Midsession Retreat –San Jose

The midsession retreat was a busy, fun filled weekend that we got to spend with the other interns from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

FRIDAY:

• We picked up the Socal interns from the airport and enjoyed breakfast at YAK
• Jimi Yamaichi gave the group a little history and walking tour of Japantown. We were also joined by my good friend Trisha, Jimi’s grand-daughter. The San Jose Japantown history was a little bit of a review for Sami and me, but the other interns seemed to learn a lot from Mr. Yamaichi.
• When we finished the tour Tamon gave us a quick workshop on development and fundraising. It was very useful information that will probably come in handy with future projects and trying to retain and form successful donor relations.
• Lunch was served here at Yu-Ai Kai where we at with the seniors and had a chance to talk with them. I think the meal was a little too healthy for most of the interns but it was nice to have a chance to talk and hear their stories.
• After lunch, John Abe from Union Bank came and talked to us about financial planning. He came armed with 3 huge packets of information for students on how to start saving and building up credit for the future. This was extremely relevant because we got the first half of our scholarship money this weekend!!
• Next we did a branding activity where we had to come up with a 30 second Elevator Statement on NCI. An elevator statement would be something that you would say about your organization if you were in an elevator with someone who asked about what the organization does. I learned that branding is a useful skill to have when trying to promote a business or organization so I definitely learned a lot from this activity.
• Following this, Mickie led us in a communication styles workshop where we all evaluated our personality types and categorized ourselves in either the Analytical, Amiable, Driver, or Expressive groups. We then had to perform a skit in our groups acting out the opposite personality type. I ended up being a Driver and after reading the description I found that it was pretty true. This workshop was both entertaining and eye-opening because now I am aware of certain “driver” characteristics I hold and can be more open to other communication and work styles.
• The workshop portion of the day was concluded with a game of Cranium, --JA style. Mickie changed all the questions and answers so they had to do with Japanese American culture, people, places, and traditions. It was definitely a fun way to end the day.
• Lastly on Friday night we attended the Collegiate Taiko party potluck for dinner. It was held at the San Jose Taiko Dojo and all the collegiate taiko groups that were performing at Obon gathered for a mixer. There was sooo much good food and I got to see some familiar faces whom I used to play with at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple taiko group back home. San Jose Taiko also taught us all the kakegoe and dance steps for the song Ejainaika which they were performing at the Obon the next day. I learned that Ekainaika translates to “isn’t it good,” such as referring to life. Eijainaika!!
• After the taiko mixer, we went back to the hotel and ended the night by relaxing with some good old NCI bonding time :)

SATURDAY:

• Saturday morning we went back to YAK for the last workshop of the midsession retreat. We were divided into 3 groups and told to create our own “Topia” Japantown. Each group had their own version of what we wanted our perfect Japantown to be like. They all encompassed what we like about the different J-towns now and other things that we would like to see if they had the opportunity to grow. One of the main things that we wanted to implement is something for the younger college-age generation. An Obon Club was an idea that we thought of as a bar/nightclub where people can rock out and dance to taiko and odori music. It would be like a single place where our generation can come together and hang out, possibly bringing a little bit of nightlife to the sleepy feel of the J-towns. From this final workshop I realized that it really is our group of NCI interns who will be the future leaders of the Japanese American communities and if we would like to see changes then it is up to us to make these transformations.

In all I’d have to say that this was a great weekend. A majority of the interns decided to stay an extra night in San Jose for the Obon so we had a lot of fun spending time together. Some of us went to the Great Mall to get in a couple good hours of outlet shopping in and we spend the rest of the night enjoying the Obon festival, a first time experience for many of the interns. It was nice to see everyone again at the midsession retreat, and I can’t believe we are already up to week 4 of the NCI internship, halfway through!!