back to menuBy NfCG Hon Secretary, Stella Walsh
"Why do clothing manufactures insist on using continuous thread on hems? Just when I didn’t need it the whole hem collapsed like some sort of magic trick, together with my composure?"
That’s how the morning of 26th February started. Changing quickly (twice), cursing that my skill at blind hemming is lamentable and I should have taken more interest in needlework at school, I dashed out, hoping to calm myself on the journey to London. How was I going to present a paper on consumer issues and NfCG to 25 Japanese students?
The answer was simple - with difficulty.
The brief was straightforward, to outline the role of NfCG and consumer issues in the UK to 25 Japanese students from Kooriyama Women’s College, Japan. The aim of their visit to the UK and Europe was to extend their understanding of different cultures, customs and habits. The College is a little over an hour from Tokyo and the students were majoring in Human Life Science, so were interested in a range of subjects in welfare, and life management. Earlier in the day the students had visited a home for older people.
I had been informed the students could follow written English slowly, and there would be a translator. On arrival the translator told me that the young women could not read English without a dictionary (!) and, moreover, were very jet lagged and concerned that they might nod off in front of me. I assured her that I was familiar with this condition, it being frequently the norm for students, and I would not be offended. I was more concerned that they could not read English and therefore the preparation I had done was useless. I had copies of my notes which they could not use until after lengthy translation.
The 25 students arrived and I experienced my first culture shock. They were immaculately turned out. They filed silently into the back rows of the seating. They were very quickly told to move and so silently filed up to fill the seats at the front. They stood in front of their seats until instructed to sit, which they did simultaneously. At this point I would have liked them to experience the sight of students I see on a daily basis, whom I love dearly, but who never respond to anything at the first request.
I introduced myself, and told the students what I hoped to cover. The translator then repeated this in Japanese. I had talked for maybe a minute. It took at least two minutes to translate. I could not believe how long it took to say the same thing in Japanese. I was horrified at how stilted the whole procedure was going to be and so it proved - for the next hour and a half.
I outlined the role of NfCG, some of the areas of concern and interest and the consumer principles. It was frustrating. I only said a few lines and then the translator explained what I had said. I was in awe of the translator, she made few notes as I spoke, but worked fluently in both English and Japanese. It was very strange, I felt I was communicating in a void. The barrier was huge.
When I had finished the students asked some very interesting questions. The first question was about the law that was used to protect consumers in the UK. At this point I was glad the members of the Legislation Committee could not hear me, and any errors I made I can blame on translation. I explained that consumers were protected under a range of legislation, and explained about the very effective local authority enforcement and the role of Trading Standards Officers.
Some concern was raised about the term "Consumer Watchdog", which it seems does not translate easily. They understood, I think, eventually. They told me that they were unaware of similar organisations in Japan, and they felt Japanese consumers were more reactive, and waited for goods to go wrong, then complained. The proactive work of the NfCG which I had outlined, with particular reference to our role as consumer representatives, was new to them.
The students had copies of "Consumer News", and had noted that the President and Chairman were both women. They wanted to know whether having so many women in high profile positions was a disadvantage to the organisation. I laughed. My reply was a definite no, and that these women (Lady Wilcox and Marie Jennings) were a positive advantage to the organisation and there was no negative outcome. It was an interesting question.
Questions on the length of time NfCG spent on issues were asked. "It is like measuring a length of string" I thought, but I did not quite explain it like that, it would have been a difficult (and lengthy) translation.
The final question related to the major achievement of NfCG. I indicated there was not one, but many. I made special mention of the work on funerals, the banking code and our close relationship with government via the number of representatives NfCG provide for committees. This relationship of consumer groups with government was definitely of interest to the students, and one they found different from consumerism in Japan.
Finally the students gave me a present. The translator advised me to open it immediately so as not to cause offence. It was a Japanese wooden horse. I am not sure if it has any particular significance. I expressed my thanks and said I would think of it as my Japanese Watchdog. We enjoyed the joke together, then the cameras flashed, as if I was a superstar. This appeared to be a positive response. Despite the difficulties, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I learnt a great deal which space here does not allow me to explain. Moreover, when two different cultures meet it is the sort of learning experience which is difficult to describe.
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