Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, the cool air, the leaves changing, or anything else, there’s plenty to be thankful for this season! This month’s edition of the maga(ZINE) highlights all the things we’re grateful for both in Japan and back home. So, we sat down with CIRs Stephen, Bobo, and Jimin to discuss what makes this time of year special for them. We also delve into the unique blessings and challenges of being an international CIR. The ZINEs are written in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean – so come check it out!
Ireland —> Matsuyama
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”
China —> Matsuyama
“But you want to remember that below the sea of clouds lies eternity” – Antoine de Saint-Exupèry, Wind Sand And Stars
Korea —> Matsuyama
“You only get three chances (on JET) to see the cherry blossoms, three autumn foliage seasons, three summers by the sea.
So work reasonably… and spend the rest of your energy exploring and having fun!”
Growing up my family placed a lot of emphasis on what I would regard as the big three national holidays in Ireland, those being Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. During Easter and Christmas, I would always come back home from Dublin and London (where I was for my Bachelor’s and Master’s respectively) to celebrate with my family, eat good food and usually exchange some kinds of gifts. St.Patrick’s Day is special for me because my parents would always take me to see the local town’s terrible parade, which I loved. I still keep the love of these holidays with me to this day.
In my last year abroad to Japan I spent Christmas with friends at an AirBnB on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. We were all various nationalities so we made German glühwein, ate French food, drank Korean alcohol and at the end of it all, went for a Christmas Day swim in the freezing cold water (as is Irish tradition). Nowadays, Easter and St. Patrick’s day usually results in me calling my parents just to say hello and ask what they’re doing to celebrate, and treating myself to some good food, an overflow of national pride and time with friends. I hear they have a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Tokyo which I would love to attend one day.
The obvious answer is Guinness. And I mean a real Guinness with a thick, creamy head which you drink on a winter evening in Dublin within the confines of a dimly-lit pub whose doors have seen every salaryman, farmer and exchange student in a 100 mile radius stumble out at the end of the night. And if that’s not possible, one from the local bar in Matsuyama is probably fine too I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/. The real traditional foods are soda bread, Irish stew and crisps like Tayto’s, most of these you can eat at pubs around the country and aren’t tough to find.
The beauty of Irish food comes from the quality of our ingredients. Ireland has been a mainly agricultural nation for a long time, so in my opinion there’s some things we just can’t be beat at (milk, meat, potatoes to be precise!). I would also recommend a spice bag. It’s less a “traditional” dish (it has only existed since 2000) and more one with a cult following in Ireland. I guess you could call it Irish, Chinese, Indian fusion? It’s essentially chips (fries for the Americans), chicken, peppers and onions mixed with a metric shit ton of spices in a paper bag, often with curry sauce on the side. It’s a hangover staple food, but if you’re pulling an all-nighter in the university library it’s not unusual to take a break to get one too.
Working as a CIR has been a really fun, challenging experience. I have only been in this position for around two months, but I’ve learned a lot about how I can improve myself both inside and outside of work. I get some really fun opportunities like representing Ehime at the Osaka Expo and introducing local Matsuyama people to life in Ireland through different presentations. It’s also a good chance to improve/use my translation and interpreting skills that I studied in university. I think if you like translation/interpreting and also working a lot with people in the community, then this is the perfect job. I’m looking forward to what the rest of my time as a CIR holds, and hopefully I can collaborate with lots of other JET’s along the way!
For moving abroad I think two things are important: First, OUTSIDE your home, say yes to literally everything you can, even if you have little experience, think it might be difficult, or are just not in the mood for it, I think you should always give new opportunities a shot when they come your way.
Secondly, make INSIDE your home as comfortable and homely as possible. This space is nobody else’s but yours and at the end of your time abroad it’s probably where you’re going to have accumulated the most hours, so make sure you enjoy being there. Feel free to fill it with home comforts, if sleeping on a futon on the floor feels the same as sleeping on a coffin ship, then simply don’t do it! When it comes to starting out as a CIR, I’ve only been in this position for around two months so I suppose time will tell, but I guess the most important thing I’ve learned is never underestimate how little you actually know.
