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2014 JET-MIP REPORT: TRISTAN LUNDYNOVEMBER, 2014: BREEZE ISSUE #85
A FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF JAPAN & TEACHERS OF JAPANESETRISTAN LUNDY
West Springfield High School
Springfield, VA
On my journey across the Pacific to a faraway land which I
have long dreamed of visiting, I found myself lost in a seaof culture. Japan, an island nation in East Asia, was not
only full of people eating their traditional cuisine butpeople deeply rooted in their culture, ideology, customs,and history. Finally I would be able to put into practice thelanguage that I studied for the last four years of highschool.
Although I have traveled abroad before, this time was quite different. It was totally new. With bags in hand,
I boarded the plane somewhat anxious and slightly apprehensive. I questioned what I was getting myself
into. Nonetheless, I continued boarding with the many other passengers to include the party of students I
had recently met. My preconceived notions of a seemingly more traditional Japan rooted in the past as
portrayed on American television was short lived. Through this program, I came to the realization thattelevision portrayals are most often inaccurate. Japan has an ever-intertwined historical and present
culture that most foreigners do not have the opportunity to see. This epiphany brings forth the thoughtthat America and Japan have more in common than one may think. Weather, food, and culture areparticularly noteworthy for discussion in this paper.
Family and friends were excited to the opportunity to vicariously experience Japan through the eyes ofthis young teenager. General inquisitions involved questions like: what is the weather like, do they reallyuse chopsticks all the time, and do they really bow instead of shaking hands? The reporting of a "supertyphoon" on the weather channel caused concern and many inquiries from home during my initialdeparture. I explained to family and friends that the weather was very similar to the humid climate of theEast Coast (Honshu being more humid) and the typhoon was not much different from tornadoes andthunderstorms that are very common during the summer months. I enjoyed the food and the market
experiences. I shopped for unique finds that I could not purchase in America. Although okay with me, theidea of eating plain rice at every meal instead of some other starch like potatoes, pasta, or bread was notappealing to most inquiring minds. Oddly enough, I was questioned about the custom of taking ones
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shoes off when entering the home. Although I am accustomed to this practice apparently other Americans
are not. The reactions varied from those who do not like the idea because of the possibility of foot fungus
to others who think the practice is worthy of adopting.
JET-MIP served as a way for me to increase my experience in the Japanese language while helping memeet lifelong friends both American and Japanese that share similar interests in both cultures. Overall theprogram was very worthwhile and fun; the experience I gained, the friends I made, and the things I learned
will stay with me for life as well as help me in my future relations with Japan and its people.
America has a great amount of history with European countries because of wars, treaties, andconventions, and as nationalities, cultures and ethnicities of these nations fused together. Over the years,the societal norm has been to learn "practical" languages like Spanish, French, or German - European
languages and Japan was excluded. Although we have a lack of interpersonal relations that does notmean that we cannot increase our relations.
Although I studied Japanese in high school for the past four years, the JET-MIP trip served as an excellent
real world introduction to the Japanese learning experience as I begin my first semester of higher
education. This fall I am taking Japanese 110, a Japanese language and culture class, at George MasonUniversity. I am also taking three Asian culture classes featuring Japanese religion and philosophy withplans of eventually transferring to a college where Japanese language and literature are offered as amajor. My dream is to become a Japanese instructor in the United States, a teacher in Japan, or atranslator of some kind.
Soldiers are routinely commended for honorable service and sacrifice to the country they serve,
particularly American soldiers who serve abroad. Like those soldiers, thank you Tayler and Montgomery
for your sacrifice. Thank you for being ambassadors and laying a solid foundation for young Americans
like myself and the group of friends I traveled with this summer. We aspire to not only learn the Japaneselanguage but to use it for the greater good. This summer we not only had fun, but we also represented ourcountry, America, with the same dedication and commitment that you showed. My only regret is that wecouldn’t meet you in person. Like JETs, I hope to one day serve as a bridge between our two countries. I
want to live abroad teaching and translating in English and Japanese. I want to be immersed in the culture
like I’ve dreamed of the last four years.

NIPPON THROUGH MY EYES PHOTO SUBMISSION“Lunch at the Kagatsu”
Claire, Ella, Ryan, and I were looking for a ramen and/orsomen shop but we had a mishap in translation so weended up eating at a Kagetsu restaurant.
Eating a traditional Japanese meal is and watching theguy cook it was like a masterwork.
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ACTFL 2014

Japanese Langauge Education Update 122014 J-LEAP Report: Yoko Nishikawa

2014 J-LEAP Report: Kiyomi Tadokoro

2014 JET-MIP Report: Victoria Lockhart

2014 JET-MIP Report: Jenna Louie

2014 JET-MIP Report: Tristan Lundy

2014 JET-MIP Report: Lovely Matias

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