ISSUE 1 JULY 2020 A journal by the students of the Discovery Program for Global Learners at Okayama University
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Original photo by Ayami Nakatani
Logo by Mattie Balagat
ISSUE 1
JULY 2020
A journal by the students of the
Discovery Program for Global
Learners at Okayama University
Table of Contents
Letter from the Editor
Forrest Maynock…………………..……………………………………………………………2
Adventure Awaits, Have No Fear
Forrest Maynock………………….…………………………………………………………2-3
Social Parasites & the Oscars
Nanda Illahi……………………………………………………………………………………3-4
The Real Magical Worlds of Ghibli and Pixar
Trung Manh Quoc Nguyen…………………………….……………………………….4-6
Nostalgia Fuel & Creative Decay
Forrest Maynock…………………………………………………………………………….6-8
A Look at Mumrik Coffee
Kotoko Matsumoto……………………………………………………………………….8-10
Cheap Quality Goodness
Forrest Maynock………………………………………………………………………...11-12
Homelessness is My Home
Nanda Illahi………………………………………………………………………………..13-15
Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone
Living
Raushan Kaliyeva……………………………………………………………………….15-17
1978-1991: A Firsthand Experience of Panic Attacks &
Breast Cancer
Forrest Maynock………………………………………………………………………...18-20
Discovery Program for Global Learners Photo Contest 2019
Winners………………………………………………………………………………………21
Star-crossed Lovers
Pandita Suthamporn………………………………………………………………………..22
Man in a Room
Forrest Maynock……………………………………………………………………...…22-23
A One-Day Trip to Osaka
Trung Manh Quoc Nguyen………………………………………………………….23-25
Hiroshima: A City to Remember
Trung Manh Quoc Nguyen………………………………………………………....26-27
Afterword & Editorial Board
……………………………..…………………………………………………………………………28
ISSUE 1 1
Letter from the Editor 3Adventure Awaits,
Forrest Maynock Have No Fear
Greetings, Forrest Maynock
What you are now reading is the long- Culture shock is a fear that everyone seems
awaited first issue of Polyphony. Polyphony to have, but many also wish to experience it
was envisioned as a medium for students of firsthand through travel. I was one of those
Okayama University’s Global Discovery people. When I first arrived in Japan, I was a
Program to put their creative, academic, and babe lost in the woods of language barriers and
editorial work into print. Each issue of cultural differences. I was wandering around
Polyphony will include a varied combination of Haneda Airport for most of my 2-hour layover,
the following: second-guessing the directions that were given
to me. When I arrived at Okayama Airport, I
❖ Edited academic papers from GDP spent 5 minutes trying to translate the name of
courses written by the students my hotel to the cab driver. The first day of the
❖ Creative pieces ranging from artwork to Discovery Program’s orientation was spent
fictional writing doing mountains of paperwork that felt so
❖ Editorials written by staff and students unnecessary at the time.
focusing on issues both in and outside of
Japan Despite all these experiences I managed to
❖ Film, book, and/or food reviews survive, and, looking back, it was more about
❖ Travel pieces focusing on different areas the language barrier than it was a culture shock,
of Japan (or other countries) and other things that could be considered
cultural shocks were swiftly dealt with before
If you have any questions or comments that they became a ‘real’ shock.
you would like to have printed in the next issue
(in this section), please send your inquiries to How garbage is separated in Japan initially
PolyphonyGDP@gmail.com. “overwhelmed” me, but within the first month
I was correcting my roommates on what went
Also, please check out the GDP/Polyphony where. Taking shoes off at the door was
blog (https://discoverypolyphony.com/) where something I had been trained to do by my
alternative material from staff and students will Grandmother since a young age, so there was
be posted on a regular basis. very little shock from that experience. Bowing
Thank you for reading. quickly became a matter of muscle memory.
Not tipping was something I was used to doing
in America because I couldn’t ever afford to
leave any tips. To be quite honest, I haven’t
really been ‘culture shocked’ by anything.
Maybe it will still happen, I've only been here
for over a year, but I have my doubts.
My two biggest actual culture shocks: The
price/amount of cheese and meat, and the
efficiency of everything from trains to clerks.
These were my two legitimate shocks, and I had
prior knowledge of the otherworldly efficiency
before arriving.
So, why was I personally not shocked by the
Photo by Stefanie Petrovic cultural differences between America and
Japan? Simple answer: I wanted to be shocked.
ISSUE 1 2
When I first landed in Japan, I was expecting to Social Parasites & the Oscars
get off the plane and feel something different.
Really, I just felt jetlagged. Too much looking Nanda Illahi
likely led to my brain being battle-ready for the When talking about the movie that shook
inevitable differences and it worked overtime to the world in 2019, various works will come to
connect the differences with past experiences mind, but we definitely can’t forget to mention
and internalized cultural knowledge. Parasite (2019). This Bong Joon-ho
Everything that I knew was different or even the masterpiece has been creating history since day
opposite of America was quickly melted away one. Parasite (2019) is the first South Korean
by quick use of logic. While this may have taken film to win Palme d’Or and the Golden Globes.
some of the initial fun and wonder out of my Even more, it is the first foreign language film to
overall experience, I believe that it helped me in earn outstanding performance by a cast at SAG
the long run in terms of settling in and Awards and best picture at the Oscars.
becoming comfortable living in a foreign nation.
Parasite (2019) starts with a strong
Please consider the following my dear introduction of what living in poverty may look
readers: If you look for something incessantly like for a family in South Korea. The film begins
you may very well find it, but does it still have with a tour of the Kim family’s semi-basement
the impact you hoped it would when you first apartment while the eldest son, Kim Ki-woo
started searching? Learn to be pleasantly (Choi Woo-shik) struggles to find a free internet
surprised by things. connection. The turning point for the Kims is
The cultural differences have shrunk to the depicted in the giving of a scholar’s stone by
point of almost being invisible. I may still see the Min-hyuk (Park Seo-joon) that they believe will
occasional page from some obscure manga that bring fortune or wealth to the family. Along with
makes me question existence, or the occasional the stones, Min-hyuk also offers a job for Ki-
food article that makes my eyebrow twitch woo to replace him as an English tutor for a rich
uncontrollably, but otherwise I have made family’s daughter. Afterwards, as Ki-woo earns
myself at home and conquered my fear of the his place as a tutor for Park family’s eldest
unknown. daughter, he becomes the Kims’ key to enter the
house and life of the Parks.
The movie is one of those works that is
difficult to explain without spilling the little
details that made it the ultimate chef-d’oeuvre.
In its core, Parasite (2019) is a metaphor of the
society and the sentimental bond of family as
the smallest social unit. It is a jam-packed work
of art.
