Rie Kawakita

STAFF INTERVIEW: Rie Kawakita - Housing & Homestay Officer

The following was translated from the Japanese original, interview by Sugita-sensei from the OCJS.

Sugita: Hmmm, today I have with me Miss Kawakita from Gakuseika (Student Service) for an interview for the coming newsletter.
Kawakita: Hi
S: A very good afternoon to Miss Kawakita.
K: Good afternoon. Yoroshiku Onagaishimasu.
S: First, how should I address you? I mean, what is your full name?
K: Oops sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rie Kawakita.
S: And where do you live?
K: I'm in Okazaki.
S: Which part of Okazaki?
K: Near the Civic Centre. It is only about 3 minutes away from campus, so very close to Yamasa.
S: I see. Are you living with your family?
K: No. I'm alone.
S: You are renting an apartment?
K: Yes, that's right.
S: So in that case, where is your hometown?
K: I was born in Mie prefecture, in Tsu City.
S: Tsu-shi? (city)
K: Yes, thats correct.
S: Just out of curiosity, how would you describe Tsu -city?
K: It is very similar to Okazaki. Not a very big city, but near to the sea. It is a very nice place.
S: Tsu-city is the capital of the prefecture right? And yet, it is similar to Okazaki?
K: The size of city is pretty much the same. Yokkaichi-city is bigger.

S: I see. So, how long have you been with Yamasa?
K: This is my 4th month with Yamasa.
S: Oh, this means you started in April this year?
K: Actually it was from July.
S: Oh, sorry, 4 months ago, that's July.
K: Yes, I started working from July.
S: So what were you doing before that?
K: I was working as Teaching Assistant in a university in America.
S: Which part of America? Which state?
K: Eh... North Carolina. At Wake Forest University.
S: Wake Forest University? For how long?
K: I was a teaching assistant for 2 years.
S: I see. We will talk more about this in a minute.
K: OK.
S: So back to Yamasa. Can you tell us more about your current job scope?
K: Well, I am the Housing Coordinator, so as the name suggests, I am in charge of housing.
S: Housing?
K: This means not only the student accommodation, but also looking for homestays and assisting students in looking for apartments etc.
S: I see...
K: Basically, everything that involves a roof over a student at night.

S: So, as the Housing Coordinator, what are some of the challenges you face?
K: The main challenge is the increase in the number of students and also the increase in the percentage of students requesting single occupancy accommodation.
S: I see.
K: So we have had to convert some shared rooms to single rooms...
S: Yes
K: And in peak seasons, I sometimes have to judge when to tell the Admissions Office that we have to reject applicants if I think I can't guarantee housing.
S: Most students like to stay in single rooms as compared to shared rooms?
K: That's correct. That is the trend.
S: There are more students now as compared to before?
K: Yes. Especially recently. I've also look at the figures for the past few years.

S: OK. Umm, by the way, when you were living in America, did you live alone or did you have roommates?
K: More towards house mates. I stayed in a rented one-storey house, which was the equivalent of a 6 LDK, and I shared it with other students.
S: I see.
K: There were 4 of us staying in the same house.
S: Wow, that must be fun.
K: Ha ha... we had small arguments regularly, but yes, it was fun.
S: Really?
K: Everyone of us had one bedroom but the kitchen and other facilities are shared.
S: I see. Small arguments are inevitable at times...
K: Yes, as you guessed, some things will happen... but it was an enjoyable experience...
S: True. It is a good and unforgettable experience to stay in a foreign country.

S: So, are there any interesting stories about your current job?
K: The interesting part about the job is that I can communicate with students from many different countries and assist them in problem-solving. Especially for students who don't know Japanese at all yet, usually we will assist them with translation.
S: Yes. This is of course necessary.
K: And it is really great to see these students coming to our office just a month after their arrival and be greeting us in Japanese and speaking to us in simple Japanese, asking for help or requesting things. Seeing them improving a lot is fantastic.
S: So the students switch from English when they arrive, to Japanese after studying for just a couple of months?
K: Yes, that is what we would like to see too, students trying to use Japanese first in conversation, and only if they really have difficulties, would we switch to English.
S: I see, so that they can practice their Japanese with you at all times?
K: Yes.

S: I see. So this question might be a little similar, but what motivates you most in this job?
K: Yes, not only the improvement from students but also the appreciation from the homestay families.
S: Yes, as Housing Coordinator, I guess you liaise a lot with the Japanese families on homestay issues?
K: Yes.

