Japan

I worked together with Heidi Emilie and Eline while learning about Japanese culture.We decided to watch some japanese anime to learn about the culture. The culture is reflected in the anime, though it's very overdone. However, we watched some episodes of a comedian anime. Afterwards we discussed what we had seen and what we thought was different in the japanese culture from the european. For example, we thought that homosexuality is much less a tabu in Japan than in Europe. Neither is cross-dressing.

Also the Japanese seems more straight forward and not as "cold" as europeans. They show their feelings much clearer than we do through the way they talk and body language. Also I have the impression that japanese girls are very girly. They're very interested in hair dues and nail design. After all japanese(and Asia) is quite famous for their imaginative nail designs. The west has recently started to adopt this trend, though it's not a big hit yet.


Also the Japanese has a quite unique fashion culture. Ever heard of Lolita for example? But also, the japanese are very found of the western fashion.
Also the japanese food is very different from the european. We have already adopted the sushi, but there's still yet to come! Pocky is one example. Really tasty Japanese candy which can be bought in a few "foreigner" stores in Norway.
In Japan they also have the Sakura season, which is when the cherry trees blossom. This is a very popular time to visit Japan and therefore also quite expensive. But very beautiful! They also have the hot springs which are very different from the western standard spa. And the school uniform is very common as well.

So all summed up, the japanese has quite a different culture from us europeans. I know someone who is studying there right now, and she wrote on her blog that the first time she arrived in Japan she was shocked. It was so different and weird.

I think the way we worked on this was great, and I would not have chosen any other way! :)


Pictures:
[link1] [link2] [link3]

Working abroad

When it comes to working in the US and in Britain I think one of the main differences are that they are more "open" and outgoing. They are less formal and I also think Britain is more strict. Of course this varies from where you work. Especially I think you have to be more formal with your boss in Britain than in the US.
I also think there's more opportunities in the US, and harder to earn good money in Britain.

equalities and differences

“Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. 

We took our first steps on the 
same lawn in the same yard. 

And, under the same roof, 
we spoke our first words.

 Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name.

This is the paragraph I though was the best one. I think this paragraph illustrates the friendship between Hassan and Amir and shows how tight they are bonded. And I think that’s the main topic of the story, “friendship”.

I thought this small paragraph told so much about the whole story.

It gives a hint about how tight they actually are bonded, which we will learn later in the story. But it also illustrates their different views of their friendship, and it illustrates their roles in the story. Hassan, the naïve Hazara that never think badly about anyone, while Amir was a spoiled Pashtun with strong and clear meanings, but too much of a coward to express them. This paragraph could actually fit in most of the “themes” because it also shows the conflict between the two boys and the friendship. I think this is one of the strongest paragraphs in the book.

It gives us a hint about what the following pages will be about, and how the story will turn out. 

I can't remember hearing this "quote" in the movie, which is sad since it's so good. But on the other hand it does not really matter too much because this paragraph is shown through the story, since the paragraph tells the story, it's not very important to include in the movie where the story is told anyway.


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