From all of us at Water & Cassava, Keeka & Lisu, The Cocoyams & and our home ESE & SEGYE.
Friday Ramblings: The One About Leaving Korea, Shareese Said and PhD?
.....LEAVING SOUTH KOREA
“Me: I feel like a $%^#n looser
Daniel: No, No, No, U are not a looser!! You not a $%^#n looser!!.
We worry as people because we want to accomplish SHIT!
You got options!!
You never give yourself credit
Me: Yeah sure”
I must leave my flat in February and if I do not have a place to stay... #Toughshit. I am still processing this piece and I am a range of every emotion.
WHAT I AM EXPECTED TO SAY
SHAREESE SAID
Shareeseeee, as I refer to her is the best thing that happened to me at my old job. She is beyond wise and is from Maryland!!! I stayed in Maryland for three years as a teenager.
I called Shareese and told her, I have no idea on the next move. She tells me with this voice of authority, WHAT IS THE PLAN?? She has stressed throughout this journey, giving up is not an option.
In my last job, we made up the “I don’t want to hear problems but solutions team”. She is a brilliant Applied Public Health Professional that I can see move waves in the CDC.
I confide to her that I am feeling quite $#c*& up but I am grateful though. We have very frank conversations about very raw painful realities and truths yet it always ends with “I am grateful, I am lucky though because…”
She says sternly....
The year is over, and it is not February. Your landlord is giving you all the way till February, you are getting help. I tell her yes, I am grateful…Why you worried she asked?
I swear this chic has balls. I am in SOUTH KOREA, MY COMPANY IS NOT PICKING UP, I AM NOT AWARE OF MY LEFT OR RIGHT…SHE SAYS….
“Okay still, why you worried? What is the plan?” …
I shared with her the strangeness that seems to follow me in Kimchi Land. Girls look at me up, down, sideways and this thing of rolling their eyes to the top of their head.
What do I wear? An African print & some western top. I wear blue tennis shoes, most of the time no makeup, my face is always shiny, and I smell like Frankincense and Myrrh. I have a shiny face because I use a coffee oil mix.
Who gets threatened by that I ask her loudly? I tell her the many ways I can make oatmeal and I do not have money. I tell her, I am completely raw and no pretending here. I will tell you with no pretending
“I %$!k#d up here
They had me %$!k#d there
….And the beat goes on…”
I am considered a threat and apparently, I am pretty. My primary and secondary education was german and religious. I cannot stress just how words like "pretty or beautiful" did not exisit. In fact it was insulting to be just "pretty" or just "beautiful". I also never heard such adjectives from my legal guardians growing up, so it is just kind of a strange adjective to use around me. I mean you kind of aimed for “You are quite brilliant with your studies". or You are rather stupid, just like that!
She says, "Your presence, you are beautiful and smart. As soon as you walk in, you command the room but you know who you are and that is a threat”.
I think, I am just a giraffe, elephant, and octopus... WHO HAS A COMPLEX OVER THAT?
I told her the marriage life is looking nice from here. She says, “We married folk looking at you like…That’s really great, you living your best life…” Shareese is married but has a life. I know that sentence is simple and short but I honestly do not know anyone married with her attitude and sense of awareness.
We also share similar childhoods (nothing great about that) but we told ourselves, we will not be Neffee. Everyone with our past is just one step away from this and I do mean just a step.
I am grateful for her, OMG SHE GOT ME A STARBUCKS CARD and her Netflix account. In the words of Dru Hill some young men from Baltimore, Maryland
PHD???
This is also on the table and will require a move to the E.U. I will see.....
See you next Friday Ramblings.
Silk Road Thursdays: Cool Japan for Everyone but for Africa, Yadah Yadah ....
LAST TIME WE TOUCHED ON JAPAN...
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)
We will touch on an incident that involved TICAD & the U.N Security Council. This is very important to understand the piece of Aid in our series as a soft power tool. While this is a strong soft power tool for the country, it is also a challenge for Japan.
Cultural Diplomacy
We will start here and TICAD much later.........
what is yadAH yadah?
George's new girlfriend explains things using 'Yada-yada' to gloss over things.
BEFORE WE START OUR STORY....
THE PAST OF JAPAN & CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
Cultural Diplomacy from Japan can be a touchy subject for the Asia Pacific Region. This Japan brings back memories of “Empire” and “War”. There is no soft power in this Japan below, this is pure Hard Power and Realism. Depending on you ask, Japan has never apologised for the war.
