Let's cover a few things you should know about Japan. Many missionaries come quite unprepared for a few things. Japan has high winds, lots of rain, blistering summer days and of course freezing cold winters
all with no central heating/cooling system.
Anyway, here are some things you might consider before going so you are more prepared (WARNING:
None of this information is officially endorsed by the Japan Nagoya Mission
or the Presidency of the LDS Church and may even go against current guidelines!):
THINGS TO AVOID
Trench coat -
There are plenty of reasons to leave this in the store. The first, and
probably the most important, is that to a Japanese person, a big foreigner
looks very scary in a trench coat, especially when that foreigner is knocking
on his door. Also, you will be riding a bike most of the time (no cars
except in the mission home) so unless you like your coat catching in
the wheels and gears and getting really dirty, don't bring a trench coat.
Then there is the tsuyu or "rainy season." A trench coat will succeed
in keeping the rain off of you, but you will still be soaking wet from
your own body sweat. The bottom line is that missionaries in trench coats
look fine, but missionaries in trench coats riding bikes and wearing helmets
look really stupid.
Scripture carrying
bag - You will find yourself having to carry many more things like
lesson plans, flyers, books of mormon, etc. Too much to put into a small
carrying bag. A good, waterproof backpack is much more suitable.
Fancy dress socks
- If you do bring these, make sure you have plenty of the same style. If
you get several different styles, you will have to throw out 2 socks when
you get only 1 with a hole. With several socks of the same style, you only
have to throw out the 1 sock.
Shoe stretchers
- Some people get these expensive gadgets because they smell good. Well,
you will probably never meet a Japanese person that bows so low that he
notices that your shoes smell good and mention something about it. These
shoe stretchers can be found in nearly every apartment as past missionaries
have realized the uselessness of these sweet smelling sole savers.
If you decide to get 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of boots like suggested
here, you will have little need of shoe stretchers. Just take good care
of your shoes and they will last.
THINGS TO BRING
Rain coat - Now
that you're convinced you to leave the trench coat at home, you're going
to need something else. Well, you need something that will keep you dry,
look attractive, and can be used year-round. If you can afford it, it has
been suggested that mountain climbing style rain gear is good. Sound crazy?
Well, riding your bike in near-freezing weather with rain pouring down
and the wind blowing in every direction is crazy too, but you will do it.
A baggy top with room enough to put your backpack on underneath is important.
Waterproof backpacks are nice, but they always manage to let water through.
You will want the backpack underneath your coat. A hood is vital
unless you like having a cold. The coat should be long enough to cover
suit coat and a good distance past the top of your rain pants. Sisters
might want to consider a pancho-style raincoat. You think wearing a big
dorky helmet looks funny? Try stuffing your dress into a pair of rain pants!
Rain pants shouldn't be too tight at the bottom because you may want to
use boots. Remember if your rain pants don't extend well beyond the top
of your boots, they
will slip off the top when you start pedaling!
Of course, once the water inside your boots warms up, it's kind of like
a bath! There was one elder that bought a fishing raincoat.
It was bright purple and very Japanese-like so it went over pretty well.
However, you may want to consider something not too outrageous. You
will need a coat to wear for winter too. It gets *very* cold.
It's best to have something that can be worn underneath your rain gear
and not stick out. You don't want to have your coat sticking out from beneath
your raincoat. Try your best to coordinate coat and raincoats.
Boots -
Get a pair of tough, waterproof, semi-high boots. They will come in handy
on wet days and cold days --- especially on wet, cold days. You will probably
use these most of the winter and if you're a boot freak, then probably
all summer as well. Boots will be better for riding your bike. many a
pair of nice shoes get torn up on bicycles. Sisters should also consider
getting boots. When you go to someone's house, you will take off
your footwear anyway so it doesn't really matter. I think 1 pair of shoes
and 1 pair of boots is plenty. As far as rain in the summer goes,
you can get a cheap pair of galoshes if you want to. Available in
Japan up to around 28 centimeters (27 in most stores), which about a 10
in USA men sizes.
Shoes - Whatever
you get is fine as long as they are comfortable and durable. You might
consider something that is easy to put on and take off. Since you will
be doing a lot of that, you may want the slip-on kind. These are excellent
for summer. If you do bring 2 pair, get one of them as the slip on kind.
