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ontd_skating, but I thought I'd post it here as well.
Miki Ando: A Long Overseas Life
"Being able to communicate changed me."
Already 5 years have passed since figure skater Miki Ando (Toyota Motors) made her base overseas. She said she had been allergic to foreign countries, but now she has become completely accustomed--or rather, she says it's easier to live overseas than in Japan. Not just figure skaters, but Japanese people from various scenes living in foreign countries have increased recently. The trick to surviving overseas is, "Clearly communicating your intentions."
First Was Living With My Manager
I think the first time I went overseas was in my second year as a Junior, in my second year as a junior high school student. The place was Detroit in the United States. I went to get choreography from (1994 World Champion) Yuka Sato.
After that, during the 2005-2006 Torino Olympic season, I lived in the US for the first time. At that time, my manager lived with me. Having Japanese people nearby, I didn't feel like English was a necessity.
"If you can't speak at least English..."
In 2006, when I studied under coach Nikolai Morozov, he said to me, "If a top-class skater can't at least speak English, they won't extend their field of vision. It's just the Japanese who have an interpreter for interviews."
That's certainly how it is, but (when I thought I had to speak English) it was agony. But early in the morning when I went to the rink, a female skater of Chinese descent who was always there would listen very hard to my poor English and help me.
If You Have a Mind to, You Can Communicate
Now I'm practicing with Sergei Voronov of Russia and others, and they can't speak English. And so with regard to English, I'm taking the role that Chinese girl once held. However, I want to study Russian, too, so I am also speaking Russian. If you have a mind to listen and thoughts you want to convey, you can communicate well enough.
In the US, I'm Just a Girl
After I placed 15th at the Torino Olympics in 2006, I was worn to the bone. When I was in Japan, I was strangely conscious of people saying, "It's Miki Ando!" and it put me on my guard. I think in that kind of environment, the strain continued, and I was an emotional wreck.
But when I went to the rink in the US, there was an atmosphere where people would say, "Oh, Miki Ando is here," but they would talk to me normally. "Hi, Miki! You're a terrific skater. Good luck!" They would respect me for competing at the World Championships and Olympics, but they treated that as just one characteristic, not regarding it as special.
Rinks Are Completely Different, Too
The situation at the rink is completely different from Japan, as well. There are always at least 2 surfaces, and top skaters don't skate with the general public. You can really concentrate at practice.
You may be a little surprised, but American rinks don't have dressing rooms. You change in the restroom or in the requisite concession area. Men and women, big kids and little kids all together. It was like everyone was equal, and I was glad.
Although I Intended to Communicate Clearly...
However, I am Japanese. Apparently I was a being difficult for Americans to understand. I gradually became accustomed to English, but I was told, "You don't express emotion. I don't know what you're thinking."
Although I intended to communicate clearly, it seems that was completely insufficient. Over there they make it plain, "I hate what I hate, and I like what I like." Living in that environment, I changed too.
Stress Disappears
If I'm invited to a movie, for example, in Japan, even if I didn't want to go, I've gone anyway, to be social. But now, if I don't want to go, I don't go. That doesn't mean the relationship becomes uncomfortable.
When I became able to plainly assert my own ideas, stress disappeared. I think many Japanese cringe at Westerners who will say anything, but in my case, I think it's good that I can differentiate within myself the "skater Miki Ando" and the "regular girl Miki Ando."
"Now I can talk about anything."
It's been 2 or 3 years since English stopped being a pain, and I've become able to talk to people like (Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist) Joannie Rochette and Carolina Kostner (Italy), who've been with me since I was a Junior.
"It used to be that I couldn't really understand Miki. Even if we spoke through an interpreter, I don't think it came across. But now we can talk about anything." Nothing makes me happier than being able to have the two of them speak so.
I'm Alright Wherever I Go
When I became able to speak English, life overseas completely stopped being a hardship. I may give rise to a misunderstanding, but I think, "The world is turning in English."
Among skating officials, in any country there's someone who speaks English. And so if you have a problem, you should discuss it yourself. Now as long as you can skate, I can say you'll be alright in any country you go to.
Russian Life Is Also Comfortable
I was practicing in Moscow, and it was comfortable. Because the smog from the bushfires was so terrible, now I've moved and am practicing in Latvia. I soon grew accustomed to it, too. This weekend I'll return to Japan for a show. Even if I travel a lot, it doesn't hurt my physical condition.
People have said to me, "You can live okay, alone in Russia, right?" But I don't really understand that feeling. I can negotiate taxi fare alone, and I have no problem at all shopping.
My pronunciation is still not very good, so I use writing together with speaking, but during practice, my Russian has come along rather well. I tell myself, "In about another year, I hope I can be good at Russian, too."
More Frankly
However, these days, except for shows, I'm overseas, and there are times when I feel more comfortable talking about what's bothering me in English. That's because if you speak in the manner of English, it can be too straight in Japanese.
When I was interviewed in the US, I was dismissed, "You're already a veteran, but..." When I told my actual age, the interviewer became excited. "You're still that age?!" But in Japan I've never had that kind of conversation.
When I don't do very well in a competition, the Japanese media are very delicate in asking their questions, but conversely, there are times when I don't know what they want to ask. There are times I think, "You should just speak plainly." Sometimes I think maybe Japanese people should also try speaking more frankly.