“We are not going to apologize every year based on the new elected administration
We are not going to give funds for every new administration
We are not going to apologize for every former minister that speaks harshly about this topic
Take your statues down and then we can speak of shrine visits.”
This tension will push Japan to go inside and not invest on Cultural Diplomacy because Japan is viewed through the lenses of this flag.
This flag was in use during the Edo period or Tokugawa period (徳川時代) about some 200+ years before the war.
However, it should be noted that this flag is controversial and painful for people of South Korea and China. Think the swastika for Germany, The Confederate Flag in America, Afrikaner Oranje, Blanje, Blou Flag of South Africa and Namibia.
This flag is a reminder of Colonialism and Imperialism.
DOES JAPAN'S DARK CULTURAL DIPLOMACY MATTER TO AFRICA?
There are three major players in Africa from Asia: China, Japan, and South Korea. Currently, there is an unspoken competition between all three on just who can be the most influential friend for Africa but that will be addressed later with TICAD.
In 2013, there were some serious tensions brewing between China and Japan on the role of “influence” and “leadership” with ASEAN. China accused Japan for trying to “assert complete leadership” in the region.
Just because Japan invested a tiny $1.5 billion into the ASEAN union and I forgot to mention the “soft loans” that topped over $500 million from Japan to Myanmar......
Japan has also made sure that with every natural disaster in the Asia Pacific region, before the U.N, International Red Cross, like this Sting song... It is first to help with recovery efforts.
I will touch more on ASEAN states later with this blog. The ASEAN way can also serve as a great platform for some African States. Here is a tiny bit about ASEAN.
This competitive relationship between the two is creeping into Africa.
“So, you understand now that Korea and China would not mind if Japan was out of African Affairs.
There will be no wasabi tears to shed here..
But
This does not mean Korea is simply so happy with the presence of China in Africa.
However, China and Korea could care less for Japan in Africa and for that matter Asia Pacific Affairs.”
COOL JAPAN TO THE WEST LOOKS LIKE
However as with most things (not all), time mends and shapes everything. Japan is now known for its own unique soft power known as Cool Japan. Cool Japan was birth in the 1980’s and since then we are all trying to keep up with the cool factors of Japan. Japan is cool in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia but Africa???
COOL JAPAN & AFRICA OR YADAH...
“... THE LACK OF RESPECT AND AWARENESS OF YOUR COUNTRY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TRANSLATES TO
YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A MEMBER OF THE OTHER, aka “SUBALTERN”.”
“Antonio Gramsci used this term to refer to people considered infererior be it race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.
This term is forever stamped in International Relations Theory because of an essay by Gayatri Spivak. She asked a simple question,
Can the Subaltern Speak?
This blog is about Africa and Asia, so I do not see a problem using this word in both spaces. I should note that academically, this word is getting a bit trendy and abused. ”
At this point of the Water & Cassava Blog you are versed on Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy. But if you need a refresher, just go back to any Silk Road Thursday Entry or Cassava Tuesday entry.
“A state’s public diplomacy is a direct response to its culture, foreign policy, and political ideologies.
These three elements drive attraction and create a unique soft power for the respective state.
All three elements must be present for the soft power effect to occur.
Cultural Diplomacy is a soft power tool that occurs during the long-term run while Public Diplomacy focuses on the short-term run of the country.”
Officially the name of the Japanese flag is called Nisshōki ("sun-mark flag"). Commonly people refer to the flag as Hinomaru ("circle of the sun").
AFRICA IN JAPAN POP CULTURE
SIDEBAR #1 : "SOFT CONNECTIONS" CHINA IN AFRICA.
While China's economic and trade impact on Africa has raised global attention, China also runs one of the world's largest short-term training programs. It also gives generous support to 31 Confucius Institutes teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture at many top universities in Africa. So what do Africans feel about the deliverables of China's soft power investment?
“Do you see the problem here? The China culture must be understood and learned but noticed the African leader not advocating that this street be a two-way street.
Japan can use this as an entry tool to Africa. Korea and China still don’t understand this piece on diplomacy in Africa must be fluid. ”
JAPAN IN AFRICA CULTURE???