Although Japanese and Irish culture are definitely different, I don’t necessarily feel that they conflict. In this way, I don’t feel I ever rub up against a Japanese custom that I can’t just adapt to. However, that doesn’t stop me from missing aspects of Ireland sometimes. One thing that reminds me of home are Irish pubs, a staple industry which seems to exist in every country around the world. Even if it’s not the real thing, no matter which you enter you will almost always find an Irish person sitting at the counter.
Also, as of writing this, this month is Ireland’s presidential election and keeping up with the country’s politics has been hugely important to keeping up with what my friends and family are talking about. Although I can’t vote from here, I still feel I can contribute to the conversation.
Growing up in my household, every dinner was a family dinner. It was a time for us to just sit together, eat and talk without phones or the TV on in the background, and every Sunday was roast dinner night where my mum would make roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables for us. It might sound really simple, but when I look back, those Sunday’s act as markers for the different phases of not only my life, but my families.
From dreading the Monday morning classes the next day at 13 years old, to my final meal before heading off to Kyoto to start my Year Abroad at 21, all major events had that wooden dining table at their center. I was also lucky in that the majority of my Irish extended family all lived within a 15 minute drive of my house, so we made a point to have a family reunion every year to get family photos, eat and just catch up. We also do the same on my Nana’s birthday every year (95 years going strong lets hit that big 100 girlie).
As a CIR, I understand that it can be a bit of a mystery for ALTs to figure out what we actually do, and that’s why Dillon asked us to spell it out here. We don’t get the fun part of being surrounded by kids, being the strict or lovable teacher, or enjoying tasty kyuushoku on workdays. And to be honest, I don’t really speak English, so hanging out with you guys is always a painful job.
Ehime CIRs work at the Prefectural Office three days a week and at EPIC (Ehime Prefectural International Center) two days a week. I’m especially assigned to work at EPIC on Saturdays, just because there are more residents need me there, which also means my weekend is Sunday and Monday. CIRs take turns hosting an Oshaberi Culture Salon at EPIC every month for Japanese residents, which is a great chance to give a little culture shock back. Anyway, EPIC is like an oasis for us foreigners, so feel free to drop by and chat with me on a Saturday, I’ll at least serve you a cup of tea.
Apart from that, each CIR’s work can be quite different. Depending on the relationships that English-speaking countries, Korea, and China have with Ehime, there are different kinds of movements, secrets, and occasionally a bit of trouble. I won’t go into detail, but if you know some history and follow the news, you can probably understand my situation. It’s both exciting and a little scary sometimes.
So obviously, being a Chinese CIR here has been a lot of fun. I’ve definitely grown a lot over these two and a half years. Apart from work, even with a Master’s degree in Japanese Literature, I still get confused and struggle with daily life sometimes. From now on, I’ll try to express myself more in my other two (and probably better) languages. You can use DeepL, ChatGPT, or worse, automatic website translation anyway.
私は愛媛に住んで、もう3年目になります。仕事や立場の関係もあり、諸君と 比べると、より神秘的な生活を送っているかもしれません。せっかくこの Mikan Zineに登場できる機会をいただいたので、これまで誰にも話したことのない、私 の「両面生活」を思い切ってお話ししたいと思います.
