OUT SIDE THE BOX

NEWSPAPER WRITING PROJECT SPRING 2008

VOICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT’S OUTSIDEthe Box?

PAGE 2 NORWAY PAGE 5 CANADA

PAGE 3 INTERVIEW with Dr. Bald PAGE 6-7 TAIWAN

PAGE 4 SPAIN PAGE 8 ENGLAND

Dr. Suresht R. Bald is a professor

from the United States. Her speciality

is women’s studies. She occasionally

comes to JIU to teach students. She

began teaching for the first time here

at JIU from 1997 to 1998...

Dr. Suresht R. Bald

An Interview with a Visiting Professor

MORE ON PAGE 3

http://www.jiu.ac.jp

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NorwayYes Way

Population: 4,736,860

Official Language: Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk)

Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK) 1 NOK ≈ 20 yen

*A bottle of mineral water (500ml) ≈ 20 NOK

Calling Code: +47

Norway is located in northern Eu-rope and occupies the western Scandinavia peninsula. Area-wise, Norway is a little bit bigger than Japan. Fishery in Norway is similar to Japan. For example, Norway also has whaling. Norway exports pol-lack and Atlantic salmon to Japan. Norway delivers a great deal of oil as well. Norway ranks third in the world for oil exports next to Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Let’s ask a Norwegian studentI interviewed Jari Sundell who is a student at the University of Oslo, which is a sister school of JIU. He came to JIU to study Japanese as an exchange student. He has been here for 9 months. He is usually in the Center for Language for Education lounge, and he always tries to talk to Japanese and other foreign students (in Japanese!).

Koei: What’s the difference between school life here and in Norway?Jari: In Japan, I have more classes than I used to have in Norway.K: Are Japanese classes hard for you?J: Not really. In Japan, classes are much easier than in Norway. In Norway, students study by themselves a lot because exams are really hard. Norwegians have a strong sense of self responsibility.K: What was your image of Japan before you came here?J: The term “Japan” reminded of Japanese animation first. I thought there are buildings everywhere in Japan; however, it wasn’t true.K: Did you find out something new about Japan after you came here?J: I think there is still old-fashioned think-ing. In Japan, overtime work is common. Thus, Japanese work really hard. On the other hand, Norwegians don’t. It’s a para-dox. We make money only for our daily needs.

K: So, what’s your image of Japan now?J: It’s a quiet place. I was surprised at that there are few buildings and especially here, only rice fields on the way to JIU from Gu-myo Station. Students at JIU like talking to foreign students more than the ones where I studied in Japan before. Students here don’t hesitate to communicate.K: What do you eat here?J: I love Japanese food, so I usually go out to eat here. I like tonkatsu and yakiniku restaurants. I hardly ever eat out in Norway because it’s expensive. It costs more than 2000 yen. Usually, I only eat out three times a year in Norway.K: Finally, how did you “change” through studying here?J:I became more sociable through commu-nicating with other students. I really like the school life here, so I want to stay here.K: Well, thanks for talking with me.J: It was fun. Thanks.

By Koei

Jari Sundell

Norway

UK

France

SPAIN

Dr. Suresht R. Bald is a visiting professor from the United States. Her speciality is in women’s studies. She occasionally comes to JIU to teach JIU students as a visiting professor because she is involved in the gender program. She first began teaching here at JIU from 1997 to 1998. She has been to Japan at least ten times. She came to just visit Japan for the first time

in 1984. She doesn’t understand Japanese well; how-ever, she said that it’s not hard for her to live in Japan without speaking Japanese because Japanese people are very kind. She also said that languages are just a part of communication. You can use other things to communicate, such as nonverbal communication.

How is life different here then where you are from in Oregon?

Since my Japanese is almost non-existent life in Japan is always a great adventure. I try to un-derstand people through their body language and other cues such as tone of voice etc. Sometimes I am completely off but it is surprising to me how much I can make out.

In Oregon I cook at home a lot. In japan it is easy to pick up cooked food from the grocery store. I love eel, so dinner is very quick to prepare with cooked eel bought from Nagasakia! In Japan I can get a lot of reading done because except for the news there is nothing interesting for me to watch on the TV. I get up very early in Japan because it gets light so early. In Oregon I drive everywhere - I drive the 50 or 60 miles to see a friend in Portland but in Japan the public transport is so much better that it is faster and easier to take a train to Tokyo.

