Wordless Wednesday: Eastern Bluebirds

Photos taken 15 May 2012

Cross Cultural Blues

            

Today features guest blogger D. Dina Friedman.

When my mother-in-law died last August, she left me a wonderful gift—the opportunity to finish translating my father-in-law Yoshi’s novel from Japanese to English.

 My mother-in-law did not speak a word of Japanese, and neither do I. The rough draft I inherited had been massaged from Yoshi’s broken English into her literate but turgid prose. My job was to tease a novel out of this mess that remained respectful to its Japanese roots, but would also excite an American audience. Though Yoshi and I are both published novelists with a mutual understanding of fiction, making the plot’s cultural nuances and characters’ thought processes understandable to an American provided a number of challenges I’d never encountered before.

First was that I had to constantly remind myself that this wasn’t my story. As a compulsive self-editor, and active critic of all I read (from published work to works in progress from fellow writers) I had to remain true to the vision that Yoshi had for the story. He is far better at crafting suspenseful plots than I’ll ever be, but his characters think outside the limited box of my American brain. Through a lot of internal dialogue they consider possibilities that I would prefer left unsaid, but Yoshi insists are necessary. We both understand “show, not tell,”  but it means something different to a Japanese audience. In fact, Yoshi tries to use it to increase the level of suspense by having the reader consider the possibilities, while I prefer the spare surprise.

Second, it has been hard for me to wrap my brain around some of  the things these characters think. They consistently talk of things like “dark auras” when describing people and “fulfilling their dreams” which to my American mind sounds cheesy. Yet, I hear this same sentiment expressed when talking informally to Yoshi’s friends.  Also, the characters are far more humble and easily embarrassed than their American counterparts. I know this is a facet of Japanese culture, but it’s hard to figure out how to get an American reader not just to understand, but to fuse with the characters and feel these things.

We’re currently on the third draft—a process where I tend to eliminate words and Yoshi tends to put them back in. He tells me he’s learned a lot from me, particularly my use of “if-clauses” leading the reader to form their own suppositions. From him, I’ve learned about pacing, and how to make sure each small detail matters. But neither of us is totally satisfied. I still think the book is stilted, and Yoshi thinks it’s too breezy. But perhaps this is also part of the cross-cultural blues. How can we Americans put ourselves in enough of a “Japanese mind” to fully appreciate the depth of this narrative, which is more than a simple mystery/thriller. It is about the dilemma of trying to free oneself from the constraints of thousands of years of tradition. That alone is a concept that is totally foreign to an American mind. Meanwhile, Yoshi and I continue to argue (politely, of course) about how much needs to be explained, and how much the reader can figure out on their own.

Yoshi is 82 years old and finishing this book is his dream. He wants it to be his final tribute to his wife, Gloria, the love of his life for more than 40 years. This is what I need to remember on the days when we’re both gnashing our teeth and spending over an hour on a single paragraph. Yes, I may have given up a lot of time when I could be focusing on my own writing, but I’ve also gained the ability to be even more persnickety about language. It’s different when you have to find the right word for someone else’s thought, and I’ve begun to gain a small glimpse of understanding into what it means to think like a Japanese. Yoshi’s been in my life for 32 years, but it’s only been in the past nine months that I feel I really know him.

We just came back from having dinner together. Yoshi says he's hoping that this will finally be the best seller with movie potential. He says he always feels that way about a book when he's in the process of writing it, and then he's always disappointed. Here's the place where culture doesn't matter.  As a fellow writer, I totally get this. But I tell him that whatever happens, it doesn't matter. The fact that we managed to pull this off should be reward enough. Ultimately, it has to be the process of "translating" what matters to you in a way that someone else from whatever culture can get it.

D. Dina Friedman is the author of Escaping Into the Night and Playing Dad’s Song. Visit her website at www.ddinafriedman.com

A Tribute to Mrs. Clay

On Sunday, I was honored to attend a milestone birthday party for my 4th grade teacher. That's right... the woman who taught me in fourth grade.

Mrs. Clay had a huge influence on my life and played a significant role in my decision to become a teacher.

What made Mrs. Clay so special? She made each student feel important. She got to know us and our families. She did fun projects. She read aloud back when teachers did not read aloud.

Mrs. Clay shared stories about her children and her life outside of school. She revealed herself to be fully human- more than "just a teacher" who kids think lives in the school.

She also played jump rope with us on the playground. I know this may seem trivial, but here's why it isn't. By playing with us, she showed us that our world- our nine year old interests- were important.

All of these things made me feel valued and appreciated.