まず、CIR（国際交流員）の仕事には、公的な側面と私的な側面があります。公的な仕事では、中国政府に向き合いながら愛媛の魅力を発信したり、身振り手 振りで世界平和のために奔走したりすることもあります。一方、私的な側面としては、愛媛に暮らす外国人住民の相談に耳を傾け、日本語を学びたい、日本社会にもっと溶け込みたいと願う人々を支えることがあります。どちらも大切な仕事ですが、時には両方が同時に押し寄せて、頭が混乱してしまうこともあります。
例えば、ある日の EPIC 勤務中のことです。中国政府の職員から突然電話が入り、来週予定されているトップ訪問の日程を緊急で調整している最中に、窓口には中国語相談の予約の方が来られました。機密内容の電話を終えると、そのまま１時間の夫婦問題の相談対応に移ることになり、まるで曼荼羅のように次々と回されている感覚でした。
そして仕事以外の私は、和洋折衷の日常を送っています。「私は中国人ですが…」と時々宣言したくなることもありますが、今の生活では徐々に中国人としての一面が薄れ、和と洋の要素がますます混ざり合うようになっています。日本に来て、思いやりや気遣いなど、日本人っぽい慎ましさや優しさを学んできましたが、ときにはその積み重ねがストレスとなり、外国人っぽく自由に振る舞いたいと思うこともあります。
そんな時、ALTの皆さんと飲んだり遊んだりするのが一番の幸せです。しかも、遊んでいるだけで英語力もどんどん上達し、「これ以上のいいことってある？」と思うくらいです。ところが、英語が上手になりすぎて、ついに職場にも知られてしまい、最近なんと英語の通訳まで頼まれるようになりました。ああ、人間万事塞翁が馬。
愛媛に住む私は、今、「愛媛を支える外国人」と「愛媛で暮らす外国人」という二つの立場を持っています。外国人としての視点や力を生かして、愛媛のすべての住民のより良い未来を支える一方で、愛媛で暮らす中で感じた孤独や無力さがあるからこそ、他の人の悩みにも寄り添うことができます。
さまざまな困難や刺激を乗り越えるうちに、愛媛での生活にもすっかり慣れ、今ではこの土地への所属感を覚え、愛情も深まっています。近頃は外国人をめぐる話題がニュースで取り上げられ、政治的な議論の対象になることもありますが、私たちはこの愛する地元で暮らしている限り、外国人として日本社会に少しでも溶け込み、より良い関係を築いていく努力を続けていきたいと思います。
我曾经习惯当“长寿居民”，在同一所中学待8年，在同一座大学待8年，稳稳当当安全安心。2年前突然来到爱媛，像是被从结丝成茧的舒适圈硬生生地拉扯出来，一下扯断好多线。为什么来爱媛？全靠天注定。
来了爱媛才知道，什么叫人在异乡为异客，海外华人倍思亲。周围全是外国人，哦不，我才是那个外国人。这里不像东京大阪，中国人本来也没多少，再加上我的岗位性质，能打交道的中国人虽然都很优秀，但更是屈指可数。反而是和JET项目一起来的英语圈外国人更能当朋友。于是我在这里过上了一种奇妙的生活：上班讲日语，下班讲英语。来日本以后，英语能力蹭蹭见涨，以至于还开始被委托英文工作。
成为外国人是很奇妙的。看事情的角度变了，看到的事情也会变化。来日本以后，最大的变化应该是待人更温柔了。外国人对现代日本人最大的刻板印象，就是很有礼貌，经常鞠躬。实际上，还有对周围人和周围环境的注意，随时用余光读空气和融入环境的能力。我最开始是很不习惯这么关注他人的。在熙熙攘攘的城市长大，周围的人形形色色，在外生存最好的办法是目中无人快速行走，对他人过多关注既不效率也不礼貌。但后来经历几次小地震，意识到随时随地都有可能和周围的陌生人成为生死之交，于是我开始理解了日本人的行为方式：你需要营造一种陷入困境时周围人愿意救你的氛围，为此你要对周围人温柔，要随时观察环境。
另外一个变化，就是成为了少数族群。在日本，很容易因为不够融入环境而被歧视，但如果你是一个使用英语，行事完全不同的完完全全的外国人，反而会得到特别的宽容，也就是获得所谓的“外人Pass”。我和日本同事行动时，吃食堂都只 走侧边楼梯；但当和外国朋友行动时，在滑雪场打雪仗打架，看篮球赛尽兴时起立大喊，不管没有被周围嫌弃，反而还收到不少善意的微笑。我在日本作为一个外观上“不完全”的外国人，很喜欢和我的外国朋友一起玩耍。
通过JET项目，我突然从待了八年的上海来到爱媛工作，如今也逐渐适应和喜爱上了这里的生活。纵然对于外国人来说，还有很多诸如银行账户办理等制度方面的不便，但我也像是开辟新的游戏地图一样，逐渐在这里建立了自己的社群和归属。在未来，我也希望能为在日本，在爱媛的外国人提供更多帮助，帮助大家更好地适应和融入这里的生活。
I started living apart from my parents when I was 12 and have never really wanted to go back. Also, “to be like the universal wave” is literally the meaning of my Chinese name, Yubo (宇波). I think even if I lived in the Moon or Mars, my parents wouldn’t feel much difference.