The Kims’ nerve-wracking journey
commences with Ki-woo’s success in
convincing Mrs. Park (Jo Yeo-jeong) that he’s
really an intelligent college student from a
prestigious university she respects. Ki-woo,
then, recommends his sister Ki-jung (Park So-
dam) to teach art for Park’s second child. Ki-
woo pretends that Ki-jung, aka Jessica, is
merely an acquaintance and hides their true
Photo by Myia Price-Frohlich relationship. The Kim family conspires to scam
ISSUE 1 3
the Parks and lure them to hire all four family
members.
Parasite (2019) relates the story of how the
rich and the poor are systematically separated;
yet, in reality, they continue to live side-by-side.
As the rich and privileged, Park family, keeps on
underestimating and debasing their “servers,”
they forget how much assistance they have
received from the Kim family. Mr. Park (Lee
Sun-kyun) will have difficulty in running his
errands without his driver, Kim Ki-taek (Song
Kang-ho). Similarly, since the poor and
miserable, Kim family, start to manipulate the Photo by Kenji Inagaki
Parks and take advantage of the rich, they will
The Real Magical Worlds of
have a hard time living without the help of the
Park family. Ghibli and Pixar
As the movie reaches its climax, it is evident Trung Manh Quoc Nguyen
that the film is more than a simple critique Sometimes I found myself perplexed
about society’s hierarchical system. The between the movies of Pixar and Ghibli Studio.
suspenseful scenes, that shall not be spoiled Both are equally important parts of my
here, reveal the more complex relationship childhood and their impacts are still felt by me
between the two families. The Park’s house even now. Although I must admit that I like
bears the portrayal of the deep-rooted bloody Pixar movies better (perhaps because I started
division between the haves and the have-nots watching them way earlier), the films of Ghibli
and what they’re willing to do to protect what Studio are no less highly regarded and, in my
they have, at least what remains of it. opinion, stand as magnificent works of artistic
achievement in their own right.
The mutualistic and symbiotic relationship
between the rich and the poor, the haves and the That is why there was a time I used to think
about both studios’ methods of success. Having
have-nots, is the message that Bong Joon-ho
been interested in filmmaking since as far back
wants to deliver; one cannot live without the as I could remember, the first movies I came to
other. Parasite (2019) is a satirical commentary for inspiration and references were usually
on the broken and archaic system of social children animations. Their core plot ideas are
stratification. simple, do not engage in too heavy-headed
themes, and their characters are colorful,
diversely portrayed yet still relatable. It is my
belief that the way we watch children's
animations is a little different from other kinds
of movies: We tend to be less judgmental about
plots and characters, and just prefer to sit down
and be immersed in the new world portrayed on
the big screen. When viewed in such a sense, I
guess that what I am looking for is not
specifically the “methods” of children animated
films, but why those films are so enjoyable, and
are able to engage us as viewers. It is of my own
opinion that the possible explanation can be
found in examining the two words “reality” and
“magic” – Ghibli movies are constructed around
Photo by Stefanie Petrovic
ISSUE 1 4
the basis of “magic in reality,” and on the other have much more imagination than adults and
hand, Pixar is “reality in magic.” therefore are able to “craft” their own magical
worlds out of the mundane life. Indeed, the
magic we see the most in Ghibli movies is
children magic, or, to better put, “childhood
magic” – the kind that is absolutely pure and
true to heart that the children either discover,
stumble in or create themselves. The kind that
all of us have had experienced with one way or
another, but our memories of them lay buried
underneath the modern busy life. Most of the
out-of-the-ordinary bits in Whisper of The
Photo by Myia Price-Frohlich Heart (1995) are Shizuku’s own “creation”
through the process of writing and imagination;
Rarely ever in a Pixar movie do we see daily- Spirited Away (2001) depicts Chihiro’s
life settings. They are instead worlds where cars adventures in the magical world that she
can talk and act like humans, where toys have a “stumbles into”; and Kiki’s Delivery Service
consciousness of their own, where feelings have (1989) is the story of how a young witch
personalities, and where the dead can play “discovering” her power on the journey to
banjos and have a music festival, etc.; in short, “discover” herself. Ghibli’s adventures are of
anything but what we are directly familiar with. children, and the adults, if they play a part at all,
Their creations are out-of-this-world, are only active in the background. The contrast
sometimes even bizarre, but when we look between the children's world and that of the
closely, they are in fact not so distant. Seemingly adults is shown most noticeably in My
inanimate objects in the Pixar world have Neighbor Totoro (1988), where Totoro is only
human personalities, so they must also have visible to and only interacts with the two
human emotions and in turn are forced to face children heroines. One can also argue that the
human problems similar to what we are facing decision to turn Chihiro’s parents into pigs in
daily. In the first Toy Story (1995), Woody’s Spirited Away (2001) is not only to prevent
jealousy against Buzz Lightyear is not so them from participating in Chihiro’s adventure,
different from our feelings when our friends got but to also illustrate a “loss of innocence”. The
higher scores than us in a test, or when we are parents are preoccupied only with eating, totally
left alone in a group of three while the other two disregarding the strangeness of the situation
just keep chatting to one another. Similarly, in they are in, which is already realized by Chihiro
Finding Nemo (2003), Merlin panicking when from the beginning. The films of Ghibli often
Nemo was taken away is what all fathers in the end with the children returning to their
world would feel if put into the same ordinary life once again, but is it still the same,
circumstances, regardless of whether they are now that they have experienced the
humans or clownfishes. Pixar movies open up unordinary? Could their reality be the same as
magical worlds like we have never seen before, ours, or much more magical? Hence my
yet we see ourselves within such seemingly interpretation of “magic in reality.”
strange and unrelatable characters, seeing
“reality in magic”.
On the contrary, Ghibli movies not only
have very “human” settings, but they are also
very nostalgic - they remind us of a time far
away, of the peaceful and quiet world where tall
trees and green hills still dominated the
landscapes instead of towering skyscrapers. I
found it interesting that almost all Ghibli
movies use children as main characters,
especially Miyazaki’s; perhaps because children
Photo by Kenji Inagaki
ISSUE 1 5
Yet, what is most fascinating in this
comparison case is also the similarity between
the two animation studios: how reality and
magic are connected together interchangeably,
despite initially being perceived so differently.
