The Next Great Kanto Earthquake

Experiencing earthquakes is simply part of life in Japan.  Some regions experience them more often than others, and some more strongly, but once you've lived here long enough you would expect to get used to them.

On the contrary, I have yet to get used to feeling the earth rumble, buildings swaying like boats or shaking as though a giant were furiously pushing on the walls.  The small ones sometimes go unnoticed, but the larger ones are most certainly worth preparing for.

According to the increase in quakes since the Tohoku earthquake last March, scientists are saying that there is a 70% chance that the large earthquake expecting to hit the Kanto region will happen within the next four years.  This is the area including and surrounding Tokyo, the largest metropolitain area in Japan.

Since the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, architects have built buildings in order to sustain initial tremors and aftershocks from the earthquakes.  Nonetheless, it is important to be educated on what to do, where to go, and how to rebuild once the earthquake has hit.

To read the full article, please visit the link below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/16681136

To those living in areas prone to seismic activity, read through some of the following sites about what to do in case of an earthquake, small or large.
Some of the basics include:
-know the procedures of what to do during and after an earthquake 
-know where your shelters and centers will be located
-know evacuation routes
-know where to go in case of a tsunami warning
-know who to call in case of a fire
-have a small bag of essentials packed at all times

Websites with more detailed information about earthquake procedures:
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7111.html
http://www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.jp/index3files/survivalmanual.pdf
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Activities/eew.html
http://www.bousai.metro.tokyo.jp/english/index.html
http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/kinkyu/05.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_6692608_earthquake-safety-japan.html

censorship, fashion, and role models OH MY

Two things from BBC news today:

First is the wikimedia 24-hour blackout in protest to proposed US piracy laws.  We definitely have a problem with piracy, but the way the laws are written here is inappropriate.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16590585  Let's do something about this before it's passed and becomes a huge problem.

Second, an article about an 11 year old named Tavi Gevinson who started a blog called "Style Rookie" which gained a large number of followers and recognition.  Now at age 15, she has launched her new online blog/magazine called Rookie at rookiemag.com, geared towards teenage girls.  Editor and chief at 15, managing 4 editors and 40 writers, I think this girl was meant to make it big.  I may not be overwhelmingly interested in fashion, but I respect her drive and initiative.  Is it ok to have a role model 9 years my junior?  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16588790

Finally, I'm currently working on an article for the next AJET CONNECT e-magazine which should be out by mid February.  I'll be sure to post the link here once it's published.

Self publishing, poems and Where He Leads Me

Congratulations to Joyce Ann Roush Boren for publishing her first book!
Take a look at her self-published book of poems entitled Where He Leads Me.
Buy the paperback for only $8.95 here: http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000003902471

From friesenpress.com, property of Joyce Ann Roush Boren

Good luck on your future endeavors!  I am inspired by your success.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - a Book Review

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Please note: There are a few spoilers here.  I will be sure to write any spoilers in brackets {} so that you can avoid reading sections that give away parts of the book.

A novel: Published in February, 2009.

One of the books I read during 2011 was The Help.  I was inspired to read it because I saw the movie trailer on trailers.apple.com.  Wanting to see the film when it came out in December, I decided to read the book first.  Usually if I see a film before I read the book I will like it better, and vice versa.  Since it was a novel originally, I decided to start there.

I found that the book was a quick read, partially due to my interest in the subject, but also because it was written in a very simple literary/writing style.  Although Ms. Stockett worked in magazine publishing and marketing prior to writing this book, I found that the writing clearly reflected the fact that it was her first novel.  It was good writing, but simple and easy to understand.  In my opinion, many books that make it into the New York Times Best Seller list tend to have this in common.  They're written in a language that can be read and understood by the masses.

The book is divided into 34 chapters, and every few chapters is narrated by one of the following main characters; Aibileen, Miss Skeeter, or Minny.

I don't usually enjoy reading books which are written in dialect and I was nervous when I started the first chapter narrated by Aibileen, but overall it was very easy to get used to, and I thought it was done well.  Unlike in some cases, it did add to the atmosphere and style of the book.

The Help had a slow start, but picked up pace toward the middle and had me racing to the end.  In general, it left a good impression on me.  I would not name it the best book I've ever read, but I considered it an entertaining read and would recommend it to those interested in American history, racial equality, and civil rights.  I also believe that it is an inspiring story of a young woman who had a passion for writing and followed her dreams depsite the obstacles and social pressures along the way.  I suggest this book to writers who need motivation to pursue their goals.  With three female protagonists, this book may apeal to women more than it would to men, but I think that men should also give it a try.

