Go Tokyo, thanks to a little help
MIT students get smart about the land of the rising sun
Even brainiacs need a little help. Like the MIT students who travel to Japan for global internships. They excel at the innovative companies where they conduct international research collaboration. But when it comes to navigating the Tokyo transportation grid or figuring out sushi etiquette, sometimes they need a sherpa. That’s where Christine Pilcavage steps in. She’s a den mother and cultural liaison all-in-one, manager of MIT’s International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) in her native Japan. MISTI offers applied global studies in over 19 countries, ranging from Africa to the UK, with hundreds of students traveling abroad to participate in labs around the world. About three dozen of those head to Japan, with MIT-Japan being the first international education alliance for the university. To prepare them for this “reigi tadashii” (polite) culture, Pilcavage lays the groundwork by familiarizing students with everything from everything from bowing (it’s expected) to slurping noodles (it’s not rude). The Globe spoke to Pilcavage about what it’s like to send the Pokemon Generation for educational adventures in her homeland.
“Japan is the land of not just Pokemon, but also Anime, Manga, and many other forms of Japanese pop culture. By contrast, it’s also the nation of Zen aesthetics, rock gardens, and shrines and temples. I want students to be bitten by the Japan bug, but there’s much more to Japan than just video games. Many of our students are comfortable in the MIT bubble, believing it’s the center of the universe. They come to MIT as the best of the best, but once here, confidence plummets because they’re small fish in a big pond. Going overseas is an enormous challenge and students gain confidence through the experience. The MIT-Japan Program was started 35 years ago, when internships weren’t very common, because of the benefit of working and living in a different culture. I was born and raised and Japan and lived there while working for a NGO and now go to Japan a few times a year. I visit in the spring to do my “aisatsu” (greetings) with the host companies – robotics, microchip, aerospace, electronic, and more – before the students arrive. It’s all about saving face and building relationships; students have to understand that whatever they do has repercussions. In more traditional Japanese companies, workers live in dorms, wear uniforms, and put all personal belongings in a locker, including cell phones. This can be a real shock for students, who are so dependent on their smartphones. They can no longer be on ‘MIT time’ – five minutes after the hour – because that is incredibly rude and inappropriate. I’ve had panic calls from students who fell asleep on the train, and navigating new apartments is also a challenge, even turning on the hot water ( there’s a temperature control, usually in the kitchen.) Over 1,000 students have taken part in our program, and they usually leave with a passion in their heart for this country. I never tire of Japan either, even though I can’t count the number of times I’ve been there. I’m always on the look out for mochi covered in sweet soy sauce glaze, pork cutlet or ramen shops. And I love
Japanese confectionary and foot massages. When I come back, my suitcase is crammed with senbei rice crackers and Uniqlo clothing. My husband likes to joke that I’m a Japanese importer.”
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