The case is not “magic in reality” and “reality in
magic” anymore, but now is “magic is reality”
and vice versa: “reality is magic”. Ghibli movies
are most skillful in this aspect, as they seem to
create magic out of thin air, where there is
nothing unusual. There is a scene in Whisper of
The Heart where Shizuku sings her own version
of the John Denver’s song “Take Me Home,
Country Roads” in a small basement, and soon Photo by Ayami Nakatani
is joined by a whole “orchestra”; the scene is so
upbeat yet still feels so heartfelt and full of Nostalgia Fuel & Creative
emotions that I think Ghibli has created Decay
“magical” moments even when there is no
actual magic at all. In the same way, Pixar Forrest Maynock
setting their stories in strange worlds but
following a perceivable plot line and developing American culture exists in a time of an
relatable characters is also an effort to turn unprecedented abuse of nostalgia. From the
magic into real life, and in the process makes movies we watch to the food we eat, nostalgia
magic feel more familiar, as they have already dominates. I grew up in the late 90’s and early
had elements of real life in them. 2000’s. Nostalgia was present at that time, but
it was more of a longing that the older people
In the end, I guess that is the wonder of around me had, not a widespread social tool
children's animations, even when viewed by that dominated media and general everyday
adults. They serve as a means for us to escape life.
reality and jump into their magical worlds, yet
still remind us that their magic is not something Nowadays everyone young and old seems
strange and unrelatable, but a part of what we to wish for a different time and place from the
are already so used to. They remind us that, just distant past. This is not to say that nostalgia was
like magic is familiar, reality is also full of absent in the recent past, but it now dominates
possibilities to create ordinary magic. media at an extraordinary rate.
Instead of moving forward and breaking
new ground, people prefer to regress and look
back on the past while wearing rose-colored
goggles. I too fall into this trap often. I prefer the
styles and media of the 1980’s to many of the
current day alternatives.
Nostalgia is a powerful force, but it is not an
evil or fully negative one either. If used properly
nostalgia can actually help propel something to
another level of quality. Simply slapping in a
recognizable reference does not elevate a
product, and in some cases, it can hurt that
product.
Nowhere is this nostalgic takeover more
notable than in Hollywood, where films from
past American cinema are being remade or
Photo by Haruna Miyagawa reimagined at an alarming rate, and new and
ISSUE 1 6
original content is sparse at best. Fanservice is Watching the movie in particular accentuates
one way of describing this media phenomena. this, and I personally left me lost in a hailstorm
of images and references that made me feel
I personally would not place the blame of
warm inside even though I only recognized
this occurrence directly at the feet of Hollywood
about half of said references.
studios, but instead chalk most it up to
consumer demand. People want to relive their After leaving the theater I gradually began
childhoods (or at least an idealized version of thinking less and less about the film till the point
them). They don’t want unfamiliar territory came when I could not remember the name of it
where they have little to no control. Exploring without some coaxing. I actually still can’t
new territory is a risk that many film studios remember the names of the main characters.
may not wish to invest in since the market Countless pop culture references and little
seems to lean backwards to familiar nostalgia substance does not make for a good finished
fueled media. product; if anything, it acts as a big distraction
to cover generic plots and shallow characters.
An example of this can be seen in the recent
Star Wars revival. A film like Star Wars: The This is the power and downfall of nostalgia.
Force Awakens (2015) or Rogue One: A Star In return for happy images and references to
Wars Story (2016) were received well by past events and films, we lose many of the
audiences and made billions of dollars creative elements that have helped film,
combined; these two films are especially literature and other forms of media evolve over
egregious in the fanservice and nostalgia bait the years. We sacrifice going off the beaten path
department. Star Wars: The Force Awakens for walking in circles on a very populated and
(2015) for example is little more than a retread decorated racetrack. A storied franchise like Star
of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), but with new Wars has regressed to sloppy retreading of
underwritten characters and a messier plot. familiar ground instead of evolving to a new
stage.
Alternatively, a film like Star Wars: The Last
Jedi (2017) which took several creative risks Remember, there are clearly examples of
and tried to take the franchise in a new direction nostalgia being used properly. One good recent
(for better or worse) was lambasted by example would be the recreation of late 1960’s
audiences. Since Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Hollywood in Quinten Tarantino’s 9th film,
Disney has been on a bit of an audience Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). The
appeasement tour with mixed to negative nostalgia here is not used to distract or please
results. the audience but is instead utilized to recreate a
particular period in time, and make the finished
product feel genuine.
Nostalgia is nothing new, many films and
other pieces of media from the past are
“remakes” of or heavily influenced by previous
media, but the reliance on familiar territory was
nowhere near as prevalent as it is today.
Nostalgia is now one of the primary fuels for
American media. Nostalgia and cheap
fanservice sell.
Why nostalgia is so negative in today’s
Photo by Stefanie Petrovic media landscape is not due to the love of the
familiar itself, but instead the suffocation of
Another even more prevalent example of original creative ideas. Repeating the same
nostalgia fuel can be seen in the book (2011) ideas constantly may have a negative effect one
and later film (2018), Ready Player One. Both the coming generations as their childhood
the film and book rely heavily on past stories will likely be poorly done rehashes of
iconography from American “geek” culture. past media that their parents enjoyed.
ISSUE 1 7
The money from major studios for example A Look at Mumrik Coffee
will more likely go to an established franchise
with a with audiences. Words and pictures by
Kotoko Matsumoto
Independent and smaller budget films are
still being made, and TV has evolved from being 奉還町商店街に駅側の入り口から入る
the boob-tube to being arguably the new と、数歩歩いただけで左側からパッと鮮や
frontier of creative storytelling, but even these
かな青が目に飛び込んでくる。2019 年 12 月
mediums have become a little corrupted by the
sweet taste of memberberries. For example, a 21 日にオープンした北欧モチーフのカフ
show like Stranger Things, great first season ェ、「mumrik coffee」だ。日本語でも英語
aside, is little more than 1980’s nostalgia bait. でもない「mumrik」は、「ムムリク」、と
So enjoy the fourth and fifth seasons of 発音する。
Stranger Things, and Indiana Jones 5, and Bill & このカフェの客は店内に入ってすぐ、店
Ted Face the Music...actually I’m looking 主の山口真理子さんの優しい声で出迎えら
forward to Bill & Ted, I love the dynamic
れる。入り口から見て左側には山口さんが
between those two characters...also the new
Dune movie, but only because the director is 買い付けた食器のコレクション、右側は手
great. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll probably watch 作りの温かみ溢れる机が３つとモダンで座
the next big Star Wars extravaganza to come り心地の良い椅子が 6 つ、そして正面にはメ
well as well; but if any of these movies stink of ニューを注文するカウンターがある。カウ
oversaturated nostalgia I’ll be the first one to ンターの周りにはパウンドケーキやマカロ
point it out. ン、クッキーなどのお菓子や、持ち帰って
Clearly everyone can enjoy some good old- カフェメニューを楽しめるコーヒー豆、茶
fashioned nostalgia in their media intakes, they 葉などが並ぶ。一つ一つの商品に付いた説
just shouldn’t let it replace a good story or 明書きやメニュー表は山口さんの手書き
quality characters.