So, for my family, the concept of “home” means being physically apart but still staying connected online — like a mother planet to its satellite. My parents send me about ten times as many messages as I send back, transfer me red envelopes during Spring Festival, and can still manage to annoy me sometimes just by words.
Of course, I love my parents and wish to stay with them as long as I can, but my mom’s biggest wish these years is for me to establish my own home as soon as possible. For now, my home is in Ehime, with all my besties who have become like family to me.
One of the most famous politicians and revolutionaries in the modern world, who shares the same hometown as me; one of the most famous cultural revolutionaries and my favorite writer in modern China, who also lived in Japan; and one of the most famous poets of ancient China, often called a god-level drinker.
I would serve baijiu (the strong Chinese alcohol that Li Bai would love) and spicy chili dishes, like hot beef stew and chili pork (both would be loved by Mao, who was from the spicy place Hunan, and Lu Xun, who ate raw red peppers to stay awake while writing at midnight.)
I want to drink and talk with them, show them how many of their dreams have been realized today, and ask them to write some good pieces for me to sell 😀
물론이죠!
한국에도 ‘추석’이라는 비슷한 명절이 있어요. 한자로는 ‘秋夕’이라고 쓰고, 음력 8월 보름날이에요. 한국만의 명절처럼 생각되지만, 중국·베트남·대만 등 다른 아시아 국가에서도 이 시기에 며칠 쉬면서 가족과 시간을 보내곤 하죠.
한국은 예로부터 효를 중요하게 생각했고 농경사회였기 때문에, 추석에는 가족이 모두 모여 조상님께 풍년을 내려주신 것에 감사드리고, 내년에도 풍작을 기원했어요. 가족끼리 음식을 만들어 나눠 먹는다는 점은 미국의 Thanksgiving과 닮았지만, 조상님께 차례를 지낸다는 부분은 조금 다르죠. 또 이날은 유독 밝고 둥근 보름달이 떠서, 달을 보며 소원을 비는 문화도 있어요.
정리하자면, 온 가족이 모여 서로 안부를 전하고, 명절에만 만드는 전통 음식을 잔뜩 만들고 먹고, 과일과 음식으로 차례를 지내고, 성묘도 가고… 그러다 보면 자연스럽게 살도 찌는 그런 날입니다. 😄
요즘은 차례 준비가 너무 힘들다는 이유로 가족 여행을 가거나, 추석 당일엔 따로 모이지 않고 다른 날에 만나는 등, 각자 스타일대로 보내는 모습도 점점 늘고 있어요.
Absolutely!
In Korea, we have a very similar holiday called Chuseok, written as “秋夕” in Chinese characters. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Although it feels very “Korean,” people in countries like China, Vietnam, and Taiwan also celebrate mid-autumn holidays around the same time, spending a few days with their families.
Traditionally, because Korea valued filial piety and was an agricultural society, Chuseok was a time when families gathered to thank their ancestors for a good harvest and to pray for another plentiful year. Sharing special holiday foods with family feels a bit like American Thanksgiving, but the ritual of offering those foods to one’s ancestors is something unique.
It’s also the night of the brightest full moon of the year, so many people go out to admire it and make a wish.
In short: everyone gathers, shares updates on life, cooks tons of traditional holiday dishes, performs ancestral rites with beautifully arranged fruit and food, visits ancestral graves… and inevitably gains a little weight in the process. 😄
These days, more families are choosing to travel instead of preparing the elaborate ancestral table, or meeting on a different day if schedules are difficult—so the ways people celebrate are becoming more flexible.
