Back home, I didn't know what to expect when I received via courier some of the textbooks along with several documents stating that my training shall include one month at JIAM here in Shiga. That was my first time to hear and read about JIAM. With much eagerness, I went through the brochures and guidelines sent to me and wondered what the training would be like inside the academy. I know there's so much to find out. So I will never forget the day we were welcomed here and had our tour 'round the campus and the surrounding neighborhood. I know that time, JIAM will be a home - my home - for one month.
What is JIAM, by the way? What does it stand for? JIAM stands for Japan Intercultural Academy of Municipalities. It is the facility where local government workers in Japan are being sent especially before getting specialized trainings in several parts of the U.S. or Europe. Since it is a facility primarily designed for government workers within Japan as the name so implies (Academy of Municipalities), it means that the Japanese has shared the facilities with us foreigners. There's so much good things to tell about JIAM and its dormitory. In its website, JIAM's dormitory is described this way:
| "JIAM's 300 private dormitory rooms together with its Dining Hall, Baths, Showers, Lounges, Assembly Rooms, and Store make even long-term stays on campus comfortable and convenient. (All facilities are wheelchair accessible.)" |
Well, I can say that the one month stay has been comfortable and convenient, notwithstanding the difficult Japanese lessons of course 😁! In this entry I hope to describe my fond memories, what I've learned and what I will surely miss about this place.
We are a group of 28 trainees, and we were divided into 6 classes based on the results of the Japanese language proficiency test and interview conducted by ARC Academy at the Ministry of International Affairs and Communications (MIC) back in Tokyo. During our second day at JIAM, our classes were announced. When I checked out, my name was in Class SORA (Japanese term for sky). My class is composed of 6 people including me, 4 guys, 3 of whom are engineers from their respective home countries, Myanmar, Indonesia and Peru, one (1) guy doctor from China, and one lady from Kosovo. Other classes were a mixture of different nationalities, too. Those who belong to Hana (Flower) Class can speak Japanese very well. They are trainees from Korea and China. Those who are inHashi (Rainbow) Class can speak Nihongo, too. They are mostly from China, except for Jessica, who is from the Netherlands. Umi (beach) Class is special, because there is only one student-trainee, Priscila, from Brazil. I can't imagine what it is like in Priscila's class, only her and the sensei. Wow! I think that's pretty cool!
Our course syllabus is composed of Japanese classes from Mondays through Fridays, two (2) in the morning, and two (2) more in the afternoon. Our classes are separately and simultaneously held at different classrooms at the second floor, just close to the ladies dormitory - to my liking as I could ran to my room anytime during break time whenever I forget something. For one month I had to hurry to my room two times on different dates during break time as I forget to bring some of my stuff. For someone forgetful like me, two times in a month-period is a fairly good indication that I'm getting so diligent not to forget things😁.
During the one hour daily independent study and 15-minute homeroom and PC Workshop once or twice a week,we, the 28 of us, are all together in one class at the lecture room at the 3rd floor (o btw, PC stands for Program Coordinator, not Personal Computer haha). The independent study hour allows everyone of us to do our home work and self study. In my case, I could normally finish one or two homework given during our Japanese morning classes. During independent study hour, we have one sensei supervising us, who would kindly give us help whenever needed. The PC Workshop and home room on the other hand, would allow both CLAIR and JIAM to give or discuss important announcements, clarifications or some special sessions. Unlike during opening and closing ceremonies where we had to sit according to our assigned ID numbers, we had no seating arrangement during classes and independent study hour including home room sessions and PC workshops. In the entire sessions though, I would sit beside Phone, my guy classmate from Myanmar. Behind us was Zhao, the Chinese guy doctor who is also my classmate, and another guy from China who like Zhao can understand Nihongo. So every time Phone and I had questions and trouble with our homework, we would just turn to them during the independent study hour and they would gladly help. They are so nice!
Our JIAM training included one off-campus study at Kyoto Bosai Center - which is really a fascinating and fantastic facility. Wish I can write even a brief entry about this center which shows Kyoto's efforts to promote disaster awareness and preparedness and mitigate risks during emergencies and calamities. We also had two study tours on separate weekends in Kyoto and in Hikone and Hino Town. On two separate schedules, we had two guest speakers, one was from MIC, International Affairs Office, Local Administration Bureau, and the other was a professor in the College of Policy Science at Ritsumeikan University. They lectured about Japan's Local autonomy system and local government system, respectively.
So there, I'm not yet finished with my entry about JIAM - but I am ending this one here. I will come up with Part 2 to be be dedicated solely for my fond memories about JIAM! Til my next entry 😄!