だ。黒い台紙に白いペンで書かれた柔らか
い文字に客たちが癒されることは言うまで
もない。流れる曲とやわらかい照明のひか
り、何を頼んでも美味しいカフェメニュ
ー、入り口のガラス窓から見える奉還町商
店街を往来する人々。おしゃれな店内の雰
囲気は日々の疲れを癒すのにぴったりだ。
ところで筆者はこのカフェを「北欧」モ
チーフと言及したが、これは必ずしも正し
くない。最も正確に言うならば、「フィン
ランド」モチーフだろう。なぜならば、店
内の商品はフィンランドのものばかりだか
らだ。店名のムムリクは、スヌスムムリ
ク、というムーミンのキャラクターから名
前を取った。日本語に直訳すると「カギタ
バコのアイツ」という意味になるが、日本
語名にすると、「スナフキン」という。日
本でも特に人気のムーミンキャラクター
だ。山口さんもスナフキンが大好きで、自
由奔放な性格に惹かれたという。
８歳の頃からムーミンが好きだと言う山
Photo by Myia Price-Frohlich 口さんは、今までの人生でフィンランドに
ISSUE 1 8
魅了され続けてきた。トーベ・ヤンソンの 次に職を得たのは、「暮らしと珈琲」とい
作り出すムーミンの世界観に恋をした彼女 うカフェだった。そこで山口さんが手に入
は、20 代前半でムーミン関連のものを買い れたノウハウがイベント出店である。その
漁っていたと言う。そんな彼女がもう一つ ノウハウを生かしつつイベント出店を始め
の沼にはまったのがその時期だ。 た屋号が「mumrik coffee」だ。これまで、
古着を扱うイベントや朝市などに出店して
京都にムーミンの商品を取り扱う店があ
きた。
ると聞きつけて行ってみれば、そこは食器
店だった。ムーミンの商品はないんです、
と申し訳なさそうに言う食器店の方はとて
も優しく、ムーミングッズを取り扱う店が
近辺にないかと一緒に探してくれた。その
食器店こそ山口さんがフィンランド食器の
世界にのめり込む原因となる店だった。そ
の店のこだわりは、「フィンランドの食器
しか置かない」ということ。こだわりとと
もに働くということに憧れを抱き始めたの
はそのタイミングだったそうだ。
店舗を持つようになったきっかけは、山
口さんの神がかり的な勘があってのことだ
った。毎年恒例となったフィンランド旅行
中、なんとなく「帰国したらそろそろ不動
産屋さんに行ってみようかな」と思ったと
いう山口さんは、奉還町商店街を管轄する
不動産に足を運んだ。カフェの場所は奉還
町商店街がいい、というのは決めていたそ
うだ。ONSAYA COFFEE で働くうちに奉還町商
店街の空気感に魅了され、将来店舗を持つ
「自分の手に職をつけて自分の店を持て ならここだとずっと思っていたという。し
るようになりたい、とは小さい頃から思っ かし奉還町商店街は人気で、なかなか空き
ていたんですよね」 店舗ができることはない。
そう語る山口さんがコーヒーに興味を持 そんな状況でふらりと立ち寄った不動産
ったのは、同じく自分が店を構える奉還町 だったが、なんと空き店舗が丁度あったの
商店街にある「ONSAYA COFFEE」で職を だ。どうしよう、と悩みつつも、奉還町商
得たときのことだったと言う。高校卒業後 店街に店舗を持つ方にも背中を押され、そ
に就職した会社の雲行きが怪しくなってか この店舗を借りることにした。それまで知
ら職を転々とした山口さん。何度か転職を り合って来たたくさんの方々に内装や外装
繰り返した先のチェーンのコーヒー店でキ を手伝ってもらい、自分のお気に入りのム
ッチンで働くことの楽しさを知った。その ーミングッズを店内に飾り、自分の城とも
次に働いたのが mumrik coffee と同じ奉還町 言えるこだわりが詰まった店舗が完成し
に位置する「ONSAYA COFFEE」だった。 た。
コーヒーに豆の焙煎から携わることで、今
まではインスタントで済ませていたコーヒ
ーの世界の奥深さに気付いたのだ。転職を
繰り返す中で、会社という一つの集団に属
することが合わない、と悟った山口さん。
ISSUE 1 9暖色系の照明を使うこと、自分の好きな キッチンの中で動き回る姿はあまり見ら ものしか置かないこと、フィンランドじゃ れたくなく、完成形だけを見て欲しい、と ないものは置かないこと……ムーミンは好 語る。 きだがムーミンカフェにはならないよう に、そこは特に気を遣ったという。 居心地の良いこのカフェには、今日も 山口さんオススメのメニューは、ウイン いろいろな世代のお客さんが訪れる。筆者 ナーコーヒーやムーミンの話に出てくる木 も常連の一人で、週に一度はこのカフェに イチゴのジュースなどだ。もちろんどのメ 行かなければなんだかそわそわしてしま ニューもオススメであることには違いない う。岡山駅近くのフィンランドカフェ。皆 ので、これは半ば無理やり選んでいただい さんも一度訪れてみてはいかがだろうか。 たものである。しかし、スパイスのきいた 北欧風の飲み物はやはり特別に感じるそう だ。 自分の店を持つことで一番感じた難しさ は、自分が提供しているものをお客さんた ちがおいしいと思ってくれているか否かが 自分では判断できないこと。しかし、見た 目も味も、完成形を見てお客さんたちが嬉 しそうにしているのを見るのがやりがいで あり、かつ、一番楽しいところだそうだ。 ISSUE 1 10
Cheap Quality Goodness Yoshinoya
Words and pictures by
Forrest Maynock
The life of a college student is one of a
constant lack of sleep and proper meals.
Thankfully, Japan has a wide selection of cheap
and accessible beef bowl (chain) restaurants.
Perhaps the most convenient aspect of these
sorts of restaurants is that they are open 24
hours a day all week long; after pulling an all-
nighter on that term paper that is due the next Yoshinoya seems to be the most popular of
morning a college student could take a short the three major chains overseas, but for me
bike ride and eat a delicious and inexpensive personally it was the weakest of the three
meal at any time they desire. chains.
First, what is a beef bowl? A beef bowl, or The atmosphere was positive, but not overly
gyudon, is a big bowl filled with rice, beef (or memorable. The colors inside are usually very
pork) and sometimes an extra ingredient such bright to the eyes, but there is also usually quite
as ginger or cheese. At beef bowl restaurants a lot of space when compared to the other
there are also many side dish options such as chains. Yoshinoya’s biggest selling point was
miso soup or salads that can be added to the the food itself. The overall taste was excellent
order. If beef and rice is not your cup of tea then and the fact that each of the beef bowls have
there are also alternatives such as curry and sesame seeds in them adds to the great taste.
rice, but beef bowls are the staple at these The selection of dishes is also quite good, but
establishments. not as robust as Sukiya.
There are also a variety of beef bowl Each of the locations that I visited had the
restaurants to choose from. The three biggest same sort of issue with service; the servers
beef bowl restaurant chains in Japan are always came straight up and hovered around
Yoshinoya, Sukiya, and Matsuya. Each has their until the order had been made. This made the
strengths and weaknesses, but as is the case service feel rushed and robotic, and also hurt the
with many things, some strengths are greater overall atmosphere of the establishments. Aside
than others. from the service, price was the biggest turn-off.