Japan does not have a strategic plan in this area for Africa. It is a yada-yada approach! The assumption here on both sides is, in the name of TICAD all will be great. Diplomacy must be fluid and Soft influences must go both ways. Majority of African leaders suffer from forms of the colonialism disease that range from early stages to fatal stages in development, so they do not invest in their “soft influences”. They have no problem absorbing other soft influences on the behalf of aid and relief. Africa has made no efforts to work on the art and execution of niche diplomacy in Asian spaces.
Culture is an extended arm in International Relations. A successful relationship between Africa and Japan will be expected for Japan not to downplay the role of culture and identity of Africans in Japanese spaces.
BUT JAPAN HAS AFRICAN FESTIVALS...
Festivals do not count per-se, because they are just extra pluses towards the city brand. It benefits cities in Japan that have “African themed festivals”, it shows the global stage, “Japan is DIVERSE!!”.
INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS
International Relations can be best described today as Intercultural Relations. The U.S vs. West Asia is a great example on just how the lack of respect and appreciation of Intercultural Relations can bring countries to their knees.
The very definition of International Relations that is “relations with other nations” rests on the shoulders of that each country has unique traditions, social interactions, political dynamics, and intellectual orientations that make up the country. Japan must understand, with interactions towards any African country, it will go favorably if they start to pay attention to those shoulders.
There is no fluidity in cultural diplomacy between Africa countries and Japan. This is not unique to Japan because China and Korea do not value this or have no clue on a starting point. However, this gap could be the golden ticket of applying “Cool Japan Diplomacy” to Africa. The neglect or underestimation of cultural diplomacy towards Africa by Japan hinders fluid relations but because China and Korea are guilty of this issue, Japan can use this as winning attribute to building on African Affairs.
some examples on how Japan can work on CD with Africa:
Pop Culture
Anime and Manga with African Myth and Folklore, Cool Japan!Academic
Educational Exchanges that include professors and students from both spaces. So not just African students going to Japan for graduate studies but Japanese students and professors in Africa Academic spaces. This also means more African Professors and Deans in Japan universities that claim to teach Africa Affairs.
“If the Education Sector can appreciate the importance of “French Academics” teaching Francophone studies ....
Then it must have no problem understanding the importance of African Academics teaching African Studies”
Blue Economics (Beyond Fish)
AgriMarketing/ Agri-Economics
“Experimental” Tourism
LASTLY ON CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
The new diplomatic language of the 21st century diplomat rest on:-
Do your “friends” and "neighbors" speak and understand your cultural diplomacy?
Does the global stage speak and understand your cultural diplomacy?
Are you humanitarian friendly? (Later on this piece)
Cultural Diplomacy is not about countries explaining their “self” onto the global stage. It is based on Cleverness in Cultural Diplomacy.
“Applying unique intelligence base on culture, history, identity, etc. to build and increase understanding with other countries while simultaneously working on your own interests. Multiple actors, cultural promoters are needed to get this point across....”
JAPAN HAS A MEDIA PROBLEM IN AFRICA
Japan lacks international mass media presence on the global stage to promote its image. The United States has CNN and FOX. The UK has the BBC, but do you know the name of Japan’s international broadcasting channel???
Waiting……….
The NHK network could be key to setting up stronger ties to Africa. What better way to spread your message to your new friends using their language with their faces?
P.S NHK has a KiSwahili Channel but BBC has Pidgin, Hausa and so much more. NHK needs to pick up the pace.
We leave you with this video of African artist, Dobolo based in Japan.
See you next Silk Road Thursday!
Public Health Wednesdays (PHW)- Africa & Asia Health Check
WHO WEEKLY REPORT: AFRICA
“This feel good R & B jam by the elements goes out to: Namibia, Botswana, Swaiziland, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria and Eritrea for no ongoing events.”
AFRICA
“There is a conscious effort here not to touch on issues that occur in or around the United States. However, the United States is a super power state that touches, “influences” all that is on this blue ball we call home. So, time to time, I will have to touch on U.S Foreign Policy, especially with conversations that include South Korea and the continent of Africa. ”
This so called global gag rule has been ongoing, since President Ronald Reagan. It is just with Trump, as with policy and law, it was upgraded.
A loss of over $8 billion in aid will be felt globally and services that are offered from this funding includes: HIV, Malaria, Cervical Cancer, TB, Family Planning, and a host of comprehensives health care needs. Groups that accept funding must stop offering abortion services even if it is legal.
