The Urasoe City Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) is hired through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Though a CIR's position can vary considerably depending on where one is placed, in Urasoe they include:

• Translating City Hall documents, correspondance, and announcements
• Interpreting for the mayor and other city officials, as well as foreign residents who need assistance with procedures at City Hall
• Kindergarten and children's center visits, during which the CIR teaches English while playing with the children
• Maintaining the Urasoe English News FLASH, a blog which informs foreign residents about announcements from City Hall and happenings in and around Urasoe
• Editing the Urasoe City Guide, a resource for foreign nationals living in Urasoe, and those who are interested in learning about the city
• Interpreting during the Okinawa International Center training program participants' visits to Urasoe City Hall
• Writing a column in the monthly public relations magazine: the Koho Urasoe
• Participating in a monthly radio program on FM21
• Assistance with International Relations Section and International Relations Association events, for example the annual New Year's Party and Sports Day at the OIC
• Planning of events which are realized through the International Relations Association, such as cooking classes and cultural exchange activities
• Assistance with military base affairs

      I came to Okinawa to find out what it is everyone here does! Ever since starting college, I have aimed to be a CIR, so that I would be able to get firsthand experience in the worlds of Japanese government, education, and business, not to mention the incredibly important everyday lives of everyday people as well. I want to make use of everything I learn here as a CIR to one day become a college professor like the ones who inspired me, one that can use personal anecdotes and examples from their own lives to teach, not just reading other people's opinions from textbooks.
      So as you can imagine I was ecstatic and honored to be chosen as the CIR for Urasoe city hall. Nearly every day I am able to meet and interact with so many different people. I not only get the firsthand experience that I wanted, but I am also able to give others insight into what I know about my own culture, so we can mutually improve each others' understanding. It really is a rewarding and satisfying experience, one that I never imagined before coming here.
      But I also like some normal things too! I enjoy cooking, and I'm very interested in trying out some native Okinawan recipes. Just the thought of combining Okinawan and American dishes (goya pizza anyone?) makes me tingle all over. I love learning languages too. The whole reason I decided to study Japanese in the first place was for the sheer challenge of it. In fact I was very close to studying Native American Mohawk instead, just because it was the most different from English, until I discovered it had very limited written history. The opposite of many people, my interests in manga, anime, Japanese literature, politics and food all came after I started learning the language, merely as vehicles for enjoying the language even more. I consider myself very lucky be in Okinawa, where I can study a whole new language, the local Okinawan language, simply by talking with or playing Go with my older neighbors.
      If you ever need help at city hall in English, don't hesitate to come find me on the 4th floor. Or if you just want to trade recipes or uchināguchi words we know, by all means come on up!

Read Koho articles by Scott Wilson (Current Urasoe CIR)
Read Koho articles by Patrick Robison (Urasoe CIR August 2008 - August 2010)
Read Koho articles by Hilary Holbrow (Urasoe CIR August 2007 - August 2008)
Read Koho articles by Matt Cockey (Urasoe CIR July 2004 - July 2007)