Vol. 7
June 2015

CONTENTS
Hue Traditional Craft
Festival 2015

1

SIEA first general
meeting and lecture

2Feature: Photos fromHue Festival 2015

2

Reflections on fiveyears as Komatsu ALT

3

SIEA’s new Facebook
page3

Eigo de Go!

4International exchange
events4

Saijo, invited by the Chairman of theincluding lanterns and danjiri carvings,

Hue City People’s, participated in thepaper cutout art, washi (traditional

2015 Hue Traditional Craft Festival

Japanese paper), and bamboo bags.

(April 28-May 2). Saijo displayed tradi-Moreover, the lively booth offered thetional crafts and culture, and deepened

many visitors a fun opportunity to expe-

its ties with the ancient Vietnamese

rience local culture through tasting Sai-city.

jo’s sweets and black tea, as well as

The festival coincided with a 6-day

through hands-on activities such as

holiday, and Hue was visited by approx-

dyeing washi and dressing up in happi

imately 100,000 Vietnamese and inter-from Saijo festival and in yukata.

national tourists. Saijo’s booth was in a

Saijo’s success at the festival was due

high-traffic area and received 3000

in large part to the efforts of Hue Uni-guests over the course of the event.

versity students. Students learning

Many local crafts from Hue andJapanese worked tirelessly to promote

across Vietnam were on display, andour city, speaking Japanese with Saijo’s

International Relations

the festival included demonstrations, aorganizers and helping explain displays

Saijo is a quarterlymarket and more. Japan, South Korea,

and how to dress in yukata. Many stu-

newsletter published in

France and other countries also had

dents in Vietnam (average age: 29) areJapanese and English bybooths. In addition to Saijo’s booth,interested in the world. Japan is also athe Saijo International

Shuei, which operates an embroidery

popular study abroad destination.

Exchange Association(SIEA). We welcome yourcomments, questions andsubmissions.

factory in Hue, had a kimono display.
Saijo’s booth featured panels outlin-

We anticipate that Saijo and Hue willbuild upon our cultural exchanges toing the relationship between Hue andcreate opportunities for a deeper friend-Saijo, including the disaster readinessship between and further cooperation ineducation program. The booth also ex-culture, agriculture, industry and otherhibited traditional craftwork from Saijo

fields.（レ）Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

2International Relations Saijo

Report: SIEA general meeting and commemorative lecture
The Saijo International Exchange Association(SIEA) held our first general meeting and commemorative lecture on Saturday, May 30 at the Saijo City
Cultural Center. Approximately 90 members
attended the general meeting, and all of the items on
the agenda were approved by the assembly. Several
guests including Saijo Mayor Masaru Aono offeredcongratulatory addresses and the association officiallycommenced activities.
After the general meeting, Professor Nishantha ofHagoromo International University gave a commemorative lecture about the lessons of his many years ofexperience in international exchange. His humorous(left) Professor
Nishantha of Hagoromo International
University, a nativeof Sri Lanka, received big laughs
during his lecture.
（below）“InternationalRelations in Saijo”
exhibition

speech encouraged Saijo’s residents to strive for exchange founded in friendship and mutual laughter.
An exhibit of ongoing international exchange activities by many organizations in Saijo was also held at
the cultural center. We will cooperate closely withthese groups and individuals in future activities.
While it might be a difficult road at the beginning,
we believe that, with the support and drive of Saijo’scitizens, we can help create a more vibrant, friendly
place to live. We ask for the support of our readers bybecoming members and participating in our events.

PhotoGallery（left）Vietnamese children trying on
yukata.（top）the Saijo booth（right）
Dyeing traditional paper (washi)

Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

International Relations Saijo

DeconstructedWesley Oliver reflects on five years as Assistant Language
Teacher (ALT) in Komatsu.
While hiking to a mountain temple I lose myself tothe surroundings. I love the refreshing feeling making my way through such a path in the spring on aSunday. Here in Komatsu Town I have been able to
let go of many preferences, biases, and a good deal ofnarrow-mindedness.
Now I have been here for nearly five years. Many ofthe people in the town are familiar with me. We greet
each other, share small talk, and make attempts athumor often. I am sustained by smiling students,
market vegetables, and boxed lunches from the convenience store. But if I think about it, the situation isan inverse of my first year here. When I first arrived,
I was completely unfamiliar with everything. Many
jokes simply confused me. I didn't know what to eat.
Many thoughts of university life with distant friends
and acquaintances were on my mind. Now I havevanished to most of those people in my hometown.
How was I able to let go of what I had before andlive here for so long? There were many situations
where it was easy. All of the times that I tried out
zazen meditation. The beach at Kochi. The deck on
the Orange Ferry and the moonlit scenery of islandsin the Seto Inland Sea. Tryingto write a haiku in a tea roomon the way down from Iyadaniji. Watching the students dotheir best during sports day.
Being invigorated by a brisk
autumn wind in the dark, surrounded by the lanterns of
ALT Wesley Oliver (USA) Danjiri.