The prices overall were very reasonable and
I will be conducting this review by taking affordable, but when compared to the over
four criteria into account for each of these gyudon chains, Yoshinoya appeared much
chains: Taste and variety of food, quality of more expensive.
service, atmosphere, and price. I will only be
taking the basic beef bowl selections into Yoshinoya is great if you are looking for an
account and will not be looking at items from especially tasty bowl of gyudon.
the seasonal menu. I also ate at multiple Yoshinoya Score
locations for each chain to get a general
consensus. Taste/Variety: 4.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Price: 3/5
ISSUE 1 11Matsuya Sukiya
Matsuya is by far the most convenient of the Sukiya is the most common of the three
three chains for international students and chains within Japan. Sukiya has the best variety
tourists and is also the cheapest of the three of the three chains. This is where Sukiya excels;
chains. Matsuya’s quality and selection of food the options are quite extensive, and if you are
is definitely on the lower end of the spectrum, more explorative you can find a lot of interesting
but each beef bowl comes with a free miso soup, dishes.
and the sauces provided at the counter are far
Taste wise the overall product was slightly
and away the best of all three chains. The variety
better than Matsuya, but not quite as tasty as
is similar to Yoshinoya, but not as good as
Yoshinoya’s beef bowl. The available sauces at
Sukiya.
Sukiya are also not on par with those available
In terms of service Masuya is highly at Matsuya. The service was above average at
convenient for those of us with shallow wallets each of the locations I visited. Each location also
and poorer grasps of the Japanese language. has a “buzzer at each table that you can push
Instead of sitting down and ordering from a when you are ready to order or buy more.
menu, you order via touchscreen menu, with an
The price is a bit cheaper than Yoshinoya,
English language option, near the entrance
but still more expensive when compared to
where you input your order and pay. The
Matsuya. Where Sukiya stands out is in its
atmosphere at most locations felt a little too
atmosphere; each of the locations that I visited
cramped at times but was also quite friendly and
had very warm and welcoming colors, and the
laid back. The biggest selling point of Matsuya
space inside is ample for a comfortable meal.
is the price which beats out both Sukiya and
Yoshinoya. Sukiya is the chain to visit if you are a
person that values variety and atmosphere, then
Out of the three chains Matsuya seems to be
Sukiya is the gyudon branch for you.
the most college friendly in terms of price and
service (for recent, non-Japanese speaking, Sukiya Score
arrivals). Taste/Variety: 4/5
Matsuya Score
Service: 4/5
Taste/Variety: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5 Price: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Price: 4.5/5
ISSUE 1 12Homelessness is My Home home. As for one’s nation, it could either be
defined as a place where one came from, or a
Nanda Illahi place where one wants to be. The former, then,
Benedict Anderson implies throughout his made Indonesia my nation, but it is not my
book “Imagined Communities” that the more home.
things that people of a nation or a community
shared together, the stronger their nation-ness
would be. He explains these things as shared
histories, vernaculars and literature, civil life or
experiences, and education and administrative
pilgrimages. All of these things, then, contribute
to the building of what he called as Imagined
Nation. Presumably, people who had
experienced these shared experiences ought to
feel belonging to one another as one
community, to assume themselves as a part of
an “…indefinitely stretchable nets of kinship and
clientship.” (Anderson 2006[1983], p. 6).
However, he didn’t seem to touch upon the fact Photo by Khaya Tsuyama
that someone can experience all the same
journeys and still feel like they don’t belong. Both authors emphasize that the concepts of
Someone can be a part of the narrative, the nation and home are imagined meaning that
history of a nation, and never once feel like both concepts emerged within specific
they’re a part of the community. circumstances that allow for the emergence of
fraternity or togetherness, which affects
How do we define nation and homeland? individuals’ sense of identity and belonging. For
What constitutes a nation? What represents a Espiritu, it seems that because physical and
home? Are they interchangeable? According to imaginary borders that keep people in and out
Anderson, nation has become a sovereign of places are everywhere, home is wherever you
community with a deep and strong sense of make it out to be (2003, pp. 205, 211). Benedict
solidarity that has territorial boundaries or Anderson, however, explains the process in a
borders (2006[1983], p. 7). In contrast, home more elaborative manner.
as a concept is explained by Espiritu, in her
book about Filipino Americans, as fluid since it First, Anderson explains that nation is
doesn’t necessarily have to always be defined by imagined through the illusion of homogeneous,
actual borders (2003, p. 2). Therefore, nation, empty time (2006[1983], p. 26). What he
homeland, and home are not always meant by homogenous, empty time is the
interchangeable. Some people may consider illusion or idea that members of a nation,
their nation or country of origin as their home, wherever they are, all live on the same timeline.
some others may not. For instance, as someone “He has no idea of what they are up to at any
who was born and raised in Indonesia and had one time, but has complete confidence in their
lived most of her life there, I cannot seem to steady, anonymous, simultaneous activity.”
acknowledge my nation as my home. There states Anderson (p. 26). This illusion is enabled
were times when I did feel that my fellow by the advancement of technology, in early 19th
Indonesians, especially the ones I met abroad, century it was the mass production and
were like my distant relatives. However, at the consumption of novels and then followed by
same time, I couldn’t claim Indonesia as my newspaper. Nowadays, the development of the
home because I don’t feel comfortable and world wide web (internet), tv, smartphones,
accepted whenever I’m there. Home is and other media or platforms are the ones
supposed to be a place where you feel accepted, enabling this notion of simultaneity. I, myself,
a place that fits you like a perfectly-sized pair of am able to feel connected with the people in
gloves, and I don’t feel that way when I’m Indonesia, despite currently living in Japan,
standing on the land that I should be calling simply by scrolling through Twitter, Facebook
ISSUE 1 13or news websites. There’s at least an hour the language of rebellion and abnormality, I
difference between the time in Indonesia and wasn’t speaking Bahasa Indonesia.
Japan, yet I am able to read and watch Unfortunately, after having moved to Japan, I
everything that’s happening in Indonesia as still speak a different language. I moved to
long as I am connected to the internet. Even if Japan in the hopes of finally finding a home, yet,
the news got delayed when I was reading it, I I am faced with the same problem of language
felt as though I was still living there. I am not barrier that prohibits me from doing so.
physically in Indonesia, but my mind and soul
Third, Anderson also mentions shared
seem to still be connected. Technology also
educational and administrative travels or
allows me to keep in contact with my family and
pilgrimages as a way to imagine nation
friends everywhere and every day, which
(2006[1983], p. 195), which unfortunately I
somewhat helps retain links to my nation—the
cannot relate to the majority of Indonesians.
links being my family and friends.
Most Indonesian people stay in the country and
go to college there, whereas I am currently
abroad, pursuing a liberal arts degree that is also
not common at all for Indonesian people.
