Japan Trip 2008

Contents• Japanese houses and host families – what to

expect (read handy hints)• Things Japanese – photos and discussion• Video on Japanese eating etiquette• Types of food• Dos and Don'ts• Code of Conduct• Emergency Procedures (these will be in

handbook)• Japanese Language• Words to the song• Blog

Handy Hints• Gift Giving• Gift giving is an integral part of Japanese living so be prepared to give a gift to

every member of the family listed on Host Family Information sheet. Keep them simple and inexpensive.

• Handmade gifts are especially appreciated as are items peculiar to our country, Keep in mind:• Many Japanese homes are small therefore consumable gifts such as cookies,

chocolates, candy, syrups, coffee, tea, decorative soaps, etc. are more appreciated than knickknacks that take up space.

• Japanese traditionally don't open gifts in front of the giver so ask if you may open yours if they give you one. Do so carefully and respectfully not crumpling the wrapping but folding it neatly.

• Don't give gifts in quantities or sets of four or nine. Don't give combs or mirrors. In Japanese, comb is "Kushi". Ku is the sound for nine which means "to suffer" and shi is the sound for four which means "death". Mirrors are breakable and considered bad luck.

• Don't give scissors, knives or letter openers. These symbolize the severing of a relationship.

• Be sure to take lots of pencils, pens, 4-H pins, stickers, decals, bookmarks, etc. to give as small gifts to the young people you meet.

• Traditionally gifts in Japan are never presented unwrapped. Never use black wrapping-black signifies death.

Photo Album• Putting photos of your family, community, and activities in an album that you

can share with your host family and others is a good way to explain about your life and family in New Zealand. It can also break the language barrier.

Homesick• So, now you are thousands of miles away from your home. You are having

a great time. But one day, you find yourself getting homesick. What can you do? What should you do? To find out, read the following and hopefully it will help you.

• The first thing to do is keep a journal. Writing your feelings down will make it easier for you. What you have been doing, what you have seen and your feelings about learning new things. Write down things you have seen so when you get your photos developed, you will remember what they were of and will be able to tell your family back home why you took the picture originally.

• You can always write letters to your family and friends. • As you think of things that you would like to do and see, remember that your

host family really wants you to be happy and to be a part of their family. You are only there for a short time, so enjoy yourself while you are there.

• One thing you can't do is call home. Please don't ask to do this. It can be very expensive to call to New Zealand from Japan and your host family should not be expected to pay for this for you.

• Try to enjoy your new family and enjoy their way of life and all of the cultural experiences that they have planned for you. This is truly a once in a lifetime trip, so ENJOY YOURSELF

Clothing (while with your host family) Inapproriate clothing with your host family – short shorts a definite nono!!

And singlets nono!! shoulders must be covered to be respectful in japan. Other things• Humour varies with different cultures. Don’t try to make jokes in Japanese.• Costs can be compared a little,but generally money is not discussed.• Speak about your achievements as little as possible.• Use your dictionary• Respond to compliments by denial – an embarrassed giggle says you agree

with them.• Be careful talking about your likes, interests, wants – you may be

embarrassed to find time and money spent to meet your casual comment.• Do not express your judgement about senior Japanese, eg. compliment

their dress etc…• Girls do not sit cross-legged.• Take slip off shoes, or shoes that can be worn with socks and a few pairs of

good socks (everyone will see these )• Always ask to use the phone, have a bath, turn on TV etc…• When trying to communicate, take care not to exaggerate your body

language, eg. hands, speak too loudly, laugh extra loudly etc…• But, most importantly…• If you are unsure about what to do in any situation, watch others and

follow what they do.

Things Japanese

• The Genkan

• The ofuroba / otearai

• The torei

• The public torei• Generally in public toilets there is no toilet paper, so be sure to grab some

tissues from the people handing out advertising tissue packets or take some tissues

• Things in the home

Types of Food• さしみ　 Sashimi • Raw fish. Many kinds of fish are eaten raw. Sashimi has the

accompaniment of Japanese horse radish (wasabi) and soya sauce.• すし　 Sushi• Vinegared rice with a dash of salt and sugar, served in bite sized chunks.

Fish or veges are often placed in or on them and they are wrapped in seaweed. They are eaten with wasabi and dipped in soya sauce.

• Noodles - There are many kinds of noodles. Most kinds are served in a kind of broth with various accompaniments.

• そば - Soba. Brown buckwheat noodles. These are dipped in soya sauce.

• うどん - Udon. Thick white noodles in broth.• ラーメン - Raamen. Yellow, thin Chinese noodles in broth.• 天ぷら・てんぷら　 Tempura• Seafood, veges and other things deepfried in tempura better.

