Lesson learned.

Let me begin this blog by referencing a status message I posted on Facebook last week:

"International-E thinks that teachers that make you act out skits in a group as part of your grade in Business School should be lined up in front of a teenage firing squad and splattered with rotten eggs. And on THAT note, I'm going to bed."

As you can probably tell from the tone of that status, I was a bit frustrated with the progress and confused about purpose of a group project I was working on for my Leadership class. Each of the 7 groups in the class were tasked with the assignment of developing our own original skits to be performed in front of our peers. Using the generic theme "leadership" we had to develop some type of dramatic performance. Although not as creative as some of the other themes, my team G5 had a very well thought out plot with many points that related to the overall theme. In the end, I was proud of what we put together and considering that the performance was entirely given in Japanese and our group contained the 3 people with the lowest level of Japanese ability in the class (me included), we did damn good. But after watching all of the skits today I was definitely left feeling like somewhere along the way we missed a memo.

Out of the top three teams (which unfortunately didn't include G5) two of those teams had man/man action. No, its not as graphic as I'm making it sound but they had men who cross-dressed as women, playing characters that were in love with men. The few pictures here are from one group that had everyone in stitches. As you can kind of see from the background, they used Titanic as their theme and it was really funny. Especially when the raft sank and the guy playing "Rose" was yelling "Jack...JACK!" You definitely had to be there.

Until today had no idea cross-dressing would have such a positive effect on how my classmates and teachers would receive the presentations. And just as I typed that sentence it came to me...Japanese dramatic arts such as Kabuki and Noh were traditionally performed by all male casts. Thinking about this even further I believe Noh is still performed by totally male casts. Maybe this is where the Japanese fascination with cross-dressing and hints of homosexuality being extremely entertaining comes from? Either way, my group, well those of us who aren't Japanese, had no idea.

So let me close this blog by leaving you with today's Facebook status update:

"International-E learned an important cultural lesson today. In order to do well in any type of group performances in Japan (specifically my Leadership class) you have to have at least one man in the group dress like a woman and pretend to be in love with a man. It's the only way to win. I REPEAT: Forget content. Add a cross-dresser and some same sex loving. Lesson learned."

Sumooooooo! お相撲！

I absolutely and truly LOVE Sumo. I went to my very first Sumo tournament May 2003 when I was living in Yamanashi working as an English teacher. A friend and I decided that we wanted to go check it out so we took train up to Tokyo and decided to make a day out of it (and for the record, I've been attending tournaments the same way since).

The first matches begin at 8:30am. These are the times that the really small amateur kids get their time in the dohyo (ring). We decided we didn't need to be there quite that early so we arrived around 10:30 - 11. For that first two hours, Hazel and I sat and studied the English guide they provided for us at the door and I've been hooked ever since.

During the first 3 years I lived in Japan I developed some favorites. Of the non-Japanese wrestlers my top 4 are Asashoryu (Yokozuna, Grand Champion) , Ama (who at the time was just a regular Maegashira wrestler, has now moved up to Ozeki and changed his named to Harumafuji), Hakuho (he was also a regular Maegashira wrestler when I left and is now a Yokozuna!), and Kokkai (Maegashira from the country of Georgia, kind of an underdog as a non-Japanese/non-Asian but I like his style)

Of the Japanese wrestlers my favorites are Kaio (Ozeki, 1 rank below Yokozuna), Chiotaikai (also an Ozeki), Takamisakari, Iwakiyama and Aminishiki (who are all three regular Maegashira)

There are 6 tournaments across Japan each year and the May and September basho are held in Tokyo. I try my best to go each time its here and I plan to get some REALLY good seats for this September basho as my 30th birthday happens during the tournament!

For anyone who is really interested in learning more about the sport watch this quick video from the May basho I attended where Asashoryu fought Aminishiki and then check out this site.

Just in Case You Were Wondering (Part 2)

Basic Data Analysis: This class is my LEAST favorite. I even have a nickname for this instructor of this class. I call him #sweatyprofessor. (btw: the hash mark is just a tag I use for when i talk about him on twitter) According to the syllabus this class is supposed to be taught in English but on the first day of class he asked the class which language they preferred he teach in and they said Japanese (duh! didn't he see that coming?) so the class is now taught in Japanese and English. Only, instead of translating what he says in Japanese into English, he continues his thoughts in English! So instead of just the English speaking students being lost, we are all looking at each other crazy. 10 weeks of classes, we took a midterm about week 6 which we still haven't gotten back and the last day of instruction is this coming Thursday. We've done 3 homework assignments and only received answers for the first one. He doesn't show up for office assignment appointments that HE schedules. He doesn't respond to emails. And on top of all the performance issues, he comes to class completely drenched in sweat each and every class! I'm certain there is some type of body temperature issue going on and I probably shouldn't talk about him but its VERY distracting.

I've been to his office hours twice and I email him just about every week asking about the homework answers and our test but no luck. Did I mention that he's American and a Stanford U graduate? What sucks the most is this is a basic course which means everything builds from here. Even if I somehow manage to make it out of this one alive, I'm not so sure that will be the case for the classes that follow.

Organizational Behavior: From day 1, I loved this class. Although this instructor is Japanese and he asked the class the same question #sweatyprofessor asked on the first day regarding the classes language of preference. This class also said in the syllabus that it would be taught in English with Japanese in parts, but instead of going along with the classes wishes, he teaches primarily in English as the syllabus stated. My undergrad degree was in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication so the material we cover in this class is right up my alley. It also helps that he seems to favor me because I'm American or maybe its because I sit up front and ask lots of questions. Either way, I really enjoy this class and of course out of all of my classes, going into finals week I'm doing the best in this one.

