Technology

I don't know technology in Japanese so here, an English title! So, I am finally writing observations about Japan, not just about my life, so please enjoy!

I guess nowadays people associate Japan with technology in a really significant way. Many of the world's biggest companies are from Japan. But, based on my experience, Japanese people are WAY behind Australia in terms of technology. (Now, I do live in a country town, but really, it is very close to Japan's third biggest city and not so countryside that technology is inacessible, people just don't seem to take advantage of that access.)

Take for example my school. We went to the library today to research for an English speech. And when we went to the library, we actually used books. The teacher told us there was one computer (in a library?) and we could use it, but no one did. It was just natural for them to use books to research. Obviously when researching properly in Australia, I use books a lot. But if it is a little, insignificant English speech, just wikipedia that up man, no time necessary. (I'm not even going to mention what the teacher asked them to do to reference, "just copy the book's title down" :| I mean, these people are going to uni next year, shouldn't they, um, know how to reference? What the hell, Japan?)

In Japan (or my school at least), ALL assessment is tests. No assignments, essays, speeches anything. (Wait, I had a music assessment today and I played guitar, but that is different.) So the school has like no computers. There is an information room with computers enough for one class, but that is nor used for any subject except IT (sorry excuse for IT, if you ask me). Then some teachers have computers and maybe a few in the English room. That's it. Teachers write only on blackboards, no powerpoint, not even any whiteboards. In one room, there are CASETTE recorders. I don't think they use them anymore, but still. Casettes? I thought those died like ten years ago.

On top of that, it's not unusual to not have a computer at home. Most people have one, but if you don't no one thinks it is weird, and it doesn't impair your ability to do anything. And my host family's computer is quite old and slow and has been known to piss me off. A lot.

As for mobiles, a lot of people have iPhones, but flip phones are also still really prevalent. My phone is a flip phone.... Most teenagers have mobiles, but my friend's host sister doesn't. No mobile, no computer. It blows my mind.

My conclusion: so glad my host family has Wi-Fi and all my siblings have iPhones.