Wah gwaan! (A greeting used by my home country). I’m Shenike Wilson and I’m a first year ALT living in Saza, Nagasaki. I’m from that little island where people are always irie and our seasons are named after fruits because it’s always summer in the paradise of Jamaica.
I remembered telling my mom that I was going to Japan to live. She laughed and said “you’re joking, right?” I responded with a smile and said no. It took her a while to accept my decision. Little did she know the feeling was mutual. The thought of fear only caused butterflies to fill my stomach more. Of course, I knew one of my biggest challenges coming here was the language barrier, but I was still willing to take the risk. The thought of how I would be treated as a PoC didn’t even come to mind at that time. Nonetheless, I knew for sure I was coming to Japan with an open mind.
I’m from a Caribbean country where racial diversity is recognized but still brings us together. It also taught females with high melanin like myself to embrace and believe in who we are, and that has sculpted me into who I am today. I’m currently situated in a small community in Nagasaki just few minutes away from a navy base with foreigners of similar skin color like myself, however people still stare at me like it’s the first time seeing a PoC.
With that said, I was a little bit nervous to greet my students and colleagues the first time, as I had prior knowledge that I was the first Caribbean ALT at my school. It felt a little bit awkward during my introductory speech after realizing the stillness from the audience. I just wanted to go back to my apartment and hide. However, the anxiousness slowly disappeared after I was asked about my culture and country. At that point, I realized that they were just captivated by the differences and uniqueness that I represent.
Despite the length of time I have been here, people in Japan are still curious about my culture and way of life in Jamaica, resulting in questions like: “Can you run fast like Usain Bolt?”; “Does everybody have dreads?”; “Are you a good singer?”; “How long does it take to do your hair?” and “How much did your hair cost?”. Even now most of my colleagues are still puzzled by my hairdos. It’s always the center of attention, especially if it’s a new style, which I’m always creating with weaves and extensions. If it’s not my hair that they take interest in, it’s my Jamaican cuisine.
Over a period of time and after constant observation of my lunch, teachers would ask: “Do you cook at home?”, “Where do you buy groceries?”, and my favorite of all, “Do you ship all your foods from Jamaica?” I always have to take a moment to explain my dishes to them during lunch time because, although I reside in Japan, I am still able to prepare my Jamaican dishes from supplies obtained from local grocery stores.
Apart from the multitude of questions, I have been surrounded by the most warm-hearted and caring colleagues. I couldn’t have asked for anything else. They have welcomed me to be a part of their family, literally! They have constantly shown their appreciation for my culture, encouraging me to speak and even write more about my experiences and country to satisfy their curiosities. There are even students who have shared their interest in Reggae music, Jamaican Patois and my hairdos.
However, there were moments when I truly felt out of place and just didn’t want to be seen. I remember the first day I went into the grocery store near my apartment – all aisles were cleared as I entered. At first, I felt a little puzzled, wondering what was wrong, until one day while I was doing my weekly shopping, I saw a child run to the middle of the aisle that I was in and just stare. The child stood there for almost 2 minutes just looking at me from head to toe while I was browsing through the selves. I glanced at her and could see the fear and the questions in her eyes. I just looked at her and started to smile. She ran.
One night, I was invited to a teacher’s house and two little boys were there. The younger brother asked his older brother why I am so dark after finding out I’m from Jamaica. The older brother turned to him and said, “She got burnt because her country is really hot.” That made my night, it was a great laugh! Some people might see it as an insult, but not me. The fact that this young fellow could have come up with such a conclusion like that was just brilliant.
Moments like these still happen, especially in rural areas. Most people are unaware of how to approach a PoC, coupled with the language barrier. There are still cases where people stare at me, or even laugh, but I try not to let it bother me and ignore them because Japan is not the place to be thin-skinned; it will break you. However, I have realized that the atmosphere has slowly been changing for the best due to familiarity. People are showing more friendly faces and are willing to assist where necessary. Believe me, it’s a pleasant feeling to not feel like an outcast, especially in my new home country.
Therefore, my advice is: cultural and self-preservation is an important key in survival. It’s the only thing that ties you to your roots and reminds you of your importance here in Japan. It is what defines you and will attract people to you. Remember being different is something you should be proud of. It’s an exchange program for a reason, therefore embrace YOU.
by Shenike Wilson, 1st year ALT in Saza