Microeconomics: This is the class that I believe is going to be the most useful of the 5 courses I'm taking now. The things that we are learning here will definitely help me in the future and its a difficult class, but I like it. The teacher is cool, its clear he knows this subject well, he knows how to teach and he actually shows up to his office for office hours (unlike #sweatyprofessor) and makes himself available to students. Going into finals, this is the class that I'm worried about the most because I didn't do very well on the midterm. Most classes are graded on a curve so hopefully not too many people do exceedingly well and throw the curve off! Ha! I shouldn't say that...but I kinda mean it.

So, after 9 weeks of classes, that's what I have to say. Oh and a very important thing, that I knew I was going to hate about Business School - I really don't like group work. I'm in groups for three of my classes and as a whole I only like 1 of the 3. But hey, 1 is better than none, right?

Well, back to memorizing my lines for a useless skit we have to do for our Leadership class. TTFN.

Just in Case You Were Wondering

I am officially past the half way mark of my first semester of Business School. I wrapped up my last 2 mid-terms last week and now I'm focused on my final presentation, reports and exams. Time has definitely flown by! We have two more weeks of instruction and then the dreaded finals week. It's all lovely though because I'm trying my HARDEST to get out of Japan for the summer...so test week, bring it on! Anyway, since I've been extra slack on blogging, I figured I'd devote this post to my opinions about the classes I'm taking.

One thing I love about my classes this term is my schedule. I don't have any classes before 12:15 and no classes on Tuesdays. Life is good...so here goes:

Business Game: When I first started this class, I thought it would be really interesting and expected to learn a lot. That's not exactly what's happening. Something different about this system of Japanese education is you don't get any feedback. I've turned in a report for this class every week since the beginning of the semester and haven't received one graded assignment back. The only grades you actually get are for tests, only in this class the 2 "tests" we have are based on our company's performance in this virtual game. Ok wait, let me explain this a little better.

In this class we are broken up into 12 teams. Each team is appointed a company president who we are in theory supposed to follow his lead. Only the lead part...yeah, that's not really happening either. You might as well call us the Blind Boys of Alabama only there's 4 of us and I'm the only Negro. It is a true case of the blind leading the blind. Throughout the semester, we play 2 games. One of them is running a virtual bakery and the other is shipping cooling units to some remote island. There are business decisions that you have to make and the goal of each game is to attain the largest profit surplus. The company with the highest profit surplus gets A's. The rest of the class? Well, he hasn't been very specific about how he plans to grade the rest of the class.

Before each "test" get the game scenario that gives general info about P&L, B/S, operating costs and marketing costs but what my team is seriously lacking each time is a real business strategy, and let's not even mention our communication issues. What frustrates me the most is not my president's lack of leadership ability but the teacher's failure to instruct. What is the purpose of playing a game 4 times (2 for grades) without any feedback about what we are doing wrong so we can improve?

Worried about my grades and progress in the class, I visited the teacher's office hours to get some clarification and feedback and do you know what he told me? He said "In my class, the point is not to teach. It is to get you to think. And Smile. OH! You must remember to smile." So I sat there in his smokey office, (yes the teachers are allowed to smoke indoors) and smiled and thought to myself, "This damn, thinking and smiling better get me an A, that's all I know."
I have yet been able to find the logic or purpose of a class that does not instruct or correct mistakes. Isn't this the time to make and correct mistakes?!

I say a special prayer for my grade in this class every week.

Leadership: My teacher for this class is really cool. Like, so cool that actually want to go to his house and have dinner with him and his wife and talk about his life and travels. He's an older Japanese dude who went to HBS (Harvard Business School), hitched-hiked around America for 6 months as a college student. I believe he said he did a semester or a year at Berkley during the 70's so he was loving America at the time. He's written and published several books about leadership, management and one called "The Successful Businessman Meditates" which I think is fascinating. The class itself is cool too. This is the one where my group is called G5 and we got the best marks on our presentation a while back. We are forced to think a lot about our life, goals, future, abilities, skills and qualifications as well as define why we believe certain qualities of leaders are important etc.

I believe this class is a little more beneficial for some of the other people (read: younger people) in the class because I've been through courses or seminars that have challenged me with those same questions before. I definitely enjoy this class but honestly some days it feels like a semester long Myers-Briggs test.

I'm taking 3 more classes but I'll stop here for the night and have faith in me, k? It won't be quite as long until you see the next blog.

Next Up: Data Analysis (SNORE), Organizational Behavior (MY FAV!) and Microeconomic (Say What?!)

Guess who's Bizack?!

Sorry about that ya'll. No excuses. I spend PLENTY of time on Twitter and Facebook so I definitely could take some time to update this blog....MY BAD.

Last we left off, I was ticked off by THE MAN. (THE MAN: Folks in administration who shut your girl down when all a sista' was trying to do was educate herself.) You will be pleased to know that I did not embarrass myself or my country by showing my true displeasure but I did attempt to attend classes and was pretty much turned around at the door. THE MAN must have had an idea I was coming back because the teacher knew right away that I wasn't enrolled and told me I couldn't just sit in. Whatev!

I was definitley upset because being able to take language classes this semester would have been a great benefit to me considering 4/5 lectures are given in Japanese but decided to just move on and do my best. Honestly, if I were to dwell on the frustration I have with the bureaucracy BS that surround daily operations in this country I would be an angry soul. I have a personal rule. I allow myself to be pissed off/sad/upset about something for one day, and then I have to let it go......so F (forget) THE MAN.