I always forget about classical music until I listen to a piece (being played in a random store, or just stumbling upon it online)...and realize how amazing it is.
Re: the realization that racism exists. It's one of the concepts I use to try to explain white privilege -- white people have the privilege to be able to be blind to racism or not even think about it, whileas most people of minority status do not have that luxury -- almost since birth, we're treated differently.
Though I could never live there, Japan feels like a safehaven to me -- nobody treats me like I don't belong, as long as I don't talk too much and reveal that I'm not "totally" Japanese.
I rather <3 classical music-- identifying what one likes is harder, though, because I find that I usually have to devote some mental attention to a song before I can make a decision either way. With pop music etc, it generally doesn't require so much from me.
I have lived in Japan, and enjoyed living in Japan, but of course some of the things that would bother you about Japan don't touch on me so much. As anyone looking at me would clearly identify me as a foreigner, so I am expected to be a bit weird and thus avoid many of the pressures of behavior that I would otherwise be subject to.
Of course, the downside of this is that I could never disappear or belong. Such things are somewhat low on my priority list, though.
But when I came back to the US over the winter holidays, some part of me was relieved. I imagine that feeling to be somewhat similar to how you feel, arriving in Japan?
I suppose the feeling is similar, yes...though in the US, people think I'm not American or just not possible for me to NOT be foreign, in Japan I feel like I'm just a "normal" person and not a foreigner. At the same time I don't really belong.
I'm used to not belonging (I *am* a pretty weird person, in addition to being/looking very Asian, hahaha) and sometimes use it as a badge of honor, but I must admit, sometimes I feel like just disappearing, and it is a definite sort of relief to be in Japan at times.
Lovely post... I was horrified how much my eyes were opened to racism after returning from Japan. Not even subtle, those-outdated-things-your-mum-says-sometimes examples, but people MY AGE making horrendous slurs for no good reason. I remember one time on a tram not long after I got back, an able-bodied white woman climbed aboard her tram, then proceeded to very loudly exclaim to her young adult daughter how incredulous she was that a CHINESE student would DARE occupy a seat on the tram when there were NATIVE AUSTRALIANS standing without a seat. Had I honestly had my ears closed to this before
( ... )
Eyes being opened is always good, even though distress is in and of itself sad (though natural). You also have the fundamental character flaw of being a nice person, so I imagine you give people the benefit of the doubt perhaps more often than you need to.
Travel does indeed give you a different perspective on the world-- even more, living in a place where you don't speak the dominant language is an invaluable experience. You start realizing just how hard it actually is, how it limits you and isolates you.
And indeed, you bring up a good point about racism. Indeed, experiencing it oneself doesn't make one less likely to partake-- can in fact make a person more likely. "I know how it feels from the downside, now I want the opportunity to dish it out myself." Something like that . . .
. . . I am really unable to speak with any particular eloquence or inspiration on the subject of racism, it should be noted. Partially out of fear of my own ignorance, partially out of fear of my capacity to say monumentally stupid things.
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Re: the realization that racism exists.
It's one of the concepts I use to try to explain white privilege -- white people have the privilege to be able to be blind to racism or not even think about it, whileas most people of minority status do not have that luxury -- almost since birth, we're treated differently.
Though I could never live there, Japan feels like a safehaven to me -- nobody treats me like I don't belong, as long as I don't talk too much and reveal that I'm not "totally" Japanese.
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I have lived in Japan, and enjoyed living in Japan, but of course some of the things that would bother you about Japan don't touch on me so much. As anyone looking at me would clearly identify me as a foreigner, so I am expected to be a bit weird and thus avoid many of the pressures of behavior that I would otherwise be subject to.
Of course, the downside of this is that I could never disappear or belong. Such things are somewhat low on my priority list, though.
But when I came back to the US over the winter holidays, some part of me was relieved. I imagine that feeling to be somewhat similar to how you feel, arriving in Japan?
Reply
I'm used to not belonging (I *am* a pretty weird person, in addition to being/looking very Asian, hahaha) and sometimes use it as a badge of honor, but I must admit, sometimes I feel like just disappearing, and it is a definite sort of relief to be in Japan at times.
Reply
Reply
Travel does indeed give you a different perspective on the world-- even more, living in a place where you don't speak the dominant language is an invaluable experience. You start realizing just how hard it actually is, how it limits you and isolates you.
And indeed, you bring up a good point about racism. Indeed, experiencing it oneself doesn't make one less likely to partake-- can in fact make a person more likely. "I know how it feels from the downside, now I want the opportunity to dish it out myself." Something like that . . .
. . . I am really unable to speak with any particular eloquence or inspiration on the subject of racism, it should be noted. Partially out of fear of my own ignorance, partially out of fear of my capacity to say monumentally stupid things.
Reply
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