김밥과 비빔밥, 그리고 잡채!
이 세 가지는 정말 누구에게나 추천할 수 있는 한국 음식이에요.
김밥과 비빔밥은 재료 선택의 자유도가 엄청 높아서, 좋아하는 건 넣고 싫어하는 건 뺄 수 있거든요. 채식주의자도, 알레르기가 있는 사람도, 누구나 자기 스타일로 조절해서 맛있게 먹을 수 있는 ‘유연한 음식’이죠.
잡채는… 지금까지 싫어하는 사람을 본 적이 없어요. 그래서 강력하게 추천합니다.
그리고 혹시 채식주의자가 아니라면 양념 갈비 꼭 드셔보세요. 달고 짭짤한 양념이 고기에 촉촉하게 밴 그 맛은… 말하다 보니 저도 갑자기 먹고 싶어졌네요. 책임지세요. 😋
Gimbap, Bibimbap, and Japchae!
They’re the safest, most universally loved dishes I can recommend.
Gimbap and Bibimbap are incredibly customizable—you can add what you like and skip what you don’t. They work for vegetarians, people with allergies, picky eaters… basically anyone. They’re “flexible foods,” which is part of their charm.
And Japchae? I’ve never met anyone who disliked it. So that one is a must-try.
And if you’re not vegetarian… you have to try marinated Korean short ribs, yangnyeom galbi. Sweet, savory, tender—just thinking about it is making me hungry. This is on you now. 😋
네! 개인적으로도 나눠준 적 있고, 수업에서도 소개해 본 적 있어요.
요리를 좋아해서 일본에 온 첫해엔 이것저것 자주 해 먹었는데, 손이 워낙 커서 늘 4인분 이상을 만들더라고요 😂 그래서 중국 국제교류원인 보보에게 나눠주기도 하고, 친해진 일본 친구에게도 건네곤 했죠. 직장에서 포트럭 파티를 열어 한국 음식을 소개하기도 했고요.
에히메현청 CIR은 현청과 EPIC(에히메현 국제교류협회), 두 곳에서 근무하는데, EPIC에서 마음이 잘 맞는 직원과 함께 몇 차례 포트럭 파티를 열었어요. 잡채, 비빔국수, 가지무침 같은 전통 음식도 만들고, 들기름 파스타처럼 조금은 퓨전인 요리도 가져가 봤죠. 또 EPIC에서 매년 열리는 ‘오샤베리 문화 살롱 요리 교실’에서도 한국 음식을 소개하고 같이 만들어 보기도 했어요.
사람들 반응은 대체적으로 정말 좋아해줬어요. 너무 매워서 못 먹을 것 같은데 괜찮을지 고민했던 메뉴를 제 예상과 다르게 오히려 훨씬 더 좋아하기도 했고요. 한국 음식을 맛있게 먹고 즐거워하는 모습을 보는 게 너무 뿌듯해서, 저도 더 열심히 했던 것 같아요. 올해는 너무 바빠서 포트럭은커녕 제 밥 챙겨 먹기도 좀 힘들지만… 언젠가 다시 여유가 생기면 또 잔뜩 만들어 나누어 먹고 싶네요!
Yes! Both personally and through classes.
I love cooking, so during my first year in Japan I was constantly making food—but because I always cook in huge batches, I ended up with four servings at a time 😂. So I’d share some with Bobo, a Chinese CIR who lived nearby, and with my Japanese friends. I even hosted potluck parties at work to introduce Korean dishes.
As a CIR in Ehime, I work both at the prefectural office and at EPIC (Ehime Prefectural International Center). At EPIC, I clicked really well with one of the staff members, and we held several potluck gatherings together. I’d bring dishes like japchae, bibim-guksu, and seasoned eggplant, and sometimes fusion dishes like perilla-oil pasta. I also teach Korean cuisine at EPIC’s annual “Oshaberi Culture Salon Cooking Class,” where we cook together and talk about Korean culture.
