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Thursday, Jul. 03, 2008

CBC students embrace tradition on Japan trip

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

Did you know that when the Japanese take a dip into a hot spring, they do it in the buff?

Neither did a group of Columbia Basin College students until a recent trip overseas showed them aspects of Japanese culture they hadn't learned in the classroom.

The students embraced Japanese traditions with gusto, from communal skinny dipping -- wearing strategically-placed squares of cloth -- to sampling such culinary delicacies as lightly fried beef testicles.

They got a bit of education along the way, too, and returned to the Tri-Cities eager to continue their Japanese language and culture studies.

"I want to go back," said Janelle Hubbs, 20, of Kennewick.

The trip was the idea of Japanese language instructor Noriko Ryder, who grew up in Sapporo, Japan.

"I wanted them to experience the culture they can't experience in the United States," Ryder said.

She worked for a year and a half planning the trip. The students raised money through their Japanese culture club, and June 14, they landed in Tokyo.

Benny Moon, 19, of Finley, immediately was struck by the high tech hustle and bustle of Tokyo, which was unlike American cities he's familiar with.

"Tokyo was very crowded," he said. "You have to stand in everything -- the bus, the subway. I actually kind of enjoyed it because of how different it was."

Ryder had taught the students about some facets of Japanese culture before the trip, but there were a number of surprises in store, like the unfamiliar squat toilets or finding that even familiar items like cups of Starbucks coffee came in much smaller sizes in Japan.

"I felt like I was in midget world," Hubbs said. "Even the cars were smaller."

Another shock for Hubbs was learning she'd have to put on a bag before trying on clothes over her head to prevent them from getting dirty or smudged with makeup.

Moon recalled the odd-flavored drinks found in machines everywhere, like melon cola or the Japanese version of Pepsi.

"They had Pepsi Zero -- it tasted like they poured soy sauce in Pepsi," he said.

And even something as familiar as a McDonald's hamburger came with the uniquely Japanese twist of shrimp on top.

Food was a highlight of the trip for many of the students. While some were excited to try real Japanese sushi, Hubbs noted the fried testicles as a favorite dish.

"It was probably some of the best food I've ever eaten," she said. "I think I cried a little when I had to come home and eat American food."

The trip to the hot springs in Hakone also was a highlight. The students were timid at first about going au naturel, but quickly got over their shyness when they realized it wasn't a big deal for the Japanese bathers.

Ryder said even though the Japanese typically are more modest than Americans, bathing together in hot springs with friends or family is considered a normal activity.

The trip also included a visit to Tachibana High School in Kyoto, where the group learned martial arts, calligraphy and how to perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

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