Besides Togane, what is your favorite place in Japan? Why?

I love Hokkaido. The people there are so friendly and helpful. My favourite spot is a park in Sap-poro which is full of sculptures by Noguchi. The children’s slides, jungle jims etc are all his sculp-tors. It is magnificent. My other favorite place is Kamakura.

Finally, do you think a women could become Prime Minister of Japan?

I would love to see that happen but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime.

Interview withDr. Suresht R. Bald

“3

What classes do you teach?

Over the years I have taught graduate courses in Gender studies : Feminist Theory, Gender and the State, Research Methods in Gender Studies, History of Feminism in the US, and Gender and Modernization; and undergraduate courses : Women in Asia, Gender and Globalization, and History and Politics of India.

How may times have you been to Japan?

I first came to Japan in September 1997 with students from Willamette. I was the director of their semester abroad progarm. We were at Tokyo International Univer-sity in Kawagoe. At that time I met chancellor S. Mizuta and President Noriko Mizuta. They invited me to come to JIU for a year to help with the Gender Studies program. So I took a year’s leave from my position at Willamette University and came to JIU in September 1998. Since then I have been coming to JIU every year except one to teach the core courses in Gender Studies.

By Koei

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Interesting Facts

1. Many Japanese don’t know this, but Spain is ranked 3rd in the world for the consumption of cigarettes.

2. Do you know the lollipops called Chupa Chups? They are made in Spain and the package was designed by Salvador Dali.

3. Meal times are very different. Actually, most Spaniards eat five times a day! Breakfast is from about 7 to 8. Then they have two snack times where they like to eat sandwiches or something light. Those times are at 11 o’clock and 5 o’clock. In between is lunch, which goes from 2 o’clock to 4 o’clock. Finally, dinner can be as late as 10 o’clock or midnight.

I: Is there any difference in daily life between Spain and Japan? R: Yes, so many things are different. For example, supermar-kets and the meal times… I: So, how about you Alberto? A: Personally in Japan I can plan my schedule for one day reliably. If you visit some place, trains are going to arrive at the right time and when you send a package, you can know when it is going to arrive. In Spain you have to be flexible in daily life. I: OK. What images did you have about Japan before you came and now that you are here? A: I already knew enough about Japan that my images didn’t change much. Maybe before I thought Japan was a homoge-neous state but, right now actually, Japan has many varia-tions. I: And you Ruben? R: Well, before I knew only about movies, Japanese language, anime and something like that. And I didn’t know about Japanese daily life. Now I understand a lot more about Japan.

For example, human relations are important – the use of respectable language when talking with your teachers. I: What do you think about Japanese food? R: It’s great. But, you know Spanish food isn’t similar to Japa-nese food. Spanish food uses olive oil for almost everything.A: I think so, too. I: Why did you decide to come to JIU?R: Well, JIU is near Tokyo. That’s the main reason. Because I didn’t know anything about JIU but, I had a kind of feeling that it is a good place.A: Well, just to work. I didn’t have any reasons. I: What tourist spots or attractions do you recommend in Spain? R: Barcelona. It is a really good place to visit. You can see or study or feel some art, culture, something like that. And I think the most interesting place is Ramblas, because there are so many shops, fashion, food, souvenirs and so on.I: Thanks for talking with me. Gracias.R: Sure. Ningun problema. A: You’re welcome. Denada.

➥➦España

Population: 43,197,684Official language: Spanish. Other languages: Catalan Currency: Euro 1 Euro = 166 yen Fun Facts: Bottle of Coca-Cola (500ml) = 1.5 Euro = 240 yen

pelo pero perro

Reino de España or Kingdom of Spain is in southwestern Europe. The climate is almost the same as Japan. Spain’s rainy season starts at the end of March and goes until the beginning of April.

By Ryuta

AlbertoAlberto is teaching Spanish on both the Togane and Awa Campuses (Kamogawa).

RubenRuben is an exchange student from Spain here at JIU.

Interviews with amigosRyuta (I) talks with Alberto (A) and Ruben (R) about the differences between Japan and Spain

Here I’d like to share a few things that surprised me while I was in Canada.1. People who wear clothes or accessories with rainbow colors indicate that they’re gay.2. Canadians don’t use umbrellas even if it rains. They basically wear hooded jackets.3. There are lots of people who wear only shorts and short-sleeved T-shirts even on freezing days in winter.

