1993 School Magazine

shared their homes and lives with me, and provided me with security, more-than-ample kindness and generosity, and con- slant encouragement. Becoming a part of these households also gave me the rare chance to experience Japanese life from the inside - a far cry from the superficial, very limited view gleaned by the average foreign tourist. Having to use your language skills constantly, also guarantees fast learning - and I even found myself dreaming in Japanese before long! I I "", t*' ' I .; . .!;:-.* , . _, ,,. it * "'** ~.: *, 't;*;-,,* 4. , .'**at** ' ' . t

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Ingrid Hadgraft in traditional dress Among other things, I learnt, during my slay: . to expect Ihe unexpected - at all times! - and that despite all the good limes. bad times can (and do) appear . to smile politely and bile Iny tongue when informed effLi- SIvely by Japanese friends that I had hair flusi like a Barbie doll" . that the consumption of seaweed, green tea and raw fish is not only possible, but furthermore does not necessarily cause slow, painful death! However, on a serious level, I discovered also that the infiniteIy diverse and precious rewards an experience like this can yield, range from fluency in a foreign language, to forg- ing a lifetime of meniories. 10 discovering more about your- self My first days at school were somewhat confusing, as, back in my BGGS Liniform (for the sixth consecutive year. ..) I SITUg- tiled to come to terms with being in a class of forty-seven SIu- dents, and taking all my lessons in Japanese (Calculus and Chemistry not. alas. becoming any clearer to me in translation than they ever were in English!) I was greeted. also, by con- slant little cultural surprises, like rice and green tea for Iuncli. having 10 wear slippers inside the school buildings, alld hav- ing 10 help my classmates clean toilets! (Japanese silldenis do all the cleaning of 111eir schools - and often lamentably POOF Iy, I might add. ..) however, BGGS girls would be incredulous to hear. for example. Inat boyfi'iends are PI^bited. (by school rule) and in soilte cases, socialising with males, even whilst out of unitoriiT and on weekends, could result in expulsion! Even I was not exempt from 111e major regulations. One of these. whicli previously 11ad been unknown to me, I learnt the hard way one niorning when. whilsi riding my bicycle 10 school. I was caught in a sudden downpour of rain. Thinking logically. I put up my umbrella and continued lily ride, only to be SIo ed at the school oate and iven a detention - because apparently. riding with an umbrella in nand is consid- CTed a dangerous and forbidden practice. Allhougli I was pleased to be treated like any other student, pulling weeds out of the arounds for' three afternoons after school was not tremendous fun. (The SIory amused my host families 110 end. however. ..) During the six-InonIh pel'iod. live diffei'Grit nosi lainilies

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At Kyoto Experiencino host family life has left me with colourful and precious memories of activities as diverse as rice-harvesting, visiting Tokyo Disneyland and the ancient temples of Kyoto, and watching "The Simpsons" in Japanese (a rather bizarre experience, I must admit!). A1 one faniily's insistence, I even braved Communal Bathing - and surprisingIy, found it not the source of public ITUmiliation which I had anticipated, but a relaxing and rejuvenating experience which I wouldn't mind I'GPeating! Naturally, though, host-family life was the most fulfilling when my hosts and I spent lime communicating our very dif- forent ideas, views, and opinions 10 one another. A great deal of my current knowledge of the Japanese character, and the changing face of modern Japan was gleaned from host-family conversations (some more serious/technical than others). Plus. I was able to find answers 10 nagging questions such as, "WITat nappens 10 those enormous Sumo Wrestlers after Ihey retire? One realisaiion that I came to was that Australians are envied tileir fleedom. Even today. Japanese children are still being encouraged 10, as they grow up, stifle tileir individuality and become determined workaholics. Thus, they become uricom- plaining, efficient 1111its of a gi'oup-orientaled society, whose members enjoy great economic success, but sometimes doubt- ful levels of happiness and personal fulfilment. Even the expression of true emotion is discoui'aged in young Japanese people. Coming fi'Din a society o1' very open. often over Gino- lional people, I admired this stoicism. but found it lonely and liarslT at limes. However. as Tenecied in the revolutionary new Hosokawa Dovei. nineni. and "Masako-san". Japan ' s dynamic diplomat- turned-Crown-Princess. altitudes are changing. it appears that. after centuries of global reclusion. the Japanese - espe- cially youth - ale letting go of 1110re and more of their rather uncompromising traditional customs and attitudes, and adopt- ing a in ore open and relaxed outlook, in growing mimicry of Western countries (which seein 10 be held in awc as oases of

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