Instead, I am ‘forced’ to relate to people who are
also abroad through Indonesian Student
Associations and international nation-based
gatherings or events. The moment I stepped
foot in Japan, I was immediately invited to join
the association. Fellow Indonesians just assume
that I must be wanting to be surrounded by
Photo by Ayami Nakatani people of the same nation because “We are
Indonesian. We have to stick together.”
Second, nation is also imagined through
Additionally, non-Indonesian who meet me
national language rooted from shared
have always asked me where I came from and
vernaculars and print-language (Anderson
somehow my nation became the only thing that
2006[1983], pp. 44-45). For example, the
defines me. Whether it is another Indonesian or
creation and use of Bahasa Indonesia as the
another foreigner, I am almost always seen as
national language of Indonesia helps unite
an ‘Indonesian’ in addition to being ‘Nanda.’
hundreds of tribes who were—and are perhaps
Wherever I go, I am always followed by my
still—using hundreds of different vernaculars. If
nation-ness even though my nation is neither
Indonesian youth in October 28, 1928 didn’t
my home nor my identity.
declare the Youth Pledge in trying to unite
Indonesian people as one nation, of one The last way to imagine nation is through
homeland with one language, perhaps shared experiences such as shared histories or
Indonesia wouldn’t be the biggest archipelago narratives (Anderson 2006[1983], pp. 140).
nation in the world today. Instead, it would be a Anderson implies that as a part of a nation,
bunch of neighboring island nations. This we’re often reminded of the narratives that we
‘doctrine’ of our nation as our homeland was ought to have forgotten (pp. 200-01). These
what got me thinking at the beginning of my life narratives usually consist of the chronological
that I have to belong in Indonesia because events that seemed to be affecting the nation
Indonesia is home. However, as I grew up, I and the lives of its people significantly, such as
kept on feeling disoriented in my own home a revolution or declaration of independence.
because I was always different. I was speaking About 12 years of my life was spent on
the same language, but no one understood what mandatory primary and secondary education
I was saying or thinking. No one else around where I learned a great deal about Indonesian
me, when I was growing up, wanted to rebel history. We even have a subject on Citizenship
against the politicians or their family even when in which we learned about the constitution and
those people were visibly wrong. Presumably, policies, so that we could become good citizens.
this was the root of my homelessness. To the Does it help build up my sense of nationality?
fellow members of the nation, I was speaking The answer is both yes and no. On the one
ISSUE 1 14hand, learning about the history and the Physical Impossibility of
administration of my country helps me be
aware of the struggles and journey that
Death in the Mind of
Indonesian people have gone through in Someone Living
building Indonesia. It makes me appreciate the Raushan Kaliyeva
nation that I am supposed to love. On the other
hand, the fact that I don’t experience these Human mortality is a primal idea for
struggles hands on also able to make me feel like philosophers. Many philosophers claimed that
a ‘watcher.’ If Indonesian people in 1945 hated if there will be no death, there will be no
the Japanese because of imperialism, I, who live philosophy at all. In my paper, I want to ponder
in 2019, can’t say or feel the same. over the change in the concept of death over
Thus, despite experiencing the same time.
struggles, learning the same narratives, and
Various philosophical doctrines have their
being legally a part of a nation, I still feel out of
own attitude towards death. Rationalists say
place within the Indonesian community. I do
agree with Anderson that all of these that death has two outcomes: nonentity or
experiences have built some sense of nation- afterlife. Epicureans and Stoics claimed that
ness in me, but I refuse to entitle my entire self death is an inescapable part of human life: we
with it. As for home, I am still in the process of were born from non-existing and there we will
making one, meaning for now I am still return. If we are not scared of birth, why should
homeless. Thus, perhaps, homelessness is my we be scared of death? Francis Bacon in his “Of
home. Death” essays says: “It is as natural to die as to
References be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one
is as painful as the other.”
Anderson, B. (2006[1983]). Imagined
communities: Reflections on the origin and No one will argue the fact that we all will
spread of nationalism. London: Verso. end up with non-existence. However, none of us
can identify what death is and what will be after
Espiritu, Y. L. (2003). Home Bound: Filipino death. “Everybody dies, but not everybody
American lives across cultures, agrees about what death is” (Thomas Nagel,
communities, and countries. Berkeley, CA: 1987).
University of California Press.
Biopolitics has its own way to deal with
death. In biopolitics, the government tries to
maximize its efficiency by controlling their
population. Population=resource, therefore, the
bigger and the more effective the population the
better. In biopolitics, the government aims to
increase the lifespan of its population and
population aims to maximize the pleasure of
their life. Based on this principle, killing people
is irrational, but at the same time, biopolitics
uses human mortality as a power.
Agamben contributed interesting thoughts
on how death works in biopolitics:
More interesting for our inquiry is the fact
that the sovereignty of the living man over
his own life has its immediate counterpart
in the determination of a threshold beyond
which life ceases to have any juridical value
Photo by Khaya Tsuyama
ISSUE 1 15and can, therefore, be killed without the Adam Maier-Clayton, a citizen of Canada,
commission of a homicide. was diagnosed with rare mental illness, which
(Giorgio Agamben, 2003-p115) made him feel constant pain and agony. He was
fighting for his right to get medically assisted
According to this quote, juridical value of
death. His request was rejected, and he
human life is more powerful than individuals’
committed suicide in a motel after two years of
value of his own life. We can find lots of
fighting for his right to die. Around the same
evidence to prove this statement from our life.
time, in the Netherlands, Aurelia Brouwers,
Extremely violent perpetrators, whose juridical
who demanded the same medical procedure,
value converges to zero, might value their lives
after eight years of juridical processes, got
a lot, but the sovereign will sanction their lives
permission to die. Aurelia Brouwers was
by executing them. Using the same logic, in
suicidal and had 20 attempts to commit suicide.
many countries pregnancy screening, which
She passed away peacefully in her home
can identify abnormality in early fetus
surrounded by her family. For Adam, this was
development, is mandatory and usually, if there
inaccessible because the Canadian government
will be any risk of any kind of pathology, family
decided that juridical value of his life is more
will be strongly persuaded to make an abortion.
important than his personal value of his life.
Again, biopolitics sees people as a resource, and
wants to have the most productive people, but Adam Maier-Clayton has his video-blog on
not disabled or less-productive people. YouTube. On his videos, he mentioned several
times that he is not suicidal, and he does not
Euthanasia is more complicated.
want to die, but at the same time, he does not
Terminally ill people are not productive, but
want to live. He also said: “I have to commit
since society still has some ethics, patient needs
suicide”. We have two paradoxes here. First,
to nullify his life value by claiming his own will
Adam says that he does not want to die, but at
to die. Then, the sovereign will measure
the same time, he does not want to live. It is
juridical value of this person and make a
obvious that it is physically impossible to satisfy
decision. Final decision remains encased in
those two desires at the same time. The second
sovereign’s hands.
paradox is his attitude toward suicide. Suicide is
When patients with psychiatric disorders a rebellious act of escaping this formality of
(those disorders, which do not affect patients’ juridical value. It is a personal decision to end
consciousness) request euthanasia, it becomes your life, so nobody can force somebody to
even harder. Since juridical value of these commit suicide (if it happens, it will be probably
individuals is not questionable, the considered as a murder). Nevertheless, the first
governments are not welcoming this kind of paradox is more interesting for our interest in
euthanasia. We have a situation opposite to life and death. By saying “I do not want to die,
perpetrator execution: an individual self- but I do not want to live,” Adam sanctioned both
consciously nullifies his life value, but still has life and death. He transformed himself into the
juridical value. Therefore, sovereign sanctions third position: a juxtaposition of death and life;
that person’s death. a position where he is neither dead nor alive.