• 焼きそば・やきそば　 Yakisoba• Fried noodles with meat and veges.• 焼き鳥・やきとり　 Yakitori• Grilled chicken skewers with a sweet soya based sauce.• 焼き飯・やきめし　 Yakimeshi• Fried rice with meat and veges.• お好み焼き　 Okonomiyaki• A mixture between pizza and pancake.• 丼・どんぶり　 Donburi• A bowl of rice with something on top: eg. tempura (tendon), egg and chicken

(oyakodon), pork cutlets (katsudon), beef (gyudon), eel (unadon)…• ギョザ　 Gyoza • Japanese ravioli of Chinese origin.• すき焼き・すきやき　 Sukiyaki• Thinly shredded beef, tofu and veges cooked in a pot with sugar and soya

sauce and then dipped in raw egg before eating.• なべ Nabe• Nabe means hot pot. It looks like a Chinese wok. Many different nabe meals

can be prepared in this pan right on the table. Oden is one kind of Nabe dish. Fish cakes, eggs and veges are cooked for several hours in a soup.

• 肉じゃが・にくじゃが　 Nikujaga• Meat and potatoes cooked in a sweet soya sauce broth.• とんカツ・トンカツ　 Tonkatsu• Deep fried pork cutlets. Usually served with mustard or tonkatsu sauce.• カレーライス　 Curry Rice• Japanese style curry on rice. It consists of meat and veges in a sweet curry flavoured

sauce. • たこ焼き・たこやき　 Takoyaki• Octopus balls. Pieces of octopus cooked in batter and smothered in sauce.• 豆腐・とうふ　 Tofu• Bean curd. It can be served cold, fried or in soups and stews.• なっと　 Natto• Fermented soya beans.• みそしる　 Misoshiru• Miso soup.• 梅干・うめぼし　 Umeboshi• Plum pickle.• おにぎり• Rice balls. The balls are often wrapped in seaweed and/or have fish or pickle in the

middle of them.• Bread/toast パン pan Seaweed の

り nori• Rice ごはん・めし　 gohan/meshi Water みず

mizu• Soya sauce しょゆう shoyuu Green teaおちゃ ocha

Dos and Don’ts• Use short simple sentences with your host family

– speak slowly (NZers are known for their fast speech)

Eg. I play netball. I don’t eat fish (hopefully not, this is Japan!! )

• Take a Eng – Jap dictionary• It is considered rude to eat on the street.• The vending machines in Japan have items that you are

not allowed to purchase or use such as tobacco and alcohol. Just because it is there does not mean you are allowed to buy it

• Your CDs / DVDs will probably not work in Japan – don’t take them

• If you are taking your phone/camera/hairdryer etc remember you will need an adaptor

• Deodarant is very hard to find in Japan – take your own

• It will be very humid, light appropriate clothes required

• There are both dial and push button public phones in Japan. Most telephones accept 10 or 100 yen coins and/or Japanese phone cards. It is possible to make international calls from most public telephones.

• How to make a phone call in Japan• Blood Type.ppt

Code of ConductOur Rules• Stay together – you will have a buddy you are responsible for them

and must know where they are at all times• When we return to each hostel for the night we all stay there. NO

midnight excursions!

What else do we want to add?

Emergency Procedures

• If you miss a train – STAY WHERE YOU ARE• If you miss getting off a train – GET OFF AT THE NEXT

STOP AND STAY ON THE PLATFORM• If you get lost in a department store or underground

shopping centre – LOOK FOR THE INFORMATION DESK AND STAY THERE

• If you are not feeling well – TELL US• Anything else – TELL US• You will know how to use a phone, you will have a phone

card and you will have a laminated card with Mrs Gibbon’s phone number – use them if you are lost – or show a police man

Japanese Language

• Introduction1: Hajimemashite (first time meeting)2: Watashi wa ____ desu. (I am ___- your name)3: Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu (Please to

meet you/ please accept me)

Practise

Some Questions• Nan sai desu ka. How old are you?• _____ sai desu I am ___

• Kazoku wa nan nin imasu ka.How many people in your family• ___ nin desu.There are ____ people

• Nani ga suki desu ka.What do you like?• _____ ga suki desu.I like ______

What else do you want to say?

• Practise Japanese language student with non language student

Words to the Song

• He honore• He kororia• Maungarongo ki te whenua• Whakaaro pai e• Ki nga tangata katoa

• Ake Ake• Ake Ake• Amine• Te atua• Te piringa• Toku oranga

Video’s

• Eating Etiquettehttp://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/programs/projects/Outbound

%20Orientation/families/shoes.htm

• Sakura Hostel – Promotional Videohttp://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp

• Our Bloghttp://talkingpoles.edublogs.org