C

I’d like to introduce Canada to all readers of this newsletter by offering a quiz.

Let’s start off with a general question...

1. Canada is between two countries, one is the United States of America, and what is the other one?

2. Which city is the capital of Canada while the largest city is Toronto?

3. According to a BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) poll, which country besides Canada has the best influence on the rest of the world?

4. Thanksgiving Day in America is on the fourth Thursday of November. When is Thanksgiving Day in Canada?

5. What is the national sport of Canada?

6. What is a specialty of Canada besides salmon?

Answers at the bottom of this page.

Here is some trivia!

1. Do you know why Canada is called “Canada?” Here is the origin of the name. In the past, there were former inhabitants called “Iroquois” who lived in the St. Lawrence Basin. In their language, there was a word “canada” which meant “village” in English. This is considered as the origin of the name.

2. Did you know Lucy Maud Mont-gomery, the author of “Anne of Green Gables,” is a Canadian? Moreover, there is a tour of “Prince Edward Island” because this year is the 100th anniversary of its publication.

1. Greenland (Danish territory) 2. Ottawa 3. Japan 4. On the second Monday of October 5. Lacrosse 6. Honey

ANADAPopulation: 32,507,874

Currency: Canada $1 = 105 yen

Official Languages: English & French

Know your Canada, Aye!

The Canada I saw...

By Sho

➥

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TaiwanRepublic of China

Introduction to TaiwanAt fi rst, we’d like to introduce you briefl y to the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Taiwan is a long and narrow island like Japan. The area of Taiwan is about 36,000 square kilometers, and it’s almost the same area as Kyushu in Japan. It takes about 3 hours from Tokyo to Taipei on an airplane. The population of the country is about 22 million, and the capital is Taipei. Now, the president in Taiwan is Chen Shui-bian. Taiwan is said to be a pro-Japan country in Asia. Taiwan is blessed with rich nature, and it has a lot of varied culture. The climate is divided into the tropical zone, the subtropics zone and the temperate zone. The principal race is the Han Chinese race.

A typical thing in Taiwan is “food,” and Taiwan is called “a gourmet kingdom.” There are all kinds of food, such as Taiwanese food, Chinese food, Japanese food, Korean food, and so on in Taiwan.

Taiwanese Food and Japanese FoodAt Taiwan at night, they hold a market called the “night market.” There are many types of restaurant stands, small shops lined up right and left along a passage. People care about sanitation: Shop people wear masks and they remove the dishes from the tables at once after eating. Taiwan is surrounded by sea, so there are a lot of choices of fi sh and shellfi sh. We can buy everything very cheap and easily. So many families and companions visit until dark. Besides, there is massage, games, dipping for goldfi sh, and so on. Like a fes-tival! Every shop has a price list, so even if we can’t speak Tai-

wanese, we need not worry. The cheapest in the night market is about 40 yen, and the most expensive is about 200 yen. By the way, do you know “black tapioca milk tea?” Taiwanese like it. So they drink it daily. We can choose the style we like. For example:• Cup size: Two types, big (700cc) or medium (500cc).• Big cup 120 yen, medium cup 100 yen.• Tapioca size : Choose two types, big or medium.• You can also choose the quantity of sugar.• The night market’s business hours are fi ve PM to midnight.

Hi! My name is Azusa Konomi. I’m in the De-partment of International Exchange Studies in JIU, and I’m in my fourth year now. I’m studying English, Chinese, etc. at JIU. Actually, I studied in Taiwan as an exchange student for about one year when I was in my second year. I think I learned many things in Taiwan, and I had a wonderful ex-perience, and so I’d like to tell many people about my experiences in Taiwan. I’ll introduce some of them from now. I felt that Taiwanese people are very kind and the food is very good. I was very surprised that there are a lot of Japanese things and stray dogs from place to place. Do you know that many Tai-wanese university students come to Japan to study every year? I heard that Japanese things are get-ting more and more popular in Taiwan, and many students are studying Japanese now, and they are

interested in Japan. There are a lot of Japanese restaurants, Japanese comics, Japanese songs, etc. in Taiwan. There are an excessive number of stray dogs, which are supposed to be managed by the health center in Taiwan now. I really liked to go to a night market in Taipei with my Taiwanese friends every weekend. The food is great and very cheap, and my Taiwanese friends accepted me like family, so I was greatly touched by their kindness. I took part in a speech contest in Chinese with my JIU friends as well. There were a lot of people of various countries. I thought that to try to do anything is to have confidence in my ability. After studying abroad, I understand that it’s im-portant to have positive interaction and act humbly when communicating with other people. Finally, I will treasure encounters with people in my future.6

By Azusa

♥7Convenience Stores in TaiwanTaiwan’s convenience stores are similar to Japan’s. They have the same convenience stores like Seven Eleven and Family Mart.