Many missionaries 'convert' their lace on shoes to slip-ons by jamming
their feet in enough to wear off the back side of the shoe. You decide
what's best for you. Darren Holman,
from President Ikeda's era, recommends that people who wear a size
greater than size 11 to be sure to buy all your shoes at home as finding
your size in Japan is difficult if not impossible. NOTE:
Shoe sizes in Japanese stores have improved since the early 80's.
Now you can find around size 12 1/2 in bowling shoes...but don't count
on it.
Gloves - Something
waterproof, warm and long enough to cover the sleeves on your coat.
Cold weather accessories
- Head bands are nice for the winter. They work great with bike
helmets. Other hats interfere with the helmet and it either doesn't work,
or looks really stupid. But, stupid is warm - you can't argue
with that! A scarf is nice. It keeps your neck warm.
You will need this when you are knocking doors for hours on end.
Thermal underwear, is very nice to have. But, if you don't like
having too much luggage, polyurethane tights also work nicely. You will
probably want to consider using these over your other undies because
you don't have to wash them everyday, it takes up less space than 5 full
sets of long-johns, and because everybody enjoys wearing tights. :)
Chain guard
- A good, durable, velcro strap to keep your pants away from your bike
chain. Keeps you clean, and out of bike accidents.
Looks cool too! :)
Pictures -
You'll be introducing yourself to hundreds of people. Having pictures
of you at home, with your family, doing your favorite sports, etc. will
be very helpful. It might make you homesick, but you'll definitely use
it a lot! Post cards from your state, or province are great too!
Small set of scriptures
- A large set for your apartment is nice, but a small set is great because
it's light and easy to carry.
Waterproof backpack
- Your backpack will be a good friend your entire mission. Make sure
that it is very durable and it will serve you well. It's also a good
idea to put some type of emblem or patch on it to identify it when you're
at zone conference.
Fanny pack-
A fairly large fanny pack with enough room to hold at least one Book of
Mormon, flyers and other small materials is a great help when street contacting.
You aren't always carrying enough stuff to warrant using a backpack. In
the summer, fanny packs can be a real life-saver as it keeps your shirt/dress
from sticking to your back so much.
THINGS THAT WOULD BE
NICE
Bookmarks and other
small affects - It's always nice to give a bookmark with a scripture
written on it to a member or to an investigator. It may be in English,
but they will appreciate it. Small pictures of Christ, or other Christian
supplies (things you'd find at LDS bookstores, etc.) are great gifts
and very hard to find in Japan. And, of course, bookmarks or things
with Book of Mormon scriptures aren't sold in store in Japan (except
maybe up by the Tokyo Temple, which is not in the JNM).
Tape Recorder
- Some missionaries, enjoyed the convenience of taping their letters to
my family. On the plus side, it's easy, quick, and your family gets to
hear your voice. You can also do creative things like take it to your district
meetings or when you go streeting to make memorable clips. On the down
side, tape recorders can break, tapes can be erased or otherwise damaged,
and it does cost a little more to send in the mail.
Clear fingernail
polish - It has been rumored that you can't get it here or that
it is really expensive. At least, this is what some of the sisters
say.
Waffle iron
- Okay, so it's heavy. But word has it that you bring this and a bottle
of maple extract and you'll be glad you did. Unless you prefer to eat cream
of wheat for breakfast for two years... (NOTE: The typical Japanese
domestic outlet is 100 volts AC and most USA rated electronics seem to
work fine with this type of voltage.)
Kool-Aid -
Kevin G Eccles recommends that if you are arriving in spring or summer,
Kool-Aid is a welcome addition to any apartment.
OTHER HELPFUL TIPS
White shirts
- Unless you tend to sweat a lot, only open a few shirts while in the MTC.
Remember, you'll be in class all day. The only work you will do will be
in your P-day clothing. Keep the rest of your shirts in the package.
Then as your shirts wear out, open a new package or two. This way, you
can have that "new look" every few months or so. Also, shirts will travel
better with the plastic/cardboard packing intact. It's easier to pack/unpack
for transfers and makes for a simple closet. As shirts wear out,
throw them away. The same can go for socks and for garments.
Eventually you will have room enough in your suitcases to bring home the
souvenirs you wasted, uh, spent, all your money on.
Sisters on Bicycles
- If you thought elders on bicycles looked silly, wait until you see the
sisters ride by with one hand on the handlebar and one hand holding down
their dress! Now that is silly! Of course there are times when the
sisters have both hands on the handlebar to control the bike - and this
is a neat maneuver because it also allows the sisters to air-condition
their lower half as their dresses are blown up into their faces - which
may account for a few accidents. (This is pure speculation though.)
