Wally Nes’ Blog

I’ve just returned from the Pre-Departure-Meeting of the Vulcanus in Japan (ViJ) program

You know, that japan thing. That thing I’ve been psyched about for the last couple of months. The thing I started this blog for. THAT thing!

The thing that will get me out of your hair for a year.

Ah, I see I’ve got your attention.

Now, I could describe this chronologically, in which case I’d have to start with the subway breaking down and having to navigate the streets of Brussels by midnight.

Or I could start with incorporating what lectures I received at the EU-Japan Centre

Japan is the “Land of Wa” Wa being ワ or わ in either katakana or hiragana. Or, if I were to explain it to you in term you’d understand. Japan is the “Land of Harmony”. Harmony being the main driving force in japan and in the lives of the Japanese. Next to the things I already knew about the Japanese, subdued conversational tone, limited body movements, etc. I was informed of more discrepancies between myself and my soon-to-be-hosts. For one, Japanese will focus on shared qualities, whereas most westerners will identify things by looking at differences. They will try to affirm the relationship between two parties by discussing the matters on which they agree. They will strive to “Harmonize” with their new partners.

Now, next to lots of information about the Japanese, I learned a great deal about the program and: YEAH, I don’t have to pay rent. Wheeeeeeeeeee. €15.000 solely for food, drink, travel and FUN.

Then there was the not so good news: I have to commute 75 minutes . . . . both ways. And that’s the Internship travel time. I have not been placed yet for a dormitory during my Tokyo stay, but app. 75 minutes is 15 minutes less then average in Tokyo. The way dorms are arranged in Tokyo is purely based on Host company, and with Mitsubishi as host I have a better than most chance of staying closer to city centre (Mitsubishi being a big and wealthy company). Being the only person working for Mitsubishi however, this also means I’ll be the only ViJ participant in that building. Whatever commute time I have I’ll most likely be spending with a book, or practice chikan, an important part of Japanese culture.

There was plenty of information shoved my way, but I won’t bore you with all of that.

I met all the participants to the program, except for one who was unable to leave America. Made lotsa new friends. Measured up against them, and I think I’ll do fine. So far there is one other player who will demand a lot of the limelight, but it’ll be interesting to see which of the others will start playing dominant parts once they become more familiar with the other players/English or Japanese language. But, I’ll have to see if it’s a position I want to maintain as I am an einzelgänger, and I may just get bored with everyone.

Then there’s the added choice of what I want to post here as at least one other participant has found this blog already. Hi Raph. So, I won’t be able to use this as freely to spout my frustrations about everyone else I may have thought. Then again, it’s only 1 person so far . . . .

More information later. Right now I have to go out into this tremendous thunderstorm to go to a . . . . Barbeque. this’ll be good

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 10:49 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.