My name is Cassandra, and I’m from NYC. I’m a 2nd year ALT currently placed in Sasebo. I’m of Indo-Caribbean origin, meaning that my ancestors are from India, but my parents were born in the Caribbean. Being a part of the Indian diaspora often makes it difficult to describe my hybridity.
Being a person of color in Japan has been a kind of perplexing, but rewarding and informative experience for me. I came to Japan with few expectations about how I might be received. When I tell Japanese people where I am from, I am often met with excitement, as they imagine NYC to be magical. However, other times I am met with skepticism and follow-up questions like, “Where are your parents from?”
As I mentioned earlier, describing my origins is sometimes difficult, especially to an audience of Japanese people (and occasionally other foreigners), who are unfamiliar with ideas of diaspora and migration; and what is already a challenge becomes even more so when you consider the language barrier. However, these experiences have taught me how to describe the idea of transmigration in simple terms.
From my experiences, I’ve noticed that the idea of the Caribbean as a space of rich cultural aspects is not especially known in Japan. In fact, many Japanese people I’ve spoken with didn’t seem to know where the Caribbean was until I began to list well known countries. Despite that, they welcomed the new knowledge about my culture and identity, especially realizing the complexities of the Caribbean when I explain how much my family has migrated. Speaking with Japanese people about my cultural identity has always been a positive experience, and one marked by an openness to learn.
During my time as an ALT, I have taken advantage of many opportunities to share my culture. I have shared parts of my identity through gatherings I’ve hosted between other ALTs and Japanese people, and through video clips from Bollywood movies or celebrations that I’ve shown my students. I think these exchanges have helped others better understand me, and I find comfort in the sense of belonging that comes after having shared these experiences with others and being received with openness.
While I have found these simpler ways to discuss my culture among Japanese people, I find some of the most difficult conversations have been among fellow ALTs. The greater challenge is when I communicate with people – often white people – who feel that they are more aware and sometimes dare to say that they understand my experiences better than I could. These interactions always reveal that they place too much emphasis on what they know rather than what they do not. Their failure to listen can lead to erasure and estrangement.
My advice for new ALTs is to create a conversation and dialogue. I think if people are receptive to listening, then their ideas about people of color and cultural diversity can expand and develop. But there absolutely must be a willingness to listen from the other party. I haven’t encountered many people who weren’t willing to listen. Put yourself out there and explain to them what it means to be you, the hybridity and complexities of your background, and how it informs who you are now.
by Cassandra Fegert, 2nd year ALT in Sasebo