Welcome to JIU!

Azu & Yuka: Why did you start to study Japanese?Mr. Chang: Because I love Japanese culture, especially the samurai.Azu & Yuka: How long have you been studying Japanese? Mr. Chang: I’ve studied it since three years ago.AY: Why did you decide to study Japanese at JIU?MC: Because here is not only a place where I can learn Japanese, but also I can meet foreign students from another country.AY: What do you think about Japanese students?MC: I think that Japanese students are kind, especially the students on the 3rd floor in H building. The difference be-tween Taiwanese students and Japanese students is that the Taiwanese have too much passion. In other words, you can feel that there is fire in the discussion, but it also means that we tend to express our view directly.

AY: How did your image change of Japan from before to now?MC: Too expensive to afford. This is the first time that I feel it’s hard to eat out. For example, a lunch box in Taiwan costs about 180 yen, but a lunch box in Japan costs 1000 yen or even more. Every time I see the price on a menu, my eyes go blind and my heart goes dead again.AY: Please give students at JIU a message! MC: Well, I am glad to be here. Maybe this is the final chance to be in Japan for a long time to study. This experience is un-forgettable for me. I’ve heard the term “Earth village,” and here it is. Foreigners’ values, not only the Japanese, influence me a lot. I’m trying to learn from my mistakes. And finally, to run into you is great.

Name:ChangTing‐hua(張庭樺)Major:Japanese

An Interview with Chang Ting-Hua

Tea: PET bottles and paper packs that say “sugarless” have the same flavor as Japan. But if nothing is writ-ten, it is sweet tea.

Milk: Apple milk, chocolate milk, watermelon milk, cof-fee milk, fruit milk, and so on. One pack is about 100 yen.

Rice Balls: Somehow the seaweed used with rice balls in convenience stores does not really stick to the rice.

Instant Noodles: Hokkaido soybean paste Chinese noodles and Kyushu pig bone Chinese noodles are sold in Seven Eleven in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Funny Goods in Convenience Stores

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Many students of Aletheia University in Taiwan came to JIU in September last year, and they are studying Japanese, Japanese culture, etc. We interviewed one student, and then we asked him some questions about Japan and JIU. He is an exchange student of the university. The university is one of the sister schools of JIU.

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By Azusa and Yuka

They came, they saw, and they were con-quered .The Romans arrived in this green valley nearly 2,000 years ago and, captivat-ed by the miraculous stream of endless hot water, stayed for four centuries. The care-fully restored remains of their tremendous bath and temple complex attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to what is still the social and historical heart of Bath. Fashionable Georgian England came to Bath to take the waters, and now bath-ers can once more experience a dip in the natural mineral water with the opening of a new spa, close to the old Roman Baths. There’s a lot more besides, stylish shops and restaurants, galleries and museums, and a lively city with its historic past in-forming an exciting present.

I also talked with Tim, who had come to Japan from England.

What did you think about Japan before you came to Japan?

I thought Japanese people worked very hard and trains were very crowded. Especially, Tokyo was a very big city I thought.

Thank you. Next, please tell me some words you know that are different between America and Eng-land.

In England people say “pavement.” In America people say “sidewalk.”In England people say “boot.” In America people say “trunk.”In England people say ”bonnet.” In America people say ”hood.”

I talked with Shevonne, who had never been to Japan.

What are your thoughts about Japan?

I think it’s one of the biggest industrial places in the world.

Please tell me some words that you know are different between America and England.

In England people say “I’m going to bed.” In Ameri-can people say “I’m gonna hit the sack.”In England people say “straight away.” In America people say ”right away.”In England people say “flatmate.” In America people say “roommate.”

ENGLAND

Shevonne, Bath City, UK

Tim, Manchester, UK

By Tsukasa

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