Post # 3: To adapt or not to adapt.... a nomad's story

The nomad's story:
"I wish I had wings"... those were my American classmate's wish when we were ask what wish will we ask to a genie if we met one. All of us laughed out loud except her. She even defended her answer by saying she missed her life back in America especially her friends. Back then I was wondering what she was talking about until I got a taste of that.

I still remember the day mama told me that we are going to live in Laguna for good. It was the most tearful and saddest day in my life and that was even announced the day of my HS graduation. No one not even my best friends have an idea that I shall be moving away from them and all of our plans of being together will not be put into reality. My family really originated from Manila though my parents are from Batangas. Their source of living in Manila but since mama had bought a house here in Laguna, our set up was rent a small apartment in Mendiola, Manila and go back to Laguna during weekends. Even though we were not allowed to go out of the house, me and my brothers are still happy. Back then I thought life will always be like that but since the cost of living in Manila went up, mama and papa had no choice but to transfer their work here. Mama even assured to me that life in Laguna is no different from Manila aside from the fresh air.

And so was what I thought...

The first time I had a taste of the Laguna culture was on my first year in college. My classmates looked mature than I do. They have make up, they talked like mature people and they seem to talk with intonation... Most of them have the expression 'eh' after their sentences which made me think Laguna is like Batangas. Also I am too shy to talk to them because I wanted to blend in and make them think I am from Laguna also (heheh!). But I guess my strategy did not work because when the teacher asked where we graduated, I have no choice but tell her and my classmates I came from Manila which surprised them. "Ah galing kang main campus" (by the way I studied in San Sebastian Manila and there is a branch here in Calamba) was their remarks which made me look puzzled and asked myself, "What's good in Manila?"

Back then I had a lot of culture shock experiences back then during my first month here: first was the terminologies. They have so many terminologies that were jargon to my ears like katukayo, lilom, awasan and pasusot were some of the things I have just heared from them... plus the funny intonation they have... The first word I heard was "awasan". One of my classmates asked me what time is my "awasan" and I had no idea back then that it means dismissal because in Manila I only know "uwian" or dismissal. When I first heard it I thought she was talking about water because "awas" also means "overflow". So I looked at her puzzled why was she talking about water and she also looked confused. Good thing one of our classmates became my interpreter and told me that she was asking about my dismissal time. Next was the word "katukayo". One of my classmates have the same nickname as I am and she always calls me "katukayo" which made me look upset. But then again my personal interpreter told me that it means "same name"... weird me... -.-"

Next was about the virginity issues. Some of my classmates back then had a very interesting hobby during break time and that is watching phornographic videos. Back then I have no idea what are "scandal videos"... Maybe because I grew up in a family that was too secluded and because my mother is a teacher we are expected to be... good (hehe), intelligent and knows how to discern the bad and the good. I had no idea how they look like until out of curiosity I peeped and disliked it, and of course asked them... "What's so good about it?" They said it was exciting, and that I do not understand. Another thing is that they love to drink beers, wines and go to bars at an early age of 16. Padis Point is like the most common place to hang out and I do not understand what was inside it until one of our classmates suggested we create our documentary of what is inside Padis, and that my top one most disliked place ever.

On the course of my stay in Laguna they learned that some Manileño (people from Manila) are not the same. The day they found out I came from Manila, they thought I was rich since they think people who live there have big incomes. But as I try to tell them that I came from a very modest family, they have a changed of heart about it. Also, since our school is non sectarian meaning they also accept non catholics. Our non catholics and catholics students get to understand each others' tradition and belifes by sharing what they know.

After graduation I thought culture won't shock me again until I was employed as an office staff at a multi national company. I thought that life as part of the working force will not be a big adjustment for me because I have assessed myself that I am good in adapting to "people who have different multi-cultural background" which was written in my resume, but again, I guess I am not.

My first company was run by Koreans. Back then Koreans are like Dei Jang Geum from the Koreanovela "Jewel in the Palace" and Jessy from the "Full House". I thought that all Koreans are cute (hehe) and they are not bad tempered people but no! I think they are cute physically (some of them really looked like the KPOP idols in S. Korea) but work wise, they are too serious! They even throw cellphones at their subordinates and smell like walking kimchees. They are even bad tempered especially when you gave them a very wrong answer. I had a taste of that but I think I am still the lucky ones back then who was not humiliated in front of many.

My second and last was run by Danish people. I thought people from Europe are nice, considerate and kind unlike my former bosses but again, I was wrong. Since Danish people are know to be one of the happiest people in the world, they do not get angry that easily but they are too sarcastic. Physically they look okay but inside, they're scary. If they demand of course we know that we have to deliver our best but sometimes they want the impossible be possible! Plus the fact that some Filipinos who were sent abroad to be trained change and act like them. Very weird indeed.

Signs everywhere!
I love signs especially the advertisements and editorial cartoons! This might sound a bit weird but when I was a child, I never sleep during trips because I looking at the colors and the symbols used in tarpaulins and in newspapers, I only looked at the editorial cartoons because of the caricature. For me they all look cute (hehe). Whenever my mom would ask me to go somewhere, she would give me some landmarks to remember for me to know that I am on the right patch. I thought all signs are the same but ever since I studied here in the university, my personal view towards signs were changed. I thought if you try to get a jeepney driver's attention by just raising you hand means something! The day when I was going to have my medical clearance was the most funniest experience ever. I have no idea how to go to the university hospital and so I asked the police help desk (located in front of the gate) how to get there and told me to ride a jeep going to forestry. I thank them and waited and until I felt like standing at the side of the road forever. Out of desperation, I ask jeepney driver who just stopped in front of Landmark Bank how to know if the jeep is going to forestry. The kind driver told me to point my finger up. I looked confused but still followed his advice. I raised my finger up and magically a jeepney stopped in front of me! I was so happy, I went inside, paid my fare and forgot to tell the driver to drop me at the hospital. SWEET! Since I did not tell the driver, I was wondering why I have I passed the "Museum of Natural History" and thought that maybe the hospital is still far, but I noticed the trees are getting denser and denser and decided to alight at a nearby building. I asked the security where the hospital is and told me it was near the GS building. -.-"

Post #2: Culture as Communication - How JPOP has changed me

Defining communication as culture is easier but saying that culture communicates, I think it is a little bit harder than I thought.