Source
ontd_skating, but I thought I'd post it here as well.Miki Ando: A Long Overseas Life
"Being able to communicate changed me."
Already 5 years have passed since figure skater Miki Ando (Toyota Motors) made her base overseas. She said she had been allergic to foreign countries, but now she has become completely accustomed--or rather, she says it's easier to live overseas than in Japan. Not just figure skaters, but Japanese people from various scenes living in foreign countries have increased recently. The trick to surviving overseas is, "Clearly communicating your intentions."
First Was Living With My Manager
I think the first time I went overseas was in my second year as a Junior, in my second year as a junior high school student. The place was Detroit in the United States. I went to get choreography from (1994 World Champion) Yuka Sato.
After that, during the 2005-2006 Torino Olympic season, I lived in the US for the first time. At that time, my manager lived with me. Having Japanese people nearby, I didn't feel like English was a necessity.
"If you can't speak at least English..."
In 2006, when I studied under coach Nikolai Morozov, he said to me, "If a top-class skater can't at least speak English, they won't extend their field of vision. It's just the Japanese who have an interpreter for interviews."
That's certainly how it is, but (when I thought I had to speak English) it was agony. But early in the morning when I went to the rink, a female skater of Chinese descent who was always there would listen very hard to my poor English and help me.
If You Have a Mind to, You Can Communicate
Now I'm practicing with Sergei Voronov of Russia and others, and they can't speak English. And so with regard to English, I'm taking the role that Chinese girl once held. However, I want to study Russian, too, so I am also speaking Russian. If you have a mind to listen and thoughts you want to convey, you can communicate well enough.
In the US, I'm Just a Girl
After I placed 15th at the Torino Olympics in 2006, I was worn to the bone. When I was in Japan, I was strangely conscious of people saying, "It's Miki Ando!" and it put me on my guard. I think in that kind of environment, the strain continued, and I was an emotional wreck.
But when I went to the rink in the US, there was an atmosphere where people would say, "Oh, Miki Ando is here," but they would talk to me normally. "Hi, Miki! You're a terrific skater. Good luck!" They would respect me for competing at the World Championships and Olympics, but they treated that as just one characteristic, not regarding it as special.
Rinks Are Completely Different, Too
The situation at the rink is completely different from Japan, as well. There are always at least 2 surfaces, and top skaters don't skate with the general public. You can really concentrate at practice.
You may be a little surprised, but American rinks don't have dressing rooms. You change in the restroom or in the requisite concession area. Men and women, big kids and little kids all together. It was like everyone was equal, and I was glad.
Although I Intended to Communicate Clearly...
However, I am Japanese. Apparently I was a being difficult for Americans to understand. I gradually became accustomed to English, but I was told, "You don't express emotion. I don't know what you're thinking."
Although I intended to communicate clearly, it seems that was completely insufficient. Over there they make it plain, "I hate what I hate, and I like what I like." Living in that environment, I changed too.
Stress Disappears
If I'm invited to a movie, for example, in Japan, even if I didn't want to go, I've gone anyway, to be social. But now, if I don't want to go, I don't go. That doesn't mean the relationship becomes uncomfortable.
When I became able to plainly assert my own ideas, stress disappeared. I think many Japanese cringe at Westerners who will say anything, but in my case, I think it's good that I can differentiate within myself the "skater Miki Ando" and the "regular girl Miki Ando."
"Now I can talk about anything."
It's been 2 or 3 years since English stopped being a pain, and I've become able to talk to people like (Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist) Joannie Rochette and Carolina Kostner (Italy), who've been with me since I was a Junior.
"It used to be that I couldn't really understand Miki. Even if we spoke through an interpreter, I don't think it came across. But now we can talk about anything." Nothing makes me happier than being able to have the two of them speak so.
I'm Alright Wherever I Go
When I became able to speak English, life overseas completely stopped being a hardship. I may give rise to a misunderstanding, but I think, "The world is turning in English."
Among skating officials, in any country there's someone who speaks English. And so if you have a problem, you should discuss it yourself. Now as long as you can skate, I can say you'll be alright in any country you go to.
Russian Life Is Also Comfortable
I was practicing in Moscow, and it was comfortable. Because the smog from the bushfires was so terrible, now I've moved and am practicing in Latvia. I soon grew accustomed to it, too. This weekend I'll return to Japan for a show. Even if I travel a lot, it doesn't hurt my physical condition.
People have said to me, "You can live okay, alone in Russia, right?" But I don't really understand that feeling. I can negotiate taxi fare alone, and I have no problem at all shopping.
My pronunciation is still not very good, so I use writing together with speaking, but during practice, my Russian has come along rather well. I tell myself, "In about another year, I hope I can be good at Russian, too."
More Frankly
However, these days, except for shows, I'm overseas, and there are times when I feel more comfortable talking about what's bothering me in English. That's because if you speak in the manner of English, it can be too straight in Japanese.
When I was interviewed in the US, I was dismissed, "You're already a veteran, but..." When I told my actual age, the interviewer became excited. "You're still that age?!" But in Japan I've never had that kind of conversation.
When I don't do very well in a competition, the Japanese media are very delicate in asking their questions, but conversely, there are times when I don't know what they want to ask. There are times I think, "You should just speak plainly." Sometimes I think maybe Japanese people should also try speaking more frankly.
Source