S: Well, back to your university days, what did you major in?
K: English Language Studies.
S: English Language Studies?
K: Yes, English Language Studies.
S: Can you elaborate more?
K: Oh, we studied the grammar and usage in details and there are also seminars in pragmatics and so on..
S: Pragmatics?
K: It means not learning how to speak the language, but researching the English Language, for example what kind of language etc.
S: So it is more Linguistics Studies?
K: Yes.
S: I see. You must be really good at the language, right?
K: Well... hopefully???
S: So you studied English in university and then went to America to further your studies?
K: Actually I went to America to work as an teaching assistant. My experience of living in a foreign country was quite limited before that..
S: Really?
K: I was an ordinary student in Japan. So when I went to America, I think my listening skills increased, but my speaking and grammar skills were already OK before going to America so in my opinion, that hasn't changed very much...
S: I see. I have seen you talking to students in English at the Student Services Office.
K: Really?
S: Actually I watched secretly.
K: I never realized...
S: And I thought you spoke very fluently. So in terms of language studies, not only English, do you have any special techniques that you would like to share with us...
K: It might be a bit childish, but I think it is possible to learn very well through songs. In other words, singing, so it is important to learn from songs...
S: (laughing)
K: Especially for beginners, I think. When I was in high school, I listened to many songs from America and the UK, and I tried to remember all their lyrics. There is no need to go to Karaoke, just sing from my heart...
S: (still laughing)
K: Well, this really helped in my pronunciation.
S: Is that so?
K: Yes.
S: Like imitating the singer and copying the pronunciation...
K: Yes, yes
S: Even if you don't understand the meaning
K: Initially, I couldn't understand, of course...
S: Oh...
K: However, when I started learning the grammar in high school, I could sometimes understand and it seems like I had heard it somewhere, same for some vocabulary..
S: Oh really?
K: Listening to songs is not just using my brain, but my senses too. Like mouth and ears, not my sense of taste though... So I think I used my different senses to feel and learn, that's why the songs usually leave a deep impression on me...
S: So what kind of songs did you sing?
K: Well, from Rock to Pop music...
S: For example?
K: Well...
S: We can find out which generation you are...
K: Oops, I should be careful then... Let's see... well... you see, I love Rock music, so I like a band called Incubus...
S: Incubus???
K: Yes, but they don't usually used very good English words....
S: Oh really? Is that Hard Rock?
K: Not exactly Hard though... it is called Melodic Hardcore.
S: Melodic Hardcore, hmmm... I think we have some students that know quite a lot about Melodic Hardcore.
K: Oh.. are there? Who else... anyway I also listen to Pop music
S: Oh?
K: Like Backstreet Boys...
S: Oh, so you like male singers?
K: I like both. For female singers, I like Alanis Morissette...
S: Oh yes, Alanis Morissette...
K: Yes.. I listened to her songs...
S: When you were driving....
K: When I was in high school, I listened on my way to school...
S: On your bicycle?
K: Yes, when I was riding my bicycle, I would listen and sing along...
S: Oh I see. So I guess many students in Yamasa should listen and sing J-Pop....
K: I think it is good to listen and gets to know how to sing songs...
S: Especially, memorizing the songs and going to Karaoke and getting drunk??
K: (laughing)
S: This seems like a common situation to fall into...
K: Well, Some students do improve their Japanese after a drink or two... and I think it is good practice...
S: If they can be on time for the classes on the following morning...
K: Yes, of course, (to students) "Please come to campus before 9.00 am".

S: OK. Well, let's go on to the next question. Can you share with us some of your experiences as a teaching assistant in America?
K: In the eyes of Americans, I was a foreigner, so...
S: Yes?
K: It was a very traditional University, so there weren't many Asians around....
S: Oh?
K: And I speak with a bit of a Japanese accent, so I received comments like "we don't understand your English" and things like that...
S: Well, there are many challenges living in a foreign country...
K: Yes, even though I traveled to the USA quite often and sometimes stayed for a few months, that was often on the West coast area where there are many Asians and Hispanics, so I can walk around and no one will think that I am a foreigner...
S: Because it is quite common to have Asians around them...
K: Yes, but the place where I lived, I found that everyone looked at me whenever I went out. And when I wore a Kimono, there were various comments like from "wow, that's very nice" to "who is this, looks so weird" etc...
S: I see.
K: So that's why now I can understand how foreigners feel if they are being pointed at by Japanese...
S: Well, this is why through these experiences, we can understand the differences in culture and why cultural exchange and global communication is very important...
K: Yes, even here in Japan, many Japanese still have a very conservative view with regards to foreigners, and I hope we can work hard and be able to reach a stage where there is mutual understanding...
S: Yes, let's work towards this goal...
K: Yes!