But come to think of it, experience tells you how culture communicates, may they be of different cultures or of the same culture but of different beliefs. I think the best example of how culture communicates is how Filipino’s get fond of watching Korean Dramas or in my case, Japanese dramas.

When I was still on my first year in college, my dream job was to be a Japanese translator. I asked one of my professors in school how to study Japanese even if I have limited study materials and can’t afford to study at a language school. She said that in order to learn one’s language, one should watch and listen to their dramas and songs, and so I did. I immersed myself on studying Nihonggo and maybe, just like KPOP fans, I got ‘hooked’ with the JPOP (Japanese Pop) and ever since then it already became part of my life. Some of the shows I watch are similar or contradicts our real life experiences.

Actually, the main reason why I love watching Japanese dramas or Jdorama, as some JPOP enthusiast calls it, is that the story line was so interesting. Some drama genres are not that quite popular here in the Philippines like detective dramas. Most of the Filipino media consumers love to watch love stories but I for one am not a fan of those stuff, especially if you are a Mass Communications graduate who has already mastered the skill of ‘guessing’ what would be the ending of the story. In short, I want a story that has so many twist and you will never know or cannot guess the what-would-be the ending of the story. I kind of understood why some of their love stories are very erotic, why their horror movies are really horrifying and why their detective movies are very gruesome, and it was because of their culture. Some Japanese people do not believe in ghost, some are still single and some love extremes. But I think, on my opinion, the best drama genre are the human interest stories, and the best storyline that ever catch my attention even though I am not a fan of love stories (hehe) is the drama ‘Smile’.

(c) http://3.bp.blogspot.com

Vito Hayakawa has a Filipino father, and a Japanese mother. Since he is not a full blooded Japanese citizen, he is referred to as a low class citizen. His father left him in Japan while his mother ran away with her boyfriend. Vito was employed by a good old man who owns a factory that produces rice cakes. His life was almost perfect when suddenly all was turned upside down when he was accused of being a drug dealer at his part time. He was found not guilty with the help of a Korean-Japanese lawyer but was again accused of killing someone just because he wanted to protect his girlfriend. He was nearly sentenced to death when his lawyer saw a good evidence to prove that he is not guilty.

The story was very interesting and at the same time it puzzles me why he was regarded as a ‘low class’ citizen wherein fact he was born in Japan. All along I know that being a lady makes one a second class citizen but the low class... very weird... According to my Japanese students, Filipinas are known in Japan as entertainers and most of them works as hostesses. Japanese think that being a hostess is the most ‘dirtiest’ job ever, and they (Japanese) view Filipinos that they are all dirty. I did ask some of them about how they were treated in Japan, and they all have the same response:  “Our classmates do not like us and they think we are stupid…” That reality just saddens me.

Also, Anime or Japanese Cartoons are also popular among children and young adults alike and who have never watch the Detective Conan anime series:

 (c) http://www.anime-planet.com/

Conan Kitagawa or Shinichi Kudo is a little detective wherein he was forced to drink a drug which makes an adult shrink into a small child. The cartoon depicts the young detective, with the help of an adult detective and his friends solve mysteries and the use of some highly technological gadgets that help him even solve the hard cases.

The cartoon has made everyone fascinated on how skilled and critical thinker Conan is, which makes its viewers think critically by trying to solve cases while the show is going or some recreational activities derived from detective shows. Some of my friends who watch this show sometimes compare PNP on how they solve crimes. They think that, if some countries can solve a crime within a day, why can't the Philippines do that? 

Aside from watching Jdoramas, I also love to listen to JPOP. I find it inspiring because according to my own point of view I guess most of the Filipino popular music now a days are inclined to love songs (it’s not that I don’t like love songs… but I just find it too cheesy…) and what I like about JPOP songs are that all of their songs are not about relationships. Some are very inspiring about how to reach your dreams and such. Some of the songs that I have listen to lightens up my mood. Also, most of the bands that I listen to are very close to each other that makes me want to value the people around me even more, just like my favorite Japanese band ‘Arashi’.

(c) http://nipponheavenjp.files.wordpress.com

This band was formed by Johnny’s Entertainment just to cheer their national team that is competing for a volleyball match overseas. Just like every other band, it is very hard to keep up their popularity status especially if KPOP is on the verged of making its way to the Japanese Music Industry, but still they kept producing songs that will still attract their fans all over the world. Recently, the band has held their 15^th anniversary in Hawaii and has boost the local economy in the state. (aramatheydidnt.com)

Another thing that fascinates me about this boy band is how they  produce their concerts. They have so many colorful lights and even a rotating stage! I thought that if such big productions will be made here in the Philippines it will be totally awesome!

Some people find me unique because of my interest while some find me weird, even my parents who have a little experience of how hard the Japanese occupation saga was, but still what entice me to like JPOP was their culture J How Japanese people treat each other with respect even though the antagonist and the protagonist in some dramas are very much irritated with each other. Also, how conservative they are in terms of being in a relationships, may they be in high school or part of the working force. But sometimes I find their culture a bit creepy because some of the detective dramas that I have watched are more into domestic violence (DV). Some of the people who can “understand” my interest are of course, are of the same boat as I do.