School Uniforms; the nitty gritty

If my school in America had insisted I wear a school uniform, I would have vehemently protested. I would have hated it. I would have done little things, like wrinkle my socks on purpose or tie my tie wrong just to assure myself that I am not completely powerless. I felt degraded enough when they made the dress code my Sophmore year. Not because they were telling me to change what I was wearing (my wardrobe didn't change at all due to the dress code), but because I hated that they were telling me I was too young and immature to pick out my own clothes. I felt that if people wanted to wear really low cut shirts to school, why not let them? It's their own choice and if anything, it's important that we learn to make these kind of choices before we hit college.

And now I'm in Japan, obediently donning the uniform of a high school student, taking out all my earrings before school, and hiding the pony-tail holder wrapped around my wrist under my school sweater. I make sure my shirt is not wrinkled and constantly tug my socks up in the train, hoping that they won't slide down between the station and school (there really is an art to wearing long socks without having them roll down). When I pass a teacher in the hall, I give a small bow and during assemblies, I sit up as straight as I can and hope the sit-up-straight-and-fix-your-tie patrol won't see me. If there was such a patrol in my school in America, I would absolutely slouch and undo my tie just out annoyance and indignance that such a patrol exists. I know, some rebel I make undoing my tie and *gasp* slouching.

The truth is I don't hate Japanese school uniforms and I don't really mind the discipliners either. It's hard to explain this to someone who's never been in a Japanese school. My school particularly is big on discipline and nobody rolls up their skirts or dies their hair (telltale signs of a rebel). It's not as degrading as I thought it might be. In fact, it's almost the opposite of degrading (grading? undegrading?) in how sharp-looking they are. No sexy. No hot. Makeup is a huge no-no as is jewlery and perms. They really check too. Nobody thinks to complain that businessmen (American) have to wear suits and ties to work. It's professional looking. It gives the air (as in auro) of confidence, trustworthiness, focus, intelligence, and someone in control of his surroundings. In karate, we wear a uniform for tradition's sake, practicality, that sharpness and in controlness, a sense of uniformity and thus team-liness, and so wardrobe isn't a concern. Certainly nobody protests to work suits (at least, I don't think they do). Well, okay, Dad does try to get away with ripped up Bob Marley shirts when he can get away with it, but even he dons the suit when he needs to. Every male older than 5 in the US has probably worn a suit at least once. Because it looks sharp. It feels sharp. And face, little boys are adorable in suits.

School is one of the most important undertakings in a person's life. It almost seems a mockery to run around in jeans or pajamas or shorts that pass as underwear. Just how important is creativity and independence? I can't believe it's me thinking that. I think my school and most Japanese schools in general go way overboard with the concept of uniformity, but their something we could learn from them.

I really love that sex is not an aspect in Japanese schools. Nobody dresses to impress. Back in September, I was sympathizing with a fellow exchange student, who complained that she wished she could dress nicely, at least for herself. I agreed. Now I take pride in my uniform. I feel sharp. I look clean in it (ironic, seeing as I wear it every day), feel more capable even. It's not that I was particularly self-conscious about my style in the States. I love shopping and picking out clothes. I found it a fun part of my daily routine. But I've sold my soul to the plaid skirt and slidy socks and it feels good. Instead of degraded, I feel more dignified and that other people are more willing to take me serioiusly. The school demands that we take each other seriously via uniforms. In the beginning, I felt it a little uncomfortable (to point of scary) not to be able to put myself forward by my clothes. On the first day of school, I couldn't tell everyone if I was goth or artsy or hippy or preppy or jock. Of course, American high school students all hate those labels, but we use them even on ourselves and I think we even take comfort in being able to define ourselves in such a simple and obvious way as clothes. Our appearance is the first impression we give, and thus everyone tries to put as much personality into their appearance as they can (at least in high school). For example, I dressed like the artsy kids. I wanted people to know that I consider myself creative and fun, but maybe a little socially akward. I instinctively avoided the kids who wore all black and white makeup because we generally don't have a lot in common. I am judgemental, but really I only take what people expect me to take when they put the clothes on. They define themselves and I read the definition.

Japanese uniforms aren't good because you can't judge other people, rather you can't define yourself so simply. You are forced to put personality on the table before other people can define you. I found it uncomfortable not to be able to tell everyone right off the bat who I am and what kind of values I hold. But I've found that when I'm not wearing the mask of my daily clothes, people define me differently than I ever would have. If I was the nerdy kind that wanted nerdy friends, I would have to find more creative ways to let everyone know that. In the process of advertising myself, people would learn about my personality along the way. And maybe I would make friends that weren't nerdy and learn that I wasn't as nerdy as I thought.

And there's the self-respect that comes from not constantly trying to impress the guys. I can't wear shirts that show off my breasts or feel good about hairless legs. Of course it feels good to be attractive and sometimes I miss being able to look really great, but it feels even better to be confident about my appearance on a day-to-day basis.
Of course this Japan and Japan will always be different from the States. Makeup will never leave high schools in America and I'm not even sure if it should. We have different values in the States that aren't bad values (decision making, creativity, individuality), but contradict the values that school uniforms represent. It's hard to compare or say which is better because they're different places that care about different things. Japan, a nearly homogenous society, doesn't want to leave anyone behind. The wealth distribution is much more even here in Japan (ironically I'm richer here than I'll probably ever be again - yeah Rotary!) and they want to take care of everyone. It's obvious that school uniforms are both a representation of that value, and the way to promote that value. Thus school uniforms are obviously the way to go. But Japanese students have a hard time making decisions by themselves. They virtually never raise their hand in class, even (especially) when the teacher asks a question. In America, it's important to be at the top of something. If you know the answer, you should raise your hand. If you're the prettiest, you're going to be more successful. If you're the smartest or the most athletic, you have a great chance of getting into school. We actually have different levels of math in high school. Thus a smart Freshman can be in the same math class as a Senior. From that point of view, school uniforms are hindersome and backwards.

I wish I could explain it better. I wish I could take you to school and put you in a uniform and let you know what it's like to be one a group, let you feel everything, from the stern glare of the teachers checking uniforms to the solidarity of standing and bowing as a group before every class. I wish you feel what it's like to address teachers politely and to bow to neighbors in the street. It's so different. Not overwhelmingly different like it was before, and not bad or scary or annoying like it was before. Different. Just different. Everything makes more sense than it did before, and while I loved Japan a month ago, now my love has grown to a deeper respect, and of course, the excitement is still here

A lot of the things I really love about Japan just wouldn't work in the States. The significance would be lost and the culture just wouldn't translate (do you know that the U.S. has a culture? Of it's own? It's not just a hosh-posh of borrowed lands, like I had thought of it before. We have our very own values). This is both an exciting and dissapointing discovery. How can I use this experience if in the end, it boils down to a difference in mindsets? I had expected to find some things that work better in Japan, but all I'm finding are differences. Is that it then? Learn the differences, study the culture, and then go home empty-handed? Nothing to offer the Rotarians who sent me here, or my family and friends and you readers. I didn't expect to change the world, but I was counting on some insight on ways to go about it should I ever choose to.

On the other hand, it's really really exciting to learn that this culture goes way beyond chopsticks and bowing. Every minute is a learning opportunity. I'm surrounded by it. Imagine! Everyone actually holds different ideas of what's right than what I've been taught. Even smart people I respect think differently. One of the reasons I don't think english or any language will ever become completely universal is because there is so much culture hidden in the language. What does it tell you that the Japanese have like eight different ways to say please? Or that instead of saying "Good luck!" before an important event, they say "Work hard!"

Things are going well. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. My little brother's birthday, only America is a day behind.