Comments on: Fiona – Thoughts about my JA community

By: anniechutoo

anniechutoo — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:43:29 +0000

Hey Fiona! I’m excited for you and for the experiences you’re going to have this summer. It sounds like you’re already making many connections and having a good time.

By: kfukushima

kfukushima — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:23:07 +0000

i find it really frustrating that we continue to define a ja identity through a series of activities that supposedly make up what makes one ja (jr. yba, bball, etc). and while there are typical activities, i dont think we should let these ‘typical’ activities dictate what makes one more ja than the next, and determine legitimacy. rather than isolating those that are different or have had different experiences, we should work to be more inclusive so everyone feels affirmed in their identity.

By: oda5488

oda5488 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:10:05 +0000

I definitely understand how you feel like an alien to the JA community being that you aren’t too involved. I felt like that when I came to Cal and decided to become more involved in the JA community in Cal. It’s really good that you decided to become more involved through NCI and think that this program will help you to feel like an integral part of the community.

By: jmh12219

jmh12219 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:13:01 +0000

“awesome people making awesome food” I completely agree with that statement. =) I think an important part is also learning how to make all those traditional foods and learning the stories and backgrounds that accompany the food with each family.

BTW..WICKED was sooo AWESOME!

By: tsedillo

tsedillo — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:45:23 +0000

Dude, I can so relate.
I’m definitely, like you, conscious of being an outsider outside of the little tiny community I’m comfortable with. The larger JA and the Little Tokyo communities are things I’m also still coming to terms with.
Neither of my parents identify with the JA community, and though my grandfather does, today he more strongly identifies with Mexico. So, like with you, any exposure I had to the culture was only the most vague and tenuous in my early childhood, and has only been pronounced in recent years.
So, um, yeah. I dig where you’re coming from. Let’s go NCI to get us integrated.

By: meganteriyaki

meganteriyaki — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:25:13 +0000

I love what you say about family and I love how you bring in stories about your experience with seniors! (One of my favorite things is chilling with the Nisei seniors at my church ^_^). It’ll be exciting to see how things change for you over the course of this internship.

By: was21

was21 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:15:39 +0000

I definitely think that food is a large connection point to any culture and I also associate a lot of JA culture with food: Japanese food (sukiyaki, sushi, udon, etc) but also “JA” food (spam musubi, peanut butter manju, etc). I’m also a little unsure about my role in the JA community especially now that I am attending a school that is even further away from any Japan towns or even a decent Japanese restaurant!

By: kame123

kame123 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:29:16 +0000

When you mention your great-uncle and the Nikkei seniors, it reminds me of when I used to hang out with my grandmother and all her Nikkei friends. It’s really wonderful that you have found your connection to JA community through food and family. I think for all of us,(at least at some point in our lives) we definitely connect with food and being surrounded by the company of those we love and those we look up to. Also, those sashimi days at JANM sounds like fun!