This transformation shows us that the
ancient concept of death as a final act of human
life, which unifies everyone, is no more
justifiable. Death in its simplicity becomes very
complex. That of course affects (or is even
caused by) biopolitics. Foucault mentions that
in the nineteenth-century death disappeared
from political routine:
Photo by Kristoforus Tanuwijaya
ISSUE 1 16One might say that the ancient right to take References
life or let live was replaced by a power to
Agamben, Giorgio and Gayraud Joël. 2003.
foster life or disallow it to the point of
Homo Sacer. Paris: Éditions du Seuil.
death. This is perhaps what explains that
disqualification of death which marks the Bacon, Francis. 1909. Of Death. London: L.C.C.
recent wane of the rituals that Central School of Arts and Crafts.
accompanied it. Foucault, Michel. 1978. Part five, The History of
(Michel Foucault, 1978-p138) Sexuality, Vol. I.
However, a power of death did not Nagel, Thomas. 2009. What Does It All Mean?:
disappear completely and sovereign has found a Very Short Introduction to Philosophy.
forgotten power relatively fast: “...something New York: Oxford University Press.
very similar to re-discovery of death has started
to take place in the Western world since the Özpolat, Gürhan. 2017. “Between Foucault and
mid-twentieth century” (Özpolat G, 2017-28). Agamben: An Overview of the Problem of
While making that re-discovery, sovereign Euthanasia in the Context of Biopolitics.”
realized that now disallowing life does not Beytulhikme An International Journal of
necessarily lead to death. By disallowing life, Philosophy7(2):15–31.
government nullifies juridical value of human,
but not killing a human. It transforms human to
that third position, where death and life
intersects.
Understanding what death is seems to be
beyond human’s intellectual limits. However,
death evolves together with humanity. The
more complicated we become; the more
complicated our life and death becomes.
Humans are no longer just biological organisms
with two main functions: to be born and to die.
We are institutionalized individuals whose life
value can be measured using various scales.
Adam Maier-Clayton and his experience made
a paradigm shift in the concept of death.
Photo by Myia Price-Frohlich
ISSUE 1 171978-1991: A Firsthand mind.” Olivia bottled up these feelings and tried
to keep them as private as possible in order to
Experience of Panic Attacks maintain a “sense of control over [her] life.”
& Breast Cancer Months passed and, with little sleep, a chaotic
Forrest Maynock household, and declined performance, Olivia
started to experience panic attacks.
Part One: Panic Attacks O: “I had to cross this bridge every day to get to
The year was 1978. Olivia said that her work, and many days I had to stop my car
husband had just died of lung cancer the year on the middle of that bridge and just start
before. Her whole world was turned upside shaking and screaming like bloody
down, and this was only the beginning of her murder.”
long journey of pain and suffering. This death A: “Sounds terrifying…”
was so pivotal that it seemed to reshape the
entire family from top to bottom. Olivia O: “Yes, and I would sit in the back of church
described this as the starting point of her own close to the door so that I could quickly leave
medical issues, and throughout our if I had an attack, and then I had to be
conversation she would return to this moment dragged out of work. I broke down in the
as pivotal. middle of an important client’s call and
simply couldn’t carry on the call.”
Olivia: “It shook the whole family. We were
devastated. My oldest son took it the worst; A: “Dragged?”
he just lost it...became very troublesome O: “Yes, dragged, I couldn’t move, and I was
after that.” screaming hysterically.”
Author: “So your husband’s death was the A week after being dragged out of her office
starting point?” in the middle of work, Olivia was given a “forced
O: “...Yes, I think it was. After that is when retirement.” It was only after this event that
everything started.” Olivia sought medical attention. She went to her
personal doctor, Dr. Baldwin, and was given
Olivia had worked for AT&T since 1961, vitamin shots and advice that has helped her
starting as a phone operator before moving to cope: “He told me to cry, he said ‘you need to
engineering assistant, then finally to cry...you're holding it in, don’t do that.’” This
engineering planner. Her life should have been advice allowed Olivia to be more open with her
at its peak in 1978, with four children and a previously bottled up emotions and helped to
stable job, but her husband’s death shook the reduce the number and intensity of the panic
foundations of her being. First, her oldest child attacks. Olivia was also given breathing
started to rebel and got himself into legal trouble exercises and guided imagery exercises to help
on several occasions. Then, her two middle deal with her emotions and fear of sleeping.
children became “more apathetic and less
helpful” with the youngest child and chores Guided imagery is a form of mind-body
around the house. intervention that allows the patient to create a
past or imaginary experience in their mind.
Finally, she started to have trouble sleeping. Olivia went on to state that she was never
First, only a few hours of tossing and turning at diagnosed, but she felt that her symptoms were
night, but within a month it had escalated to a a form of depression.
fear of sleep itself. She had an “inescapable fear
of something happening” that sent her into a A: “So you learned to cope?”
panic every day at dusk. Some nights she could O: “[Relieved sigh] Yes, but I don’t think it ever
sleep at 3AM, but most nights she could not really left, I just learned to sleep and to let
sleep until 5AM when the sun started to rise. my emotions flow freely...I think that it was
Olivia thought often about death and dying as a all connected, at least in part, you see it
form of escape. She described these thoughts as never really left, I just learned how to deal
“not suicidal, but more like an invasion of my with it.”
ISSUE 1 18and
Oliviahowalsomystated
familythat
lifethis
was series
going ofprobably
events The operation
favorite foods, butwas shea success, and the follow
only occasionally eats
hadto
led her a lot
go to do with thetooutcome.”
university study to become a ups indicated
foods that sheremission.
used to love Oliviabutdescribed
now seesthe as
nurse, experience as “an adventure I would like to
Sheand thatthat
feels that all
helped keep her
of these busywere
pieces and unhealthy. She calls these times that she breaks
distracted never revisit.” Olivia described the feeling of
connected and essentially culminated in this
from her depression. During her away from her current diet cheat days. These
time herOlivia
familywas
lifenot
continued to deteriorate, helplessness and suggested
constant state of nausea
doctor, that
cancer. fully satisfied by how buther cheat days were by her Dr.