S: Let's change the topic a little... What are your interests?
K: I like watching movies and swimming... but I've been a little busy recently...
S: What kind of movies do you like?
K: Japanese movies...
S: Japanese movies?
K: Yes... commonly known as 'Houga' in Japanese...
S: So are you referring to Kurosawa's movies?
K: That's a bit old!!!
S: Not really, a lot of students like Kurosawa...
K: I have only watched a few of Kurosawa's movies... but recently those I like are... actually, I haven't been watching much recently. Working at Yamasa doesn't seem to give me much spare time.
S: So what was the last movie you watched?
K: Recently, the more popular ones directed by Kazuyuki Izutsu. I personally like Izutsu's movies... like "Geroppa!! (Get Up!!)" and "Nodo Jiman (Amateur Singing Contest)" etc...
S: Oh yes.. "Get up!!" is filmed in Gamagori, the city next to Okazaki, right?
K: Yes, at Laguna...
S: Yes, Laguna Gamagori. And because its nearby, maybe our students should watch "Get up!!" on DVD... then go there since it is only 20 minutes on the train.
K: Good idea!
S: It is interesting to visit the site and tour around the place. I'm sure they could immediately identify the places and relate the story...

S: By the way, you like swimming, right?
K: Yes, I like swimming... but again I've been too busy lately to find time to go to the pool.
S: But, you can swim well? and how far?
K: Not really well, but I can swim around 1km...
S: Wow!!
K: Actually, that's the maximum... and I hate to run, so swimming is my only form of exercise...
S: How do you spend your holidays or weekends?
K: Well, if it is only a one-day break, I will shop around for furniture and interiors etc as I just moved to Okazaki recently. Always thinking of how to decorate my room... And if my holiday is for more than one day, I will go back to my hometown...
S: Back to Mie?
K: Yes, back to Tsu, relax around at home.

S: Talking about Mie, what are the popular things to do, popular places to go to?
K: The most famous place would be the Ise Grand Shrines of course. And then followed by Suzuka Circuit, the racetrack used for the F1 (Formula One) Grand Prix.
S: Yes. I have been to the Ise Grand Shrines once, it is a marvelous place...
K: And Okage Yokocho, it was built a few years ago, and they remade it keeping the historical buildings and atmosphere, it is like stepping back in time. A fun place...
S: Are there a lot of places to see and shop around?
K: Yes. There are places that sell traditional items and lots of restaurants and stalls selling food. The other famous thing in Mie is called "Akafuku".
S: Oh yes, (starts singing...) "Akafuku~Mochi wa, eejyanaika~~~"
K: (laughing)
S: It was a song made famous in a commercial?
K: Yes, in Mie, everyone knows this song. In summer at Okage Yokocho, there is 'Akafuku-gori' everywhere. And of course 'Akafuku-Mochi' which is Mochi (rice balls) and Anko (red bean paste). In summer they have a special promotion with Ujimacha-Kakigori, the shaved ice and they called it "Akafuku-gori", which I think is delicious...
S: Oh, there is Mochi in it?
K: Yes, there is Mochi and Anko in it..
S: Mixed into shaved ice (Kakigori)? That sounds delicious, I would love to try it...
K: But summer is over...
S: Oh you mean it is only sold during summer?
K: Yes. In winter, we have Oshiroko, which is a sweet red bean soup with mochi inside.
S: Then I guess I better make plans to go next summer.

S: Since we are running short of time, let's wind things up. You have only been with Yamasa for 4 months, but, umm, what things would you like to do during the next 5 years?
K: Well for a start, I hope we can increase the number of rooms and apartments in the student accommodation!!
S: To make your job easier??
K: Yes, well hopefully. Also and more importantly I hope to be able to assist with the student's requests as much as possible. Even though now it is a bit difficult to satisfy everybody's requests, I always hope to see the students graduating from Yamasa and being happy and satisfied with my service.
S: I can understand. How about any personal goals?
K: Well, I hope to get married by then...
S: That's is 5 years from now.
K: Yup. I just reached 25 last week so...
S: Happy Birthday!. So you hope to get married before 30?
K: Yes.
S: I see...
K: I am also getting some pressure from my parents and relatives...
S: Silently?
K: Not really. Sometimes they hint to me "Soro Soro" (It's time....) and they even indicated that they don't mind if I go out with a foreigner...
S: Oh no.... I get what you mean.
K: But I think I do want to get married and set up my own family...

S: OK, um finally, do you have anything to say to our students?
K: To all Yamasa students?
S: Yes.
S: "Thank you very much for giving me very "genki" greetings everyday. And umm, even though there might be times where I can't assist you immediately due to room limitations or lack of vacancies, I hope to do my best to help you when you are here. And um, please study hard and always try to speak to us in Japanese when you come to Gakuseika..."
S: "Don't make me use English!"... correct?
K: Well, not because I have not much confidence in my English, but because I hope they can speak fluent Japanese eventually.
S: Thank you very much for you time, Miss Kawakita, Housing Coordinator, the Student Services Office.
K: Thank you.

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