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Thaiel Trask
Along with breaking down the false boundaries for international research, NanoJapan allows for the inspiration of the next generation of scientists. Although it is a requirement to present my NanoJapan experience to a group of high school or middle school students, I'll find it incredibly challenging not to present to at least 3 groups, including my home high school, Tulsa University's Physics Journal Club, and Tulsa Technology Center's concurrently enrolled high school students. It is my goal to teach and impassion others through professorship so NanoJapan is the perfect niche for my time. Also, spending the summer in Japan on stipend isn't bad either. Here are some of my goals for the trip!
Pre Departure Tips: You're not going to have hardly any free time once you get to Japan. In fact, as soon as you learn that you have been accepted to the NanoJapan program you should start getting ready and preparing so you'll be busy. This means you won't likely have time for any sort of books for pleasure or much of any other projects that take time that aren't related to NanoJapan. Focus on completing the assignments and learning the language and learning about your research project. Also a couple of source told me to get a points card for convenient stores since you'll be using them alot while in Japan. I think you have to wait till in Japan to get one but definitely do research into Tsutaya and Ponta cards. You can save money or something with them. I'm told to get both as soon as you can but I went the whole summer without one so you'll be fine if you don't.
Orientation Program Tips: Tokyo is amazing. Go to every part of Tokyo that you can and use every free evening wisely. Get connected to KIP students as quickly as possibly especially if they email you. The ones who email you are likely the ones that will be joining you for most of the events. Also invite them to nightly outings if you can. They can offer a great perspective on the city and the region that you might not be able to get from your lab mates.
Mid-Program Meeting Tips: Karaoke is a blast for mid-program! Take plenty of pictures! Explore a little. Since my year was the first year in Okinawa we weren't exactly sure what to do during free nights but karaoke, tennis, soccer, and fireworks worked well! This was also an amazing time do sumo wrestling on the soccer field! Being able to say that you did sumo in Japan is amazing! Enjoy the company of the OIST students if they join you. They are cool people.
Working With your Research Lab Tips: Remember to speak slower! This is a big thing that you probably won't be used to if you've only been in America where everyone is used to hearing English. Use fewer idioms/sayings and make your language easier to understand. Also be sure to remember your lab mates' names! There is a board that has all of the names so you should take a picture of this on the first day and learn the names. I can also email you the picture I took last year if you want to get a quick start to recognizing Japanese names (most names should be the same). This can be difficult. Remember that learning Japanese can be a really fun thing to do and slang can be a very valuable tool for making friends! Teach them English slang and try to pick up some Japanese slang as well! Let them show you what is best to buy in the store. Always ask for recommendations for anything really. "osusume wa nan desu ka?" means "what is your recommendation." Also remember that your perspective and brainstorming on your research process is valuable to the group!
Living in your Research Host City: I lived in a super cheap all guys' dorm that had quite a few bugs and gross showers but it was well worth it for the price. You won't have to worry about money that much at all on the trip if you're living in the same place that I was. Some people warned me that bringing a pillow might be a good idea because Japanese pillows are a little different but there was no need to bring a pillow at all and I got stuck carrying around a big pillow for much of the trip. If you want, maybe bringing a smaller pillow that you're comfortable with might be good but for the most part you probably won't have pillow troubles. Just going on a bike ride around town is a great way to get lost in the culture (sometimes literally). If you can find someone else who wants to ride around this can be an amazing experience and bike riding is a great way to get into shape. Many members of NanoJapan lost 20-30 lbs over the summer. (I didn't have too much to lose, however I did lose a somewhat noticeable amount of fat but made up for it by gaining some leg and arm muscle, keeping me at the same weight).
What to Eat: Everything! Don't let your preconceived notions of tastes keep you from eating something. Everything tastes at least a little different here. If you've never heard of it, then eat it. If it's something you think you're familiar with (like something from McDonalds) then eat it too! Everything is to be experienced. For better or for worse, you are to be surprised! Culture shock is something really fun to talk about.
