CVP 2015! Are you sure?

Glad that it is almost over. This project has been a challenge to say the least. 

Communication with our Japanese group member has been very challenging. The virtual crickets were almost constantly chirping. 

However, regardless of the trouble we had to communicate, at every step of the project, at least 2 team members were able to pick up the pieces each and every week and roll with it.

I am partially to blame, as I initiated most of the steps of our project, and I believe I was way too direct and aggressive in my approach for our Japanese group members. I am only familiar with Japanese martial arts and how trainings are conducted, but I now realize that I am completely not understanding modern Japanese communication and am now very much looking to learn the modern Japanese way for collaboration.

So, in retrospect, I would merely be suggestive instead of directive in my approach of organizing online meetings, Line, Hangouts, etc. Ask for feedback, instead of telling everybody what I had in mind.

I now realize that the Japanese-Hawaiian community, here on Hawaii Island, has evolved just as much into American culture as any other community. While my students value their roots, by participating in Taiko Drumming, or Bon Dance, it is in a sense very different from the traditions in Japan, even with very modern and eccentric ways of social media communication means, there is still a very deep rooted system of master and apprentice. I now realize that we are all apprentices, and need to merely suggest each other of ideas, and then discuss them, and not suggest of what I might have in mind.

Next time around, I would not take the initial steps to start the project, but maybe just start initial conversations.

I am Grasshopper after all, regardless of the Dan-level I reached at a Jiu-Jitsu Dojo. 

I am ready to learn, and ready to accept my short-comings!
Bring it on!