People’s reactions were varied, but overall very positive. Sometimes they surprised me by loving dishes I thought would be too spicy! Seeing people enjoy the food—and look genuinely happy about it—motivated me to cook even more.
This year I’ve been too busy for potlucks (or even proper meals for myself…), but once life calms down, I’d love to start cooking and sharing again!
한 마디로 말하자면~ 재밌어요! 제 전공은 전혀 다른 분야였기 때문에, 취미였던 일본어를 살려서 일할 수 있게 된 것에 매우 감사하며 일하고 있습니다. 또, 에히메의 한국 국제교류원은 출장이 많은 편인데, 여행을 좋아하는 저에게는 여러 지역을 돌아다니며 다양한 일을 경험할 수 있다는 점에서도 아주 만족하고 있고요. 늘 이용자로서만 접해왔던 관광·여행을 고객으로서가 아닌 서비스 제공자의 입장에서 바라보는 경험도 새롭고요. 덕분에 내가 어떤 일을 더 좋아하고 어떤 일은 안 맞는지, 앞으로 어떤 길을 가고 싶은지 생각할 기회도 많이 얻었어요. 물론 최대 3년~5년까지밖에 할 수 없는 일인 만큼 당장 이 일의 임기가 끝나게 되면 미래에 어떤 일을 할 수 있을지 고민도 많고 걱정도 많지만, 우선은 현재에 만족하면서 매일을 열심히 사는 중!
In one word—fun!
My academic background is in a completely different field, so being able to work using Japanese, which started as just a hobby, feels like such a gift. In Ehime, CIRs often travel for work, and since I love traveling, I’ve really enjoyed visiting different places while working on various projects.
Experiencing tourism not as a customer but as someone providing the service has been eye-opening, too. It helped me understand what kind of work I enjoy, what doesn’t suit me, and what kind of future I want to build for myself.
Of course, since this job is limited to three to five years, I worry sometimes about what I’ll do afterward. But for now, I’m trying to focus on the present and enjoy each day.
당신이 살게 될 곳을 사랑하려고 노력해 보세요. 친구와 함께여도 좋고, 혼자여도 좋으니 많은 곳을 돌아다니고 경험하면서 좋아하는 장소와 활동, 사람 등과 함께 애착을 가질 수 있도록 노력하는 걸 추천해요.
3년에서 최대 5년이라는 기간은 생각보다 훨씬 더 짧아요. 그러니 ‘내가 왜 이런 시골에 오게 되었지…’ 하고 후회하거나 ‘이후에 뭘 해야 하지…’ 라고 걱정하고 불안해하기보다는, 그 시간 동안 해볼 수 있는 모든 경험을 최대한 다 해보길 바라요. 솔직히 말하면, 이 일이 아니면 언제 그 시골에 살아보겠어요? 😂
벚꽃을 볼 기회도, 단풍을 볼 수 있는 것도, 바다에 갈 수 있는 것도, 전부 기회는 3번밖에 없어요. 그러니, 일은 적당히 하고 무리해서 놀러다니세요~!
Try to fall in love with the place you’re going. Explore a lot—alone or with friends—and find places, activities, and people that make you feel connected to your new home.
Three to five years sound long, but they go by so fast. So instead of regretting “Why did I move to this countryside town…?” or stressing about “What will I do after this…?” I hope you’ll fill your limited time with as many experiences as you can. Honestly, when else in your life will you ever get the chance to live in that countryside town? 😂
You only get three chances to see the cherry blossoms, three autumn foliage seasons, three summers by the sea.
So work reasonably… and spend the rest of your energy exploring and having fun!
Hey, Mikans!
We hope you’re enjoying this month’s ZINE. If you have a story to tell, an idea to share, or just want to contribute we’d love to hear from you!
We’ll have a new maga(ZINE) post for you on the first of each month, so keep an eye out!
Interested in having your own ZINE? Reach out to us at themikanblog@gmail.com!