Olivia managed she experienced day that to having
day during her
case was handledtoand maintain
decidedcontrol
to seekover her
further Baldwin, who suggested a cheat day
immediate household. The panic attack that chemotherapy
once or twicesessions.
a month Olivia
woulddid find
givecomfort
Olivia
help from the doctor who had helped her with
caused the loss of her job was her last major in a book she
something to found in the waiting
look forward to and roomwouldofkeep her
her panic attacks. Dr. Baldwin gave Olivia a
attack in heavy
her life, but she also B12
feels IV
that the treatment
her mentally center.
stable.TheOlivia
book, madeThe Healing
the choice Power of
series of Vitamin C and drips,
attacks were connected to what came next. of Humor the
sacrificing by Allen
foods Klein,that she gavelovedOlivia a new
after her
heavy doses of potassium and magnesium, and
technique she could
cancer diagnosis in use
1989. to deal
Everwith sincetheshepainhas
of
gave her additional
Part visualization
Two: Breast Cancer and guided
the chemotherapy. Each day,
been living on a diet of organic and raw foods for at least an
imagery techniques to work with. She was also
hour,provide
that Olivia would
Oliviafind with something to “deepOlivia
health benefits. belly
toldAugust 1989.a Olivia
to start felt a sleeping
biphasic lump in her right
pattern
breast. Having laugh at.”
seems wellThis
versed technique is one benefits
in the specific that Olivia has
of each
(sleeping more become
than once an aexperienced
day). Olivianurse,was
she positive
knew when what discussing
this likely continued
of her foodtochoices
follow and for years and swears
was quick by asina
to explain
very thesemeant and
techniques.
immediately useful every
detail technique
item she formentioned.
dealing with pain and
She claims wentthat to her hospital
these techniquesfor a checkup.
had the
After the“psychological”
initial visit thereeffects,
was no follow-up, two staying healthy. Sometime after the
greatest and truly helped A: “So what does your current
months passed before there was a proper chemotherapy treatments haddiet look like?”
started, Olivia
her cope with the gravity of her situation. With
response. This delayed response remembers
O: “Oh boy...umm,runningwell intofivea days
high aschool
week Ifriend
have
the guided imagery and troubled Olivia
visualization
and played Olivia a large would
role in use her religious
growing whose wife also had been treated
a shot of wheatgrass to oxidize my system, for breast
techniques
disillusionment with modern medicine. When cancer.
and This
an apple woman’s
ginger case berrywas juicemuch
to help more
my
symbology as anchors and images to focus on.
the Baldwin
results finally came, they indicated stage severe and resulted
bloodstream, and inI’llboth eat breasts
a raw being and
Dr. also suggested attending support
three breast removed. Olivia felt
organically grownthankful that her
salad every case day.
had
groups, but cancer. Cancer was
Olivia rejected thisaadvice.
familiarWhen
issue
for Olivia; herhad Grandfather had died not Hmm...also
devolved toraw thatgoat level andbut
milk, found a lotget
if I can’t of
asked why she not immediately goneoftoliver
Dr.
cancer, and several of her friends and extended comfort knowing
goat milk then I’llthatgetothers
raw cow could
milk,handle
and I
Baldwin, she responded that she had initially
family members had but
encountered various forms cancer
alsowith such candor.
sometimes have kefir, yogurt and
contacted his office, he was out of town for
of cancer. She had never expected
a few months, and was heavily booked for many having it kombucha. Soups
O: “Despite the devastation as well...split
that his pea, tomato
wife had
herself, but
months afterwhen faced If
his return. with it she
given the had a high
option, she and
goneblackthroughbeanhe aresounded
the ones reallyI eat the most
positive
level of have
would optimism.
first visited Dr. Baldwin before these
about thedays. wholeOn thing.
some Maybedays I’ll eat hiding
he was lightly
having surgery and cooked meats...also nuts, cheese, and the
O: “It was as big aschemotherapy.
a walnut...they said it was something, but he seemed hopeful and
fruits from my yard. Absolutely no
curable, butone
I only let them positive about the situation...I guess that
A: “Was there thing that do surgery
kept with
you going hormones in the meats or cheeses! Oh, and
the guarantee that else?
my Abreast remained encounter gave me a bit more hope about
more than anything focal point?” kala namak salt as seasoning! It has a lot of
intact.” my situation.”
O: “Well, my religion obviously, and I guess you sulfur in it which is good!”
A: “Did they When discussing the potential causes for
could saycomply?”
a sort of vanity [laughs]...I would A:
the“What
cancer all do you have
Olivia cited inthe yourprevious
garden?”panic
look in the mirror
O: “Yes, they left and see myself and think
it intact.” attacks, “a conflict
O: “Apples, of emotions,”
blackberries, and poor
blueberries, diet
chives,
that I didn’t want to be that way
A: forever...and
“What otherof course,
procedures did you go as prime
mint candidates
for mint for tea, her condition. In
lemongrass, the
pears,
religiously, I don’t
through?” years after her panic
raspberries, attacks, Olivia
strawberries, plums,stated that
cherries,
think I could have succeeded without God’s
her grapes,
diet had deteriorated I can’t
and walnuts...but and bust that those
her
help…”
O: “Chemotherapy, medication...the medication maintenance
open veryofwell. her Ipsyche
also usedhadto likely
haveweakened
peaches,
almost
A: “And killed
what roleme.”
did your kids play in all this?” her but
bodythe to thedeer cancer.
killedOliviathat also
treefelt her work
off...they’re
A:
O: “Really! What
“They were happened?”
a bunch of brats! They only made and trying
familyto getlife created else
at everything “environmental
as well.”
me suffer more than I had to!to[Olivia laughs stressors” that contributed to her cancer. She
O: “I was given pain medication take because A: “So what is your main reason for eating all of
uproariously].” also connected the “conflict of emotions” mostly
of the chemo, and after the second time these things? Do they have a particular
to her work and family environment.
taking
In the it, I almostyear,
following didn’tOlivia
wake decided
up. My kids
that nutritional value for you?”
had to call the nurse who was handling
many changes needed to be made in her life. my O: “Years of working in an intensive care ward
O: “Yes of course. Eating this way helps keep my
case to come over and make
Following the conclusion of her cancer sure I didn’t will do that to you. I enjoyed the work; I
body chemistry balanced, and of course
die...I stopped
treatments, takingtothe
Olivia began takemedication after
action. In order loved assisting in surgeries, it was like a
these foods help fight the cancer, I think.
that, I had to just deal with the pain,
to maintain her health Olivia has sacrificed but at form of eustress for me, but I was also
Have you ever heard of the Johanna Budwig
least
eating theI’m not that
foods dead.”she used to love so much. surrounded by death and constant sickness.
Treatment? Look it up! She calls for
That mixed with how I was treating myself,
This does not mean that Olivia never eats her fermented foods, flaxseed oil and yogurt. I
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