いいね！(Like) Saijo International
Exchange Association’s new Facebook

3

But then there were more difficult times for me. “How do I cook abitter melon (goya)?” Hearing depressed friends on an international
phone call. “Why is there so muchplastic?” Searching for Mexican
food in a noisy mall while being
stared at. Flying off my mamachariinto the pavement. Catching the flu... again.
Then there were those times when my ideas become complicated nonsense, deconstructed by thevoice of a child.
Today I taught a new group of preschoolers for thefirst time. Trying to teach English to them can be achallenge because they don't even grasp the conceptof a foreign language. Countries and nationalities
don't exist to them. I am a funny ceiling-touchingbald teacher who dances around and blurts out theweird words of eigo from kaigai. When I show them apicture of my young nephew, they comment on how
he looks like a classmate, who blushes but agrees.
They don't think of him as American at all. They justwant to get me involved in what they are doing. They
will listen to my point of view. But they really want toexplain theirs. They want to be accepted and praised.
They want to make new friends.
A young girl made an origami hat for me today. It
was a big gift. It made my day, even if it doesn't fit on
my head at all. I wasn't sure how to thank her. Sheasked me to cut an ice cream cone picture out of anempty box, as using the toy saw is difficult for her. SoI did that in return. I will only teach these students
twice and then we will never meet again. I was happy
that I got to see their world and hear about what theylike. It makes me question just how much I need to becontent in life.

You can find the SIEA page by searching “西条市国際交流協会 SIEA” or by using the following link:www.facebook.com/saijointernational

The Saijo International Exchange Association(SIEA) has started a new Facebook (FB) page. “Like”

We hope to let the world know about our international city and it’s activities.(J)the page and event information, language course updates and other news will be automatically delivered

Planned Content for the SIEA Facebook Page

to your News Feed.

Event information and reports

Posts to the page will always be in Japanese andEnglish, and occasionally also in Chinese and Vietnamese. SIEA hopes to use the page to tell the worldabout Saijo and its residents. (Also, publishing in multiple languages might give our readers some foreign
language practice.)

Language course application information「We ♥ Saijo!」 What is your favorite place inSaijo? Submissions accepted via message oremail.
Photo contests and more!

Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

4International Relations Saijo

英語でGO!

Beginnings and Endings—A Guide to Writing Letters and Email—Do you ever have difficulty writing opening and closing greetings for letters or emails in English? Even
native English speakers sometimes find it hard toup with her boyfriend or husband. (ex.
She sent me a Dear John Letter.)In business or when you don’t know
the name of the recipient, To Whom It
May Concern is the correct salutation.
Starting an email to a friend with Dear is too formal.

choose the correct phrases, so I would like to offer

Hey + name (Hey John,); Hi + name (Hi John,); or

some writing hints in this issue’s column.

simply just the name (John,) are common greetings.

The rules for letters and email are a little different.

Don’t forget to use formal language such as Dear when

Opening and closing greetings in letters are more for-writing an email to a boss or someone else you respect.

mal, and it is best to use standard phrases regardless

There are many different ways to end letters andof the person to whom you are writing. The rules foremails, but the most common and formal is Sincerely,email and other digital communication are more lax

or Sincerely yours. However, using this ending in aand differ depending on the recipient of your message.

letter to a friend or family member may seem too for-First I will talk about opening greetings, ormal or cold. More casual endings are Yours, or Best,“salutations.” Whether writing to your boss or a friend,(from With my best regards). Also, it has recently be-

Dear is the appropriate salutation. More casual saluta-

come common in email to leave endings out altogether,tions are okay for postcards and other short notes (seeclosing the message with just one’s name. How you

below for examples), but Dear is the safest choice inend an email can be a reflection of your personality. If

general. Remember: the comma goes after the name ofyou are ever stuck, a good solution is to copy the stylethe recipient, as in Dear John,of letters and emails from native speakers.

By the way, Dear John Letter is an idiom thatmeans a letter sent by a woman who wants to break

If there are any topics you would like to see in “Eigode Go,” contact me at cir-1@saijo-city.jp (J)International Exchange Events
Lecture “The Aloha State: An Introduction to Hawaii”
Two interns from the University of Hawaii will introduce their home. Lecture includes hula andukulele.
※The lecture will be conducted in Japanese.
Date: July 18 (Sat) 1:30-3:00
Place: Saijo Public Welfare Center, Kenshū
Room 2 (3rd floor)
Max Participants: 60 (first come, first served)
Application period: July 1 (Wed) - 17 (Fri)
Organizer: Saijo International Exchange Association
Applications：Saijo City International Affairs Section
0897-52-1206
Become a Saijo International Exchange Association member!
Join our organization and be a part of international
exchange in Saijo! Applications accepted year-round.
【Annual membership fee】
Individual 1,000円 Student 500円 Organization 10,000円【How to apply】
Complete an application form and submit it to the SIEA
office (Saijo City, International Affairs Section). Applications are available at city facilities (community centers,etc.) and at the following website:＜www.city.saijo.ehime.jp/khome/somu/kokusaikoryu/boshu.html＞

Upcoming ELIS Events◆Imotaki Party for New ALTs
We will welcome new Saijo ALTs with an imotaki party.
Time: August 22 (Sat) 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Place: Torimu Park Imotaki Place (Kamogawa River)Price: 1300円
Max. participants: 30 (first come, first served)◆Kamegamori Hike and Asahi Beer Factory TourWe will introduce foreign residents to Saijo’s famous places.
Place: August 29 (Sat) from 7:00 a.m. at Saijo Station
Price: 300円(lunch, water, rain gear not provided)
Max participants: 20 ※Only available to SIEA members【How to apply】 ※Accepting applications from Aug. 4 (Tue)Contact: Saijo International Exchange Association
Tel: 0897-52-1206
A year and a half has passed since we began publishing
this newsletter, and thanks to you all we still have lots

編集
後記

of international news to report. We are heading into
summer, so please take care of your health. (レ)International Relations Saijo staff:
Sachi Kawaguchi （か）Hiroyuki Ochi （大）Truong Dinh Le （レ）John Wheeler （J）(English translation)

Saijo International Exchange Association 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp