In English: Opening up
I feel like I can see the changing times in Japan. It’s happening rapidly. First of all, there are some physical and appearance changes. The boys are getting remarkably tall fast. There have been reports of milk being the key factor, which makes sense, but still… it would be nice to be in a place where I can feel tall. Instead, a lot of the younger guys are getting taller, many around my height and some much taller. The average height is still on the shorter side, but that statistic includes the older generations of men. Fashion and hairstyle is on a constant change as with any other culture. I’m amused by high school graduates immediately bleaching their hair. The boys would have long hair and wear vests with layers of low cut t-shirts and plaid shirts. Some even wear a fedora hat. Japanese women's fashion is a bit more comparable to America. There are some fashion forward ideas through hairstyle, clothing cuts, and accessories. Actually, I think it’s the people in their 20s who are more fashion forward. I guess it’s due to how that's the age when they really find themselves compared with the rest of the world.
Younger people in Japan seem to be a lot more outgoing as a whole compared to the older Japanese. Well, you wouldn’t want to mess with a grandmother. They can be ruthless. Anyway, to get back on point, I think kids are being taught to be more open with their feelings and thoughts. It greatly helps with language learning as they won’t be afraid to speak. I also notice how open the younger people are in relationships. There’s definitely more PDA with teenage couples and couples in their 20s compared with even couples in their 30s.
These are things that I’ve noticed. They may very well just be in my area, but I don’t think so. I wonder how much globalization plays into all this. I’m also curious to see how other Asian cultures are like. I’ll be seeing a good number during the summer. I’m sure I’ll post about my trips after I have gone.
En français: La saison de la pluie
Cette est la saison de la pluie maintenant. Je pense qu’il finira bientôt. J’avais un mauvais jour la semaine dernière. J’ai porté mon imperméable. Quand je suis arrivé à l’école, mes vêtements étaient mouillés. La cause n’était pas la pluie. Il était ma sueur! Le jour était lourd aussi. Alors, ma sueur ne pouvait pas s’évaporer. Il était dégoûtant!
日本語で: 髪を切った
先週には髪を切った。日本に来る後で毎年は６回ぐらい切る。でも、先週に僕は｢アメリカでスタイルをあまり考えなかった。じゃあ、私の頭と何スタイルの方がいいですか？｣って聞いた。ヘアスタイリストは沢山写真を見てくれた。どうしようと思った。そうして、彼は提案を言った。もういいと思って、切って始めた。
友達に｢アメリカに帰るときには日本のスタイルに成るつもり｣って言う。待ち設けるぜ！
今週の聖書の詩: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
- Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
God is sufficient for anything and everything. I am constantly reminded of this when I look at the world and when I hear about other people’s worries. What’s the point with going through life with all these worries and anxieties?
今週の写真: I don’t have a lot of pictures that I can post this week mainly due to Japan’s privacy laws. I can’t post pictures of students or teachers unless I get permission from them beforehand. Anyway, here’s something I thought was quite funny. These are two booths right next to each other. How could one be properly spelled, but not the other one? Were the creators unsure of which one was correct leading to simply leave it alone?
