When I began this blog 6 months ago my vision was to use it as a creative/intellectual space in which I - and perhaps other ALTs - could share honest observations and stories (serious, silly, whatever) about our experiences in Japan. I didn't really know where I was going with it, I just knew that it was personally important for me to share these experiences with my friends. I guess the whole thing was, and still is, a kind of online journal experiment.
So here's my problem: about three posts ago I wrote a questioning, factual, but seriously unflattering account of something that happened between me and a girl in the office. And today I decided to delete it. And I don't feel good about that decision at all.
The reality is that unflattering things do sometimes happen to foreigners living in Japan (as they do everywhere). And, in my opinion, one way society here differs from that of America is in its reluctancy to confront those realities directly head-on. Things just operate differently here, as those who have lived or worked in Japan would probably tell you. I believe passionately, fervently, in the importance of transparency of all our experiences in Japan, good and bad. But I also believe in sharing this information responsibly. And I just wasn't sure that my post was responsible. Especially since my small community of readers, at first just immediate friends and family, has grown substantially (thanks to word of mouth-hurray!!!) to include Japanese friends throughout the prefecture.
So those of you who read it - and there were many - please let me know what you think. I could really use the feedback. Am I behaving responsibly or just being a chicken?
I've just got to mention that I don't have an inflated ego or think that my blog is important or widely read or anything like that. But check this out! I was SHOCKED to receive hits from the following places/orgs/domains in which I currently don't even know anyone working/living/studying:
So here's my problem: about three posts ago I wrote a questioning, factual, but seriously unflattering account of something that happened between me and a girl in the office. And today I decided to delete it. And I don't feel good about that decision at all.
The reality is that unflattering things do sometimes happen to foreigners living in Japan (as they do everywhere). And, in my opinion, one way society here differs from that of America is in its reluctancy to confront those realities directly head-on. Things just operate differently here, as those who have lived or worked in Japan would probably tell you. I believe passionately, fervently, in the importance of transparency of all our experiences in Japan, good and bad. But I also believe in sharing this information responsibly. And I just wasn't sure that my post was responsible. Especially since my small community of readers, at first just immediate friends and family, has grown substantially (thanks to word of mouth-hurray!!!) to include Japanese friends throughout the prefecture.
So those of you who read it - and there were many - please let me know what you think. I could really use the feedback. Am I behaving responsibly or just being a chicken?
I've just got to mention that I don't have an inflated ego or think that my blog is important or widely read or anything like that. But check this out! I was SHOCKED to receive hits from the following places/orgs/domains in which I currently don't even know anyone working/living/studying:
Palo Alto
Plano, Texas
New York and New Jersey
Columbia University
University of Chicago
FoxLake, Elmhurst and Oakbrook Illinois
Five Hits from Tokyo! (Hey -does Monbusho have blog tracking software?!)
Wow!!!
posted by Angie @ 2:40 AM
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