There is help! Here
are 3 ideas for you sisters to consider:
clothespins
- This is neat. Just tuck your dress around the bar below the seat and
pin it underneath. Occasionally pops off. This happens when you are riding
down a rough road and have both hands on the handlebar at which point your
dress flies up into your face. You will wonder which embarrassed you most;
showing off your bloomers, or the 4-star flip you did when you wrecked
your bike. Not to worry! There is a special
clothespin in Japan that is made to close on a bar. Just the right size
for a bicycle. This should not come off unless you take it off. Just find
a color that matches your dress.
safety pin
- Pin the front of your dress to the bar below the seat. This works great
and is less noticeable than the clothespin strategy. The drawbacks are
that it takes time to pin and unpin, and if you forget about it, you get
a nice rip in your dress or fall down - or both.
velcro - Yes,
velcro! Just prepare velcro squares to be sewed/iron to the inside of the
front of your dress. Then you place another on the bar. Then it's a matter
of sticking it on and pulling it off! (No promises on this one.
It was thought of by a missionary who never tried it himself.)
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
If you are
called to the states, you learn the scriptures. If you are called to a
foreign country, you learn a new language. If you are called to Japan,
you learn humility
- author unknown
-
There are many ways
to study the Japanese language. Memorizing phrases, flash cards, SYL (speak
your language), guessing, etc. Find something that works for you
and have fun. As a new missionary, you will have the great
opportunity to "pass off," or to memorize the entire lesson plan.
This, too, is formidable, but remember, you only have to memorize it long
enough to spit it out to your companion and then you it is okay to forget
it as you study the next section. Don't worry about comprehension.
Just bear with it. Once you finish that, my advice is to start
studying kanji or chinese characters, right away! Others
will tell you to wait until you can speak some more, but you'll learn faster
with a few hundred kanji in your head. It's really exiting to learn besides.
Here are some ideas
to learn Japanese...
Study kanji
from the start. (Or, wait until you have a basic understanding
of Japanese and then start studying kanji - say 6 months into Japan. It
really depends on your tastes. Either way, you will WANT to study
kanji as it will geometrically accelerate your vocabulary acquisition rate.)
Return missionary
Chase Cook says, "I found it EXTREMELY useful to write down shiranai tango
(words you don't know) on the back of your hand in mid-conversation. After
which the words are looked up during hanseikai (a meeting for reviewing
the day's events), and written down onto a tango (vocabulary) list
to be used in the future. This also helps the missionary understand more
of the conversation he had.
Always carry your
dictionary. Use the Sanseido Daily Concise Dictionary you get in the MTC.
Don't use a Romaji
dictionary. Don't let an English to Japanese Romaji dictionary become your
crutch!!
Look up words that
Japanese people say - especially the members. Underline
them in your dictionary. Write them
down.
Confirm words before
you use them. This will help prevent embarrassing situations.
Try to use new words
soon.
Teach another missionary
any good words you learn.
Review your word
lists often.
Learn to ask questions
in Japanese.
Learn to imitate
Japanese natives (that speak Japanese well).
If you are an elder,
don't imitate Japanese as spoken by Japanese women (especially high
school girls).
Don't try to reinvent
Japanese by forcing your Japanese to match what you feel are logical parallels
of your personal speech patterns in English.
Learn onomatopoeia,
proverbs, idiomatic expressions, famous quotes and other common sayings.
Read out loud in
Japanese. Children's stories are great practice. (Yes, they
do have public libraries in Japan.) For that matter, studying
educational materials oriented towards preschool, kindergarten and grammer
school children can be very beneficial (because you learn Japanese the
way Japanese do).
Peter Ellis adds,
"I firmly believe that the missionaries that most successfully learn the
language are not necessarily those with the greatest determination or the
greatest linguistic skill but those that allow the spirit to help them...you
know the gift of tongues. A fervent, faith-filled prayer, even some
fasting, would not be wasted in seeking after this gift. We are encouraged
to seek after the best gifts, and certainly this gift of tongues is one
of the best gifts, that a missionary called to Japan could seek."
Never forget,
shippai wa seiko no moto (failure is the foundation of success)! Babe
Ruth struck out more times than he hit home runs, and you will most likely
not
go from grace to grace in your Japanese progress.
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