Good afternoon. My name is Mark Fingerhut. I am a 3rd year chugakko ALT from Kumamoto City. I have been involved in many of the JET conferences, several workshops, English camps and Kumamoto AJET. I have had the pleasure of meeting and making friends with many of you. I congratulate you on completing your tenure on the JET program.
Today, I won’t talk a lot about my own personal experiences in Kumamoto. I won’t tell you about my numerous waterfall jumps from Amakusa to Yakushima. I am not going to talk about eating snake, dog or kangaroo on my JET vacations. I certainly will not discuss the too often than usual all night benders in the City. Also, I won’t spend time talking about my passion during my time in Japan, the Kumamoto Hash House Harriers.
Instead, I want to talk about how each of us can use our own experiences in Kumamoto, how we can learn from these experiences and put them to use in the future. Please allow me to hopefully be the last person to give you these immortal words: “Every situation is different.” Each of us comes from a different background, have lived very different lives here in Japan, and no doubt will pursue varying paths in the future. However, we will now be linked together with our time in Kumamoto.
I want to suggest that a large part of living in Japan has yet to take place for us. When we reflect on our time in Japan, we should have the proper time and space to do so. No matter where, when or how long we spend in this reflection will obviously vary, but when you do, try to keep a couple things in mind.
First, although some may disagree, we have all gained valuable teaching experience here. I imagine most of us have faced the familiar situation of a teacher asking us to make a fun and interesting activity specifically suited to today’s grammar point 5 minutes before class. At this point you know that the success of your English classes was dictated by the amount of work and energy you put into it. You could see the results of your efforts in the excited looks on the students faces, or more realistically for me, the puddles of saliva forming on sleeping students’ desks. Some of us have been lucky enough to work at multiple schools and have had the chance to work with many different teachers. We have had to adjust to each teacher’s teaching style and adopt a role in the framework of each teacher’s lesson plans, whether it was Mark, the university educated tape recorder or a leader in the classroom. In a word, the art of Flexibility.
My second point is similar, in that simply living in Japan and learning the culture has required a sense of flexibility in many situations. It takes a strong person to live in a foreign culture as we have done. I think that we are all better suited to handle situations of adversity and challenge because of our experiences here in Japan. One should not take lightly the fact that we have lived in a culture as unique as Japan’s. We have faced many challenges and have come out on top. As America’s omnipotent leader George W. Bush says: “It’s incredibly hard work.”
Thirdly, we can all take with us some kind of unique talent or skill that we have learned or developed in Japan. It may be mastery of the language or a martial art. Sure, it was only against shogakksei, but I’ve really become quite a terrific sumo wrestler. Perhaps it’s a skill such as photography, flower arranging or dodging buses on your bike. It always amazes me how people enjoy such varied activities in Japan such as salsa dancing, surfing, capioera, kimono contests, drum lessons, manga or ultimate frisbee. Maybe you take pride in your creation of dynamic and engaging lesson plans. Perhaps like myself, you enjoy exploring the unique landscape and amazing mountains and waterfalls in the countryside. However you have spent your leisure time in Japan will hopefully lead to increased cultural awareness and personal development.
Lastly, I could not think of reflecting on the JET program without mentioning friends. Although I was lucky enough to join my brother in Japan for my first 2 years, many of us came to Japan not knowing anyone else. We have formed countless friendships and relationships with our co-workers and fellow JETs. The amazing people we have befriended will forever populate our memories of Japan. We only hope that the kindness we have received can some day be repaid in some respect. Although we may not present future visitors to our house with a plate of raw horse swimming in wasabi-tinged soy sauce, we can offer hospitality nonetheless. Whether it is inviting a teacher to visit your hometown or providing a home stay for a student of yours in the future, we can continue our relationships with those we have met from Japan.
We have indeed formed unique bonds with other ALTs. Perhaps more often when we first came to Japan than recently, we may have felt as though we were placed on this small island with people speaking a strange language with strange culture and manners. Most of us have formed very strong bonds with other foreigners cast into the same situation. We have been comforted and entertained by each other. We’ve been travel partners, drinking buddies, givers of advice, mentors, sources of inspiration, teammates and most of all, friends. While many of us will remain friends and in contact after our time in Japan, we will see others only in our memories. Let us say thank you to these friends and wish them the best of luck in the future.
I would like to end my ramblings today with a couple quotes from others who have said it better than I or George W. Bush can ever hope to. The first is from author T.S. Eliot.
"We shall not cease from exploring and at the end of our exploration, we will return to where we started and know the place for the first time."
The next is a very special quotation commonly invoked in various situations throughout the English speaking community in Japan. Its use peaked during the tenure of my brother, one Joe Fingerhut. It has many meanings, but today I offer it as advice to you, something to remember above all things as you continue on your respective journeys from this day forward:
“Let’s enjoy.”
Good Luck to you all. Thank you.
I thought it was decent. It was an honest view of a lot of aspects of our job. I tried to keep it light and add a few jokes in there. So I faxed it to the Prefecture for review. My supervisor called me this morning and said I had to change it. (1) It was too long. (2) I wasn't to mention George Bush. I was told the speech would be for the governer of the Prefecture. Fine, point taken. Here is the
Good afternoon. My name is Mark Fingerhut. I am a 3rd year junior high ALT from Kumamoto City. I have been involved in many of the JET conferences, several workshops, English camps and Kumamoto AJET. I have had the pleasure of meeting and making friends with many of you. I’d like to thank the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education for this opportunity to speak. I congratulate you on completing your tenure on the JET program.
Even though many of us will soon leave Japan, I believe a large part of living in Japan has yet to take place for us. The way we remember our experience here and how we use those positive experiences in the future is a large part of our internationalization. When we reflect on our time in Japan, we should have the proper time and space to do so. No matter where, when or how long we spend in this reflection will obviously vary, but when you do, try to keep a couple things in mind.
Many of us have received overwhelming kindness from host families, neighbors, co-workers and friends. When we first arrived in Japan, our transition was very smooth thanks to the energies of our supervisors and English teachers. Any difficulties or questions we had at the beginning were quickly taken care of with kindness and general efficiency. From whatever part of Kumamoto Prefecture you lived in, I am positive you received endless help and hospitality from those around you. We should never forget this.
There are many positive aspects of Japanese culture that we can take with us. I am sure we have all witnessed how much time our fellow teachers devote to their jobs and to the students. I hope our co-workers long hours and strong work ethic inspire us to devote all of our energy to whatever path we pursue.
Also, we should think about Japan’s commitment to internationalization. We should be grateful that we have been able to teach within the public school system and have contact with so many students. Although every student will not choose to pursue the study of English, I am positive we have increased interest in international cultures and awareness of a world outside Japan.
On behalf of all JETs present here today, I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us during our time in Kumamoto. I want to thank Kumamoto Prefecture for honoring us with these certificates. We may not realize how much the Prefectural Board of Education and the International Affairs section has done for us, but let us take this time to say thank you once again. I would also like to express my appreciation for our supervisors, who have worked tirelessly to make our lives as smooth as possible.
I urge everyone to enjoy your last few weeks on the JET program. Instead of thinking about leaving, think about all the amazing experiences you have had in Kumamoto and put that much more energy into everything you do your last few weeks. Good Luck to you all. Thank you.
If this one doesn't work, I give up.
Which do you like better?
No comments:
Post a Comment