・How old were you when you started doing chores, do you do chores?
I do chores at home; I think I had just started middle school when I started doing actual “chores” like washing dishes, cleaning the bathtub and vacuuming, but before that I would just do simple things like folding clothes, lining up the shoes, and cleaning up. (Those are things everyone can do and should do, but they still were something.)
・Do you think that children should grow up with Japanese ideals of independence?
At home I am told a lot by my mom that “kids in Japan are doing way more than this so try more, you know you can do it if they can” It really is very shocking when you see the difference between the kids in Canada and in Japan. I think the school system and the contrast between the rules and how people think have to do with how the kids seem more responsible as well. (One thing I thought of is how Japanese schools make the children clean the school, there is no janitors! This surprised me so much…everyday they take time to clean all the parts of the school.) I do think the Japanese ideals of independence is good to grow up with, it prepares the kids for the future, and makes it so they aren’t depending on their parents for everything. But I also think that the age that they are taught to be able to do things on their own was a little bit early when watching the “はじめてのおつかい” (My first errand/Old enough!) show. It really was scary watching those little kids walking around the streets alone, when some of the children were not even old enough to read and understand words well yet. I think the ability to be independent is really a good thing to have, but I think they should be older before they have to try to be okay off on their own. They should be able to trust and let their parents do things for them and help them with their everyday life still at that age, if they are not able to learn to rely on their family when they are younger, when will they ever? If they are told to be responsible and do most things by themselves, I think that they would not ask for help or advice from their parents when they need it, as they feel like the problem/thing is their responsibility. Overall, I do think that learning how to be independent is a good thing, as many people here do not know how to do things themselves, but I also think that they should be able to “be kids” and depend on parents for most things for a while.
・When did you first use transit by yourself, go somewhere on your own, go to school by yourself?
The first time I went to school alone was when I went to school in Japan (When I was in grade 2 in Canada) and I was in grade 1 in Japan. (The school semester system is divided differently) I remember that I was surprised that I had to walk to school alone, even though the school was a 45-minute walk away from my house. I was really scared to walk to school alone. Well, I thought I was going to be alone. I did not know that in Japan they have set groups that walk to school together. The groups are split based on where you live. The children all meet up at the same time, (usually around 7:20) and go to school together, children of all different ages. This relieved me, as there would be older kids watching out for me. There also is “crossing guards” something you see rarely here; adults and volunteer grandparents were there to help us safely cross at every crosswalk. I understand now why parents are okay with their kids walking to school on their own. In Japan it is a rarity to have children sent to school by car. Even though I was scared the first couple of times walking to and from the school, I found it fun after a couple of times. It made me feel like a “big kid” I think. I enjoyed the sense of being more “free.” but when I talked to my classmates there, they envied and were surprised at the fact that in Canada walking to school at that young of an age was not normal, and cars were used more. I guess everyone wants what they cannot get. It was an interesting experience, getting to go to school in Japan and learning more about the culture. But here in Canada, I do not really want to go places alone, I am too scared and worried if I would get lost, how would I get help? In Japan there are many “help-centers” and most people are kind enough to tell you where to go if you ask, but I am not so sure about here. I have never really been going places on my own by transit, but I have walked places. (in Canada) I do not know yet, but maybe sometime soon I will go somewhere on my own by transit!
