What are the patterns of social gathering in Japan….. from what I have seen so far:

Why do people gather? Japanese are very group orientated people… yet they are also very lonely people? Everyone belongs to a club, a group, a workplace etc…. this becomes the group in which they gather and socialize. Even on weekends children will go to school to do things with their ‘group’.

Who gathers them? You are gathered into a group depending on what social status you have – what job you hold, what school you attend or how much money you have. Japanese people don’t socialize much outside these groups.

What do they do when they gather? Usually something that is learning or work orientated. For example, a sports group would train, discuss ways of winning, being healthier etc. A work group might meet for a beer after work and talk about their next big contract. A group of mothers may meet and talk about which school they are trying to get their children into. Meeting for coffee is very common – in a public place. It is not common for a Japanese person to have visitors to their house. Perhaps this is somewhat due to size of the house, but also to do with privacy too.

How often do they gather? Most clubs, groups, teams etc will gather every day of the week, or at least a few times a week – during break times at school you will find children in their ‘group rooms’, after work most people will have a drink together, or a meeting over lunch etc.

Who leads them once they are gathered? The person who is the highest rank within the group will be the leader – e.g. the boss of the company, the team captain etc.

How is the gathered group led? Each time a group meets they will most likely do the same thing and follow the same routine and format – there is not usually any surprises – everyone knows what to expect.

No i’m not talking about the mosquito’s! (though there are MANY of those here too)

I’m talking about bugs / viruses!

This last 6 weeks or so both Ben and I have had our fair share of japanese bugs…flu bugs, ear infection bugs, sinus infection bugs, tummy bugs…..

(Hence why I havn’t written for a while!)

It’s hot here now, rainy season is in full force – a perfect breeding ground for all the little nasties.

We’ve been told as new missionaries to a different climate country that it is very common to get sick heaps in the first few years as we get exposed to different strains of viruses than we had in Australia! Doesn’t that just make you jump for joy!

BUT…anyway enough about that… Language study is still plodding (and I mean big heavy plodding!) along.

I am seeing a big jump in improvement in my speaking ability which is cool…

My listening is still needing more work – I tend to go into panic mode as soon as someone talks to me in ‘real speed’ japanese – and then I can’t understand anything at all – I need to relax and let it flow over me and take in what I can. After all, I am a baby! Babies don’t even really try and speak for the first year and a half or so, they just listen, lay back and absorb absorb absorb!!!

I’m enjoying doing my private lessons 3 times week – it’s much better than going to school every day like last semester and spending 3 hours traveling – I still feel tired, but not so exhausted that I cant function – just tired )

Soon it will be summer holidays. We’re taking a weeks break near the beach and then it’s into WEC Japan Camp season – will post more about those when they happen though – but it sounds exciting to me!