One moment that particularly stands out for me is the day Mrs. Clay told me I would make a good teacher. Her confidence in me-to do a job that she did so well- propelled me that year. But, she also had the ability to offer gentle critique in a way that I could hear it, so that I could genuinely improve. Rather than tell me I was too bossy, she encouraged me to help other students find answers rather than simply tell them the answers.

When I found myself floundering for the right major in college, Mrs. Clay's words rang true: "You'd make a great teacher." And really, that was when I found a calling.

Not only did I become a teacher because of Mrs. Clay- I became a fourth grade teacher. And, the lessons I learned from Mrs. Clay were there, gently guiding me all the way.

Just yesterday, I met up with a young woman who went to the school where I taught. She told me I had been a big influence on her, even though I was never her teacher. And you know what she remembered most about me? That I was a real person to her. That I shared parts of my life and myself with the students in our school. That I treated them with respect as young people.

I told her she has Mrs. Clay to thank, because Mrs. Clay taught me to be that kind of teacher. One teacher really can make that big of an impact.

At Mrs. Clay's party, a guest offered a lovely toast in her honor. He ended by saying, "We all want to be like you when we grow up." Indeed we do.

Which teacher made a difference in your life? Have you told him or her? If not, I hope you will. In the internet age, it's easier than ever to find people, even if 30 years or more have passed.

Wordless Wednesday: Dragonfly Season

Photos taken 7 May 2012

Seeking Guest Bloggers

Beginning next week, Travel Tuesdays will go on hiatus. That's when I'll begin hosting guest bloggers here at Polliwog.

Polliwog recently passed the 20,000 hits mark. Now I’m hoping to expand my readership even further. In the process, I hope to help others do the same by hosting guest bloggers for the first time. You don't need any special credentials to be a guest blogger- just an interest in the focus of this blog. In fact, I encourage you to get in touch with me even if you don't think of yourself as a writer. I want to bring many voices into the conversation. You can pitch me an idea and I'll help you frame it, if you feel you need guidance.

Things to keep in mind:

1. This blog has a very specific focus on nature and culture. Please familiarize yourself with my focus before contacting me. If you're not a regular reader, poke around and get a feel for the kind of posts I write. You might start with the "Popular Posts" on my side bar.
2. All guest posts will include a bio of the author (to be provided by the author).
3. You may link to your blog or website, etc. Any links MUST be kid friendly. This is non-negotiable.
4. No hard selling. You’re welcome to link to your sites or to mention your books. Any links to other sites, however, must be related to your post. Read some of my posts to get a sense of the kind of links I provide. DO NOT contact me if your sole purpose is to try to sell your products on this blog. I will ignore your email.
5. I encourage you to include photographs, as appropriate. All photos must be copyright free. (That is, you cannot find an image on the internet and use it in your post unless you found it on a site that clearly offers free usage or you paid for its usage). When in doubt, use your own photographs.
6. Posts should be about 500 words at the most (less is fine). If you feel you have a great idea and want to write something longer, pitch me. (Some of my most popular posts have been over 600 words, so I'm open to a great idea).
7. Posts should be edited for proper grammar, spelling, mechanics,etc. If you feel you're weak in this area, ask someone else to proofread for you. I'll also do a final edit before posting.
8. Ultimately, I control the content on this blog. I reserve the right to reject a submission even if we agreed to an idea. (I would only do this if your post violates my requirements, especially #3, 4, or 5). If I have concerns, however, I'll contact you first to see if we can work them out.

Some possible posts:

•  Description of your favorite natural place.
• Ways you and your children (students) interact with nature.
• Review/ description of your favorite book set in a natural place.
• Review/ description of your favorite book set in another country/with a protagonist from another culture.
• Lessons you (your children/students) have learned from interacting with people of different backgrounds.
•  Others? Pitch me!

 If you’re interested in guest blogging, please email me. michelle(at)michellecusolito(dot)com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Do you want to read a post on a particular topic? Leave it in the comments I'll try to address it in a future post.

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Leaves

Photo taken 26 April 2012

Travel Tuesdays: Wisdom from Maya Angelou

Today, some food for thought:

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”  ~Maya Angelou

Is Ms. Angelou correct? I'd like to think travel (as opposed to tourism) can prevent bigotry. Getting to know the locals wherever you travel must make a difference, right? What do you think? Am I'm too optimistic. 


Related Post:
Travel Tuesdays: Mark Twain Quotation
Travel Tuesdays; Awakening in a Strange Place
Travel Tuesdays: Travel Broadens Perspectives