Q: Who are you?
A: I'm Dana! I have a variety of squid-related nicknames, thus all the squid jokes.
I'm in the first year of my master's program in Regional Studies: East Asia at Harvard University. This will be my fourth trip to Japan.
Also, my writing style is...somewhat eccentric, in the sense that I tend to use CAPITAL LETTERS and italics for emphasis SOMETIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY. I also write in the same way that I speak, which sometimes borders on rambling and incoherent. You have been warned.
Q: What do you study anyway?
A: I study modern Japanese religion. I have a particular interest in Shinto and Shinto-derived new religions. I also like studying gender and sexuality in religion (although at this point it's mostly gender). Also, spirit possession. I may have terrified some of my professors with my enthusiasm for spirit possession.
Q: Does this mean you're converting to Shinto?
A: No.
Q: What are you planning on doing in the future anyway?
A: I want to work in academia.
Q: So are you fluent in Japanese then?
A: It's supposed to take 10 years to become fluent in Japanese; I'm at 6 years. I have what's called "low professional competency," which is to say that I can get through most conversations, although "get through" may mean "communicate mainly through waving my arms wildly and talking around words I don't know." つまり、ぺらぺらで話せない。
Q: Is this FAQ going to be updated over the course of the summer?
A: Yes, assuming people ask me questions.
Dana,
ReplyDeleteI hope this comment does not come as too much of a bother to you (or seem too weird!).
I found the link to this blog from your blog about your Fulbright in Japan last year. In the past month, I've read every single entry that you posted during that year. It was quite a time commitment to read-- I'm utterly amazed that you were able to update so frequently (and with such detail and energy)! But thank you so much for doing so. I'm going to be a Fulbright fellow in Japan this upcoming year, pursuing a project on feminist literary criticism at Nagoya University. I can't tell you how inspiring it's been for me to read your blog.
I know that you must be swamped right now (as you're back in Japan at present!), but as I'm trying to get everything sorted for Japan, I have several questions and issues that I am trying to get sorted and I would be unendingly grateful to have your advice on a couple things (such as filing taxes from Japan and whether or not to live in a dorm). I have a list of the e-mail addresses of current Fulbright fellows in Japan, and I've been corresponding with one who is in Nagoya, and she's been lovely and helpful. However, after reading all of your ever-frank and funny blog posts, I feel as if we are already friends and would really value your honest advice.
If you aren't too annoyed or bothered by this comment and somehow wouldn't mind answering some of my questions about doing a Fulbright in Japan, my e-mail address is paigebolduc@gmail.com
Of course, I completely understand if you are too busy or would prefer not to respond.
I hope that that rest of your time in Japan this summer is productive and fun!
Best,
Paige