What to Buy in Japan: Chopsticks and Pokemon cards are two must-haves. Especially if you get to go to the Pokemon center in Tokyo. Also I found it fun to collect a pair of chopsticks from each city I spent time in. Also if you have a favorite animal (or you know a group like a college, sorority, or fraternity that has a dedicated animal) it can be a rather rare thing to have chopsticks that have that animal on it! Also umbrellas are awesome.
What to Do in Japan: Stay in a buddhist monestary at Mt. Koya and the buddhist cemetary, Okuno-in (invite anyone from your lab who might be interested)! Also be sure to go by Nara to see the awesome deer and temples. There's nothing like a Japanese deer. If you want, you can go to Osaka's aquarium, the "Kaiyukan" but be aware that it's kind of expensive and if NJ takes you to the aquarium in Okinawa then you may be better off going somewhere else instead of to this aquarium. As far as rail passes are concerned, I bought a 7 day full for the first part and a 14 day full for the last two weeks but it may be to your benefit to get the 21 day full but if the mid-program meeting is within 21 days of the end then you may waste some days. If you want to save money they getting a 7 day full pass for the return to Tokyo would work too but I'd recommend the 14 day full pass. Talk to who else is in Osaka with you and maybe to the Kyoto student as well to see if they have travel plans. Remember that the other NJ students will likely be traveling the last two weeks or so as well so you might not see if them if you go to their host city but you can get tips from them about what to see.
Places to Visit in Japan
After my first week here, Tokyo has quickly become one of my favorite cities in the world out of the few that I've been able to experience. Some experiences so far have gone exactly as I expected. These experiences have included feeling completely confused when hearing native Japanese speakers talk. Since I've had very limited exposure to the Japanese language, the pace of native Japanese speakers is much quicker than what I'm able to comprehend. I was however very surprised to see so many words spelled in katakana that I am able to decipher as English words. I was expecting the Japanese language to have only confusing kanji characters and incomprehensible hiragana. Being able to read things such as "furonto" on my hotel key and "sha wa" on the shower handle in the bathroom is incredibly rewarding for my language progression. Sometimes reading katakana is like opening a Christmas present. When you're able to read and understand the language, it's easier to stay optimistic about the language.
I have limited experience with Spanish in middle school so my exposure to Japanese is tremendously different from all language learning I've taken thus far due to it being the only serious language learning experience I've had. I've noticed that being completely immersed in the language for 24 hours per day is very helpful for practicing the language. In a way, we are being forced to learn the language due to the severe language barrier that faces us every time we go out into Tokyo. Also, having that constant emotional separation between the fascinating people of Japan and me is a strong incentive to learn and pickup the language since I want to converse with them and get to know them. Since the culture of a nation rests with its people, it is essential to learn the language to absorb and connect with the culture. My application of the Japanese language has been limited so far, but very helpful at the same time. I have been able to ask store clerks what prices are and where I can find things. Yesterday the group had to ask a crossing guard where a restaurant was which was a phrase I had just learned that day in class. I've also been able to say "sorry" to people that I bump into on the subway and "thank you" to anyone who has given me anything.
Just like in the states, there are some unspoken rules for how to behave while taking part in the public transportation process. The main difference being that, in Japan, the amount of unspoken rules seems to be much greater. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon here, especially in the subways. For instance, a young couple in their 20s boarded and proceeded to stand rather close to each other and may have even "snuck" in a kiss during the trip. However, many people in the train car were watching them, including an elderly lady who seemed to be giving a fierce glare to them for a majority of the trip. The couple either seemed not to notice or chose to ignore all the attention they were receiving. This seems to somewhat illustrate the complex generation gap in Japan as well as transportation manners. Although I'm sure that these interactions take place on a daily basis between people, I can't help but wonder if the ones we witness are at all affected by our presence. Being "gaijin" or foreigners, I'm sure the older generation wants us to continue having a favorable and/or accurate impression of Japanese society and culture, leading to a deeper glare from the elder. It is likely, however, that I'm incorrect for thinking that we play any role at all by being present in these scenarios.
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