{One complaint I have about the book is the inclusion of an unnecessary scene in which a deranged man in the nude attacks Minny and Celia Foote.  I wonder if it was added in order to show Celia and Minny's loyalty to one another, as well as the strength and guts that these two characters possessed?  But, the scene seemed like it was added as an afterthought, and was out of character.  I wanted to see how they would portray this scene in the movie however they left it out.}

{I could also tell that I was basically reading about the author's life while I was reading the novel, and I wondered if this was a good or a bad thing.  Ive been told that we're supposed to write about what we know, but is it OK that the reader can easily recognize a biography disguised as fiction?  Then again, many of the great authors have done this, and some of them do it in every novel.}

Now also a major motion picture.

Although I was captivated by the book, I never felt particularly moved.  I may have watched the film on a particularly emotional day, but I found myself choking back and wiping away tears on numerous occasions during the 146 minute rental.  In general, the story narrative was able to keep the same plot as the book more or less, but I think that the actors, especially Viola Davis who played Aibileen, were able to bring a deep emotional side to the story which I found lacking in the novel.  "[Viola Davis'] role has garnered her critical acclaim, and has started buzz for various awards nominations." - Time Magazine, Glen Levy.

{In the film I wish they had delved more in Ms. Phelan's illness, Miss Skeeter's relationship with Stuart Whitworth, Skeeter's rejection from society, the personal stories of the maids, and Celia Foote's miscarriages.  It's understandable that they couldn't get to all of this though, since it's difficult to fit a 464 page novel into a 2.4 hour film.}

Overall, The Help was definitey an enjoyable although not overly intellectually stimulating read.

Please feel free to post your thoughts, comments, and personal reactions to the book or film in the "comments section!"  You do not have to be a blogger member to post.  If you're going to reveal any spoilers, please clearly indicate so.

Happy reading!

Lana

Book image: http://tiny.cc/4wdj1
DVD image: http://tiny.cc/rdtsm

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - a Book Review postponed

Due to formatting errors, "The Help by Kathryn Stockett - a Book Review" has been postponed until tomorrow.

My apologies,

Lana

Back from S. Korea! Seoul and Busan

Hello and welcome back!  Happy New Year 2012.  I feel a good one ahead.  Not only because there is a lot in store for me this year, but also because it's the year of the dragon, my personal favorite of the zodiac signs and also my birth year!  Plus, 2012 just feels like such a nice even number, there's bound to be fortune an excitement in store!

My one-week trip to Korea was brief, but very pleasant and a nice change of pace.  Despite having lived in Japan for two and a half years, Korea was immensely difficult to get used to.  I had not one trace of knowledge about the language, and I thought that since Korea was partially the origin of Japan many of their customs and habits would coincide.  I was wrong on many counts, and had a lot of embarrassing moments making cultural etiquette errors and not being able to be easily understood with English.  It was a good experience however, and taught me to be more careful about assuming that English is enough as well as assuming that just because I know a lot about their neighbors, does not mean I know anything at all about them.  Ultimately, I think I was taught to assume less and research more.

Of course the language was the first immediate difference.  Much like Japanese, the written language of Korea was once borrowed from China.  Eventually however, King Sejong the great created a new alphabet called Hangul, which suited the Korean language much better than borrowed Chinese characters.  Japanese continued to use the mixed Chinese characters in addition to their adapted alphabet, or syllabary.  I could not read Hangul, and I also had a hard time wrapping my mind around all of the new sounds that exist in Korean.  The combination of vowels and varying consonants are closer to Chinese, which I have never studied.  I felt inadequate trying to ask for anything, or even use the guidebook to say simple phrases.  I couldn't figure out how to pronounce anything by the romanized spelling, and went back to relying on English.  We intentionally did not use Japanese because of the animosity between the two countries.  We bought a simple Korean language book and have looked at it since returning to Japan. If only I had done a minimal amount of research before I left!

Other differences that I wasn't really expecting included everyday etiquette like how to eat a meal, speaking and eating on subways, and a more pushy and less artificially friendly atmosphere.  They were much more outgoing, and honest on the surface.  Perhaps it's because it's not an island?  Also, I think that their proximity to China gives them more Chinese mannerisms, while Japan is a secluded island nation and developed it's own culture and customs apart from the rest of the world.

Other than a few embarrassing mess-ups, it was a really great trip!  I was more interested in Korean culture than I thought I would be, and enjoyed seeing the sites and trying all of the local foods.  My favorite things to eat there were kimchi, bibimbap, and a fried dough pastry with cinnamon sugar inside called hottoek.

We started our trip with four days in Seoul, up in northern South Korea, and then took a bullet train down to the most southern tip and spent three days in the slower city of Busan.  We were able to meet up with some fellow Denison graduates who are teaching English there, much like we are doing in Japan.  Unfortunately the first full day we spent in Seoul we ended up walking around the city, through palaces and temples, and encountered many hills.  I sprained my foot this first day and was left limping for the rest of the trip.  I think it slowed our pace and limited us on a few of our journeys, but all in all it was a wonderful experience and I'm looking forward to going back some day.  Here is a slide show with pictures of the places we visited!

Thanks for reading and check back again soon!