An especially terrific piece. How easy it is for us to slip often into our own comfort zone for the sake of authenticity. No question that breaking the mold, repeatedly, is like adding cinnamon to pie. Plays well every time. Thanks.
What great guidance, Aimee! In my memoir (on sale date: June 8, 2024!) about my first three years living at a Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Hawaii, I did a lot of this kind of description--of the landscape, architecture, clothing, customs, and arts. It makes sense now why the beta readers described it as stepping into a foreign world, and said it was more accessible. I think I did this intuitively because this kind of interpretation is something I frequently have to do with new Zen students.
One thing I also did, though, was to not translate or define several Japanese and Hawaii terms in the prologue. I just wanted to paint a picture in the first pages. In the introduction (which, boy, I hope folks will read), I explain that this is in an attempt to help readers experience the Dojo as I did--as a foreigner who was told to just pay attention rather than ask for translation and explanation all the time. Very East Asian, yeah? I do explain that I will eventually translate terms and that there's a glossary in the back, though. I think this is something Chenxing Han does in her new memoir, too, leaving some Chinese characters untranslated, too, to invite the reader to enter her multicultural world.
There's so much possibility in opening up these new worlds for readers! Before writing this book, I would never have understood the level of thoughtfulness and craft it requires, much to your point.
Congratulations on your memoir, Cristina! Yes, this is a mindful approach to place, for sure. I hadn't thought of it that way, but it's true. We are [ideally] naturally more mindful in foreign settings. Language immersion is an interesting approach, effective even if challenging for readers, I think. Thanks for reading and for writing!
An especially terrific piece. How easy it is for us to slip often into our own comfort zone for the sake of authenticity. No question that breaking the mold, repeatedly, is like adding cinnamon to pie. Plays well every time. Thanks.
As always, thanks for reading and responding so thoughtfully, Randy!
What great guidance, Aimee! In my memoir (on sale date: June 8, 2024!) about my first three years living at a Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Hawaii, I did a lot of this kind of description--of the landscape, architecture, clothing, customs, and arts. It makes sense now why the beta readers described it as stepping into a foreign world, and said it was more accessible. I think I did this intuitively because this kind of interpretation is something I frequently have to do with new Zen students.
One thing I also did, though, was to not translate or define several Japanese and Hawaii terms in the prologue. I just wanted to paint a picture in the first pages. In the introduction (which, boy, I hope folks will read), I explain that this is in an attempt to help readers experience the Dojo as I did--as a foreigner who was told to just pay attention rather than ask for translation and explanation all the time. Very East Asian, yeah? I do explain that I will eventually translate terms and that there's a glossary in the back, though. I think this is something Chenxing Han does in her new memoir, too, leaving some Chinese characters untranslated, too, to invite the reader to enter her multicultural world.
There's so much possibility in opening up these new worlds for readers! Before writing this book, I would never have understood the level of thoughtfulness and craft it requires, much to your point.
Mahalo for this great post!
Congratulations on your memoir, Cristina! Yes, this is a mindful approach to place, for sure. I hadn't thought of it that way, but it's true. We are [ideally] naturally more mindful in foreign settings. Language immersion is an interesting approach, effective even if challenging for readers, I think. Thanks for reading and for writing!