I should point out here that every woman that goes in for services is not getting an abortion. I am not so sure the concern on a uterus and sets of ovaries that are not yours. This fixation on genital parts and reproductive organs and never the proactive health on the organs.
Research on gynecological diseases and disorders??? Sanitary napkins that do not include nail polish remover?? Condom use and research for women?? There are a host of other issues but moving along…….
Comprehensive health care for women includes full family planning services and that includes abortion services. It is ironic, the current administration views killing children in West Asia and Africa making “America Great” again. A fetus gets more sympathy and adoration that its final stage of development.
Unfortunately, or (Fortunately) the States is the largest donor to all International Reproductive Health Efforts. African Countries have continuously not placed public health on the top list of development. They depend on Medical Diplomacy to take care of their own citizens. The U.S cannot be forced to give aid. The current administration is applying realism to all interactions with other states. What happens to America if some girl in Mozambique or Kenya lacks access to condoms, pills, well woman visits or abortion services? …….
“Therefore, you do not depend or pray to which colonized you. You will and always stay a slave.”
The Trump administration has argued that forcing America to give aid that includes abortion services is Western Cultural Imperialism. With all 54 countries that make up the continent of Africa, abortion was only learned from westerners. I appreciate the insult inside the insult.
“…. Cultural Imperialism for Medical Aid now you say? My goodness, what do you call constantly raping the land of all resources, putting in “applicable heads of state”, Ah yes! Stealing people??? Could you please leave all together and return raw materials as you leave?....”
Which African Countries will be affected?
Check out the map below.
EBOLA & CORRUPTION
Apparently all three countires lost over $6 million due to corruption during the Ebola epidemic.
AIR POLLUTION AND AFRICA
“Air pollution may kill more Africans than HIV/AIDS”
WHAT YOU ARE TOLD ABOUT BIO MASS
ASIA
THAILAND
We touched on this briefly last PHW, but there is a drug resistant form of Malaria that has developed from Cambodia and is spreading to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. How is Thailand dealing?
CHINA
Uyghurs: Muslim Minority
China is offering free health care that includes wrap around services for a minority group in China known as the Uyghurs. With the disguise of using applied public health, China is collecting and storing DNA samples that includes biometric data to keep track of the Ugyhurs population.
OUR PINK NEWS IN ASIA- QUEER RIGHTS IN ASIA
JAPAN
ARE YOU OVER 60? MOVE TO JAPAN
Once again, Japan is the best country in Asia for older people to live. If you stay or have visited Japan, this is not surprising at all. I do still see a need for more interactive programs that target the senior population.
KAROSHI & MENTAL HEALTH IN JAPAN
Japan is notorious for incredible working hours that care less of your mental health and more on your dedication to get it done. Even if it means this will kill you, that form of death is known as Karoshi. Workers work 80+ hours over time a month, I am familiar with this kind of work hours. I had a lot of interaction with Texas State Troopers, Houston Police, and Clearlake Police, as I slept on the side of the freeway in my car from one case to the next case.
I recall making it to a gas station and telling myself if I would just crash for 15 minutes. That ended up to be 1 hour with a police officer banging on my window, asking about my social welfare. After seeing my work ID, he simply said “This job will kill y’all”. I feel the pain and exhaustion of the video below.
A Japanese phenomenon known as "Karoshi," which means "death from overwork," is affecting many young men and women in Japan. Almost 2,000 people in the country committed suicide for reasons related to their job in 2016. Lucy Craft reports from Tokyo.
But it appears a change is coming for Japan…
SOUTH KOREA
ASSISTANCE TO BANGLADESH
South Korea will donate $500,000 to UNFPA Bangladesh to help wth women and girls affected by the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
PILLS,PILLS, PILLS
“Africa Countries,
Do you hear what Kimchi Land knows???
Do you hear what Kimchi Land sings???
South Korea will be investing a bit over $ 3 Billion in their pharmaceutical and health care industries”
Sister Whitney to all....
MENTAL HEALTH in south korea- 한,정
There is room for intersectionality in discussions of mental health. However, the gravity and complexes with mental health surrounding South Korea is heartbreaking and complexing. I am a product of Africa and the diaspora and I appreciate minding my space with some topics.
I can only give my opinions and thought on this issue from my professional and academic background. However even in critiquing the issue of mental health, I am coming from the lenses of the ‘Asian Diaspora”. This is not sufficient, I think to truly critique the issue however as an applied public health professional, I shall try with framework.
