Day 3 Reflection: Yokohama School Visits

It's so quiet here. The ShinYokohama suburb of Yokohama city is so exceptionally quiet. People walk alone to work, so it seems there no conversations. Everyone has a phone, But no cell phones talking either, not even listening to their iPods! The trains don't allow talking on the phone (heaven!!) but you can text. Yet I don't see anyone doing that!

We visited two school today. The am visit brought us to an uphill walk up several stairs to Nakaodai Junior High School. Thereafter we met with the Yokohama Board of Education and toured the Minato Sogo International High School.

Was there anything missing from the school visit photos?  We expected to see the use of technology in the classroom. I envisioned oversized large smart boards the size of the wall. Kids sharing iPads.

Every student does have a phone. But both schools policies were no cell phone usage during class. Except this guy. 

No food either. 

There were no overhead projectors, no drop down screens, nothing "modern" for teachers tools. In all fairness we only observed 5-10 classrooms for 5-15 minutes, but in that time some of teaching methods observed being used seemed outdated. There of course were some current methods being used as well: during one Chinese lesson at the High School did we see students working on the chalkboard making corrections to written Kanji exercise while listening to a conversational CD.

Professional Attire 

The men all seem so similarly dressed. white shirts and black pants. I've said very "Mad Men" esque meets "Stepford Wives." 

In Yokohama I noticed Japanese Professional women for example, a majority I have seen on the trains and busses dress stylish but more like their clothes is from the "Juniors" section then women's. With accessories hanging from their purses and phones. I'm talking about the Professional Women. Female students also wear cute-sie clothes and have cartoonish accessories, but that's teenagers/young adults. A few professional women are in suits as they are in the states. I'd even say borderline childish.

I read that women aren't encouraged to mature, or to be assertive, more to remain youthful, borderline immature. And while in major metropolitan areas I am certain we will see a different Japanese Women who is very professional and mature, Yokohama didn't reflect that. 

But Why? 

Finally we have arrived in Shin Hiroshima. I've left the "time warp" an I'm here in reality. People walk talking on phones, talking on trains and in restaurants. Laughter, talking, noises, and theres just volume all around (but not loud, we Americans are so loud!! And we talk to much. Japanese can sit in silence and appreciate the space, obviously for us Americans if there's silence it means were not connecting or we - to our horror - don't have anything to talk about!!!)

Our travel companion Katy said "Yokohama is probably still more traditional!" Totally right. It's explains the clothing time warp and the extreme politeness. 

Day 3: Yokohama School Visit International Language Urban High School

Upon arrival at the school they planned for us to eat with some English language students who could probably explain the best the differences with Japanese and American schools.

Typical Teenagers in the Cafeteria. Check out there socks. One girl had small playboy bunny ear on the socks.

The school is 82% girls. the principal screens all the applicants. Teachers screen the applicants, make recommendations and then the Principal approves them. The principal greeted us at the back door near the cafeteria, we exchanged business cards. His English was precision perfect!!

Husband, seated next to the Principal, and on the table is the reserved sign for our lunch.

Our school lunch. Husband had the stir fry and vegetable rice and I had curry beans and rice. Both were SO yummy. We had to ask "Yo rosh ku on-a-gai-she-mas, ha-shee" please be nice to me / help me chopsticks.

The cafeteria restaurant is not run by the school, and not by an agency. This meal was about $2.50. The picture below is of a students bento lunch, tied in a scarf. Most students ha this style lunch.

The Yokohama Municipal Minato Sohgoh High School was built in 2002. It is state of the art an earthquake proof. I asked if they had to "test it" - they didn't get the joke.

The library was two floors with these paneled walls. 

Students gym class was either tennis, swimming, ping pong, volleyball or basketball lessons.

My crocs slippers to go into the pool on the 4th floor.

The school offers language classes in Italian, Chinese, English, Japanese and French.

English class. The teacher printer out a current LA Times article about a boy who repaired bicycles to read aloud and follow.

Giving of our Gift at the end of the visits, we included school artifacts like our school brochures, banners and a lanyard. A poster if students and a Chicago paperweight and a bookmark with photos of Chicago landmarks.

We had a wonderful experience! My pleasant surprise while trying to communicate with this teacher

in English, she said "Yo Habla Español" to a passing BOE member. And we started a dialogue in Spanish, she isn't know enough English and I only had a few phrases in Japanese, but we found common ground En Español, it was the highlight of the day. I had to have a picture with her 😬

Japanese love giving the peace sign in photos or thumbs up, we are accommodating them.

Happy Travels!!