tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post3613877707976374173..comments2023-12-29T11:44:38.434+09:00Comments on yokohamamama: School Days--The Writing On the Wallyokohamamamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-44707847827636051262011-02-13T02:06:55.062+09:002011-02-13T02:06:55.062+09:00I did teach in Japan with JET. I lived and taught ...I did teach in Japan with JET. I lived and taught in Shimane Prefecture, far from most things, though near to the shore (and Izumo Shrine). <br /><br />14 years in Japan earns you at least an honorary degree in anthropology! I'll certainly trust your observations.Chris Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166767450241044396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-77577169360838118742011-02-11T20:40:57.756+09:002011-02-11T20:40:57.756+09:00Tim--thank you! That's *exactly* what I was t...Tim--thank you! That's *exactly* what I was talking about:-)) I can just hear that "hora! hora! hora!"...and when they were done fighting, a kindly "mo ii desho? ayamatteitara? ja-a, nakayoku shimasho, ne! hai..." I find I can't very easily do that sort of thing myself...<i>unless I switch and speak Japanese.</i>yokohamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-40855729402971562292011-02-11T14:51:41.583+09:002011-02-11T14:51:41.583+09:00I remember a few years after coming to Japan (oh, ...I remember a few years after coming to Japan (oh, centuries ago) seeing two very small boys (about four or five, I suspect) who had lost their tempers with each other as they played in the (safe) street and were both fighting and in tears at the same time. Out came an oba-chan (in her sixties, I should think) from one of the houses, dressed in a blue working kimono and apron, and simply moved Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-36162123131406075172011-02-11T09:51:51.748+09:002011-02-11T09:51:51.748+09:00I wonder whether Japan and Sweden both being large...I wonder whether Japan and Sweden both being largely homogeneous societies has something to do with that kind of "everyone has to be the same" force? Homogeneity has a positive side, but also drawbacks...yokohamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-32199544119113419552011-02-11T04:27:09.334+09:002011-02-11T04:27:09.334+09:00I can sympathise with the problems of living in a ...I can sympathise with the problems of living in a "nail that sticks up will be hammered down" society, as Sweden, where I grew up, has a similar philosophy. There, the saying goes that "you shan't believe you are anyone." Though, from my experience, it has the opposite effect to what the nail-analogy seems to have in Japan. Instead of inspiring "altruism," it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-27404193727745136932011-02-10T23:40:08.595+09:002011-02-10T23:40:08.595+09:00ooh, good to know!ooh, good to know!Sarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-31212943940322720732011-02-10T09:03:28.910+09:002011-02-10T09:03:28.910+09:00YAY!!! A convert!! *So* glad everybody loved it!...YAY!!! A convert!! *So* glad everybody loved it! And it's totally good for you, too:-)) Make double next time--if there's some leftover, it keeps for a day or two in the fridge, and goes in lunchboxes nicely!yokohamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-41124610572540731992011-02-10T02:24:50.118+09:002011-02-10T02:24:50.118+09:00the spinach was delicious and a HUGE success! I be...the spinach was delicious and a HUGE success! I believe we will be making it ALL THE TIME now.<br />Also, i was told i need to make more next time.<br />You rock!Sarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-1968859848016812362011-02-09T09:42:45.431+09:002011-02-09T09:42:45.431+09:00Chris--did you teach over here (JET, or something ...Chris--did you teach over here (JET, or something similar)? Positive discipline practices are widespread--I've seen Adler's books in lots of bookstores. I think his methods are popular because they fit what the Japanese tend naturally to do anyway. I also see many similarities (or convergences) with the Montessori method. I don't think that's an accident--I think these methodsyokohamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-57175134666643391872011-02-09T09:21:48.348+09:002011-02-09T09:21:48.348+09:00Sarah--I thought it was smart, too! Very Montesso...Sarah--I thought it was smart, too! Very Montessori, actually... Tell me how the spinach turns out!! Hope you like it! (Be sure to squeeze all the water out of the spinach).<br /><br />lostinsophistication-- it can be hard to live in a "nail that sticks up will be hammered down" society, but there are positive aspects of it. One of them is the extreme attentiveness to others, and toyokohamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098212549844656652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-77330366871365755522011-02-09T06:36:48.527+09:002011-02-09T06:36:48.527+09:00This is a truly interesting insight! Usually when ...This is a truly interesting insight! Usually when we talk about Japanese expectations for children, we tend to think of the Tiger Mom (a la Amy Chua, just as one prominent recent personification of this idea)--high expectations that are achieved not through positive reinforcement, but simply by holding kids to a high standard and being disappointed (or worse) when they do not meet that standard. Chris Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166767450241044396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-44732827810582593862011-02-09T02:51:56.692+09:002011-02-09T02:51:56.692+09:00For every post about Japanese parenting you put up...For every post about Japanese parenting you put up, I fall more and more in love with it. The world needs more Japan!<br /><br />(I saw a British woman slap her child in the face a few weeks ago. I was so distressed and just wanted to grab the child and run away...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7027119346366147543.post-7012591428224806772011-02-09T01:44:41.386+09:002011-02-09T01:44:41.386+09:00that is genius! Seriously, that's one of the s...that is genius! Seriously, that's one of the smartest things i've ever heard of.<br />Also, adorable!<br /><br />OT - i'm making your sesame spinach tonight. I'm excited!Sarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.com