South Korea has a unique psychology (Han, 한) that shapes the social dynamics of the society. These pressures of “making it” might be responsible for why less than 48 hours ago, the leader of the Korean pop group SHINee died by suicide.
South Korea is one of the most advanced countries on earth but sadly the stigma behind mental health puts the country on the list of countries that do the least for mental health. There is also the case of Jeong ( 정) that requires you to exercise sympathy and empathy, which is why the lack of care and efforts towards mental health is perplexing.
Until next PHW
Muldays Mondays: Water Mythology- Spirits & Deities Nigeria, Thailand & Japan
Folklore & Mythology
Last time on Folk & Mythology, I spoke about the result of the uninterrupted imagination birthing folklore and mythology. This birth of the uninterrupted imagination shapes the identity of people. It allows us to understand a society's traditional identity but more importantly their understanding of relating to other groups.
What happens to the interrupted imagination of a society after colonialism or war?
Have you observed the prevalence of Western folklore and mythology in Asian and African Spaces?
What about folklore and mythology from Africa and Asia in Western Spaces? Do you remember learning about panchatantra stories? What about Bantu fables?
“What are the consequences from ”modernization” and technology towards societies that abandon traditional folklore and mythology? ”
Asian countries have made significant strides to celebrate their folklore and mythology out loud in public spaces. They do not feel "uncivilized" or that their "salvation" might end.
THAILAND
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand (Departure Gate)-Samudra Manthan
(The Churning of the Ocean of Milk)
A Short Video on how just how this started
The short movie here: the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, is the introduction to a Keynote/ slideshow introduction on Ayurveda. (The link to view the whole presentation is below). I have tried to present the story of Ayurveda, so that, like its name (Ayu-Life and Veda-Knowledge) the story would give anyone an understanding of the fundamental principles of this ancient Medical system.
Folklore and Mythology are part of a society's cultural heritage and play a role in the branding of the country. Developed countries have mastered the art of making their mythology and folklore romantic and marketable to the global community.
Snow White, a Germanic classic fairy tale is currently marketed to young girl as this:
However, this is the Original Story of Snow White
Disney World has mastered the art of marketing European Folklore and Mythology in Western spaces and in Asia with locations in Japan and China. However there are no such theme parks in the West, or in Asia and Africa that continuously promote the folklore or mythology from those spaces. Disney World resorts worldwide allow guests to meet Snow White, Ariel and even sleep in Cinderella's Castle. Disney World resorts in 2016 made a profit of $4.6 billion dollars.
The Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World.
“Should we blame Cultural Cringe for the absence of theme parks that promote folklore & Mythology originating from Africa & Asia?”
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SPIRITS & DIETIES OF THE OCEAN: JAPAN & NIGERIA
JAPAN
As most stories found in mythology and folklore often begin, it stems from the imagination’s desire to survive and create a habitable world in this life and the afterlife. Without further ado, here are the Gods of the Ocean from Nigeria and Japan.
SUIJIN(SUITEN-水天), GOD OF WATER IN JAPANESE shinto MYTHOLOGY
Suijin Festival
Suijin in Shinto mythology is the force found in water. This force manifests sometimes as a snake, whale or fish and has a pair of funa fish as messengers. Suijin is part of the divinity force that makes up the shinto divinity of water. This manifestation can be found in ocean, lakes, ponds and is god or goddess to all mythical creatures found in bodies of water. Suijin is also prayed to by expecting mothers to be during childbirth. This force is also charged with the responsibility of fertility, motherhood, and easy childbirth. It should be noted that Suijin is described as male or female .
NIGERIA
OLOKUN-NIGERIAN-THE YORUBA GOD(GODDESS) OF WATER
Olokun Seniade
I grew up knowing this entity as a God(shaped like a merman) but there are populations that refer to this entity as a goddess. As our mentioned Japanese counterpart, he is expected to help women conceive. He appears as a mudfish as well as a black mermaid. Olokun is a manifestation known as a Orisha. Orisha's are manifestations of the universal GOD known as Olorun. He is also responsible for all mythical creatures found in bodies of water.
Olokun Festival
There is a profitable market for the commercialization of cultural heritage tangibles and intangibles such as folklore and mythology unfortunately African countries have not mastered the art of this unique form of branding.