Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM
I agree. People in Japan don't really think about AIDS, so it is sad to lose a spokeswoman for that.
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This subject came up recently among my Korean and Japanese friends here. Those raised in Dallas were stunned by the lack of information their peers that are here on student visas had on not only AIDS, but all STDs, and sex in general.
I thought the girls were exaggerating until something one of the guys said while we were out drinking. It was such outdated medical information I sobered up instantly, as I tried to mask the shocked look on my face when I realized he was not joking. At least in this case, the age difference gave my a privilege others didn't have - an older male mutual friend that I could have talk to the young man later.
In the '90s I was an AIDS educator and coming across otherwise intelligent and well educated people in their 20s with no concept of what they are risking is unnerving. Hopefully the activism this incident seems to have sparked may actually lead to some informal group discussions aimed at getting our friends up to speed. And I fully intend to use this news about Ai Ijima to keep them talking about it with each other.