines developing rapidly even though its people faced several natural disasters in the past year? It's because they are optimistic and believe that they can do anything. On the other hand, the recent recession has been ailing Japan. It is not because of its economy surrounding the Japanese but because of pessimism that they have unconsciously been holding within them. There are many things that Japanese people can learn from the Philippines, and it is time for Japan to recover the dignity that got lost after World War II to overcome the recession. 

Premium Rose Katsu (￥3600)

I still remember that moment...I think that was before going to the Philippines.

A high school teacher of mine, who is really dedicated and helped me with the preparation for studying abroad, brought me to a Tonkatsu restaurant that was located in Shibuya, the center of Japanese trends. Actually, I seldom go to Shibuya because the place is always congested and filled with pedestrians. Above all, the thing that I hate most is noise! Fortunately, the restaurant that my teacher brought me was very quiet.. it was because of high-end one?

I asked him, "What is the best dish that you have ever tasted?", "This one", he said, pointing his forefinger at a picture. I glanced at the price below , "e, expensive! " Though my teacher pushed me to order it,  so finally " Okay! I will get that one." Twenty minutes after I ordered, a handsome waiter gently put the dish on the table putting a smile on the face. As soon as I grabbed chopsticks, gently lifted a piece of Tonkatsu with that chopsticks and beautifully put it in my mouth with awe. "...phenomenon!!" the juiciness spread in the mouth. I don't know how many carbs I ate  (Unlimited rice). Anyway, I have never tasted Tonkatsu like that in my entire life! I was filled with happiness till my teacher said something made me feel guilty.

"I really envy you. I have never eaten it before." he said with arms crossed.

If you feel like eating the tonkatsu I ate

(Katsu Kichi Shibuya)
Add: B1F, KDC biulding, Shibuya 3-9-10, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.bodaijyu.co.jp/restaurant/shibuya/

English is for whom?

Time flies! Almost two years have already passed since I came to the Philippines. When I started studying in my college I had a big challenge every time I attend a class and speak in English. I was not that extrovert, so back then I was thinking, most of the time, how I should approach to my Filipino blockmates using my unpolished English. My behavior might have been awkward to them. Sometimes I felt desperate if I can not answer back to a question from my professor. But now, I feel nostalgic those days. I can communicate with Filipinos in English in a way and approach to them without any hesitance. However, I am pretty sure that most Filipinos are shy like Japanese, especially to foreigners. Of course, the Filipinos are basically friendly but I kind of feel they are unconsciously trying to build a wall to keep distance with us foreigners. As soon as we have a deep relationship with them they break the wall quickly though.

I had been thinking how to approach to Filipinos without letting them build a wall. Finally, I found out the best way, which is to speak English in Filipino accent. I guess that a particular characteristic of that accent sounds like there is a space between a word and another word. Speaking Tagalog is much better but my priority is English so I don't want to weigh learning Tagalog yet. Some of my Filipino friends once told me that my accent sounded like already Filipino accent. I was not aware about it than, rather, I thought that I was speaking in English in my own accent that was actually closer to American accent. Why did it happen? I assume that the environment surrounding me might have influenced how I speak. When I was told that my accent sounded like Filipino accent I totally felt happy because it means I am one of the local (Pinoy!)

However, I was sort of surprised when one of my Filipino friends told me that some feel embarrassed with Filipino accent because they consider English should sound like American accent. It is really up to them how they speak English but English is spoken by people with different nationality, and in various countries. It is a universal language, in short, it is no longer only for Americans, British, Australians and New Zealanders. Therefore, Filipinos don't have to be embarrassed with their accent as long as they can communicate with foreigners. As for Japanese, we have a problem with pronunciation in speaking English because there are some sounds that we don't use in Japanese. So Japanese accent might not be understandable to native speaker of English but Japanese accent is still acceptable!

I would rather enjoy diversity of the use of English than pointing out the exactness of accent in English. That is how you involve into Globalization.

Introduction

Thank you for visiting my blog. 

I am Mai, Japanese who is currently studying in the Philippines.

Almost two years have passed since I started living in the country. 

First time to live abroad, first time to live alone and first time to study as a foreign student!

Everything is brand new for me. 

I would like to share my experiences with other people through this blog. And, I hope those visit my blog will learn something. I am thinking of adding Japanese translations every time I post so that I might help Japanese learners who drop by here. 

P.S. I am not a native speaker of English so I am sorry for my unpolished English. Thank you for your understanding!!