Job Discussion Forums

[Yanklonigan]

I really enjoyed reading your post, Dove. It was well-written and thoughtful. I was in Japan from 1989 to 1994 and, overall, I enjoyed the experience. As an older teacher I wasn't interested in too much socializing, and I enjoyed being left alone. I didn't really have any expectations of being accepted. Since when have outsiders been greeted with open arms.

[dove]

Thanks, Yanklonigan.

I think a lot of foreign teachers in Japan (especially younger teachers) think there is a right and wrong way of experiencing Japan. The "right" way is being welcomed with open arms to all the traditional cultural activities (look at me! I just got back from rice planting!) to only socializing with Japanese friends, to learning 1000 kanji, to becoming a regular at an izakaya. Sure, those things are nice, but it's not the only way to have a connection to Japan.

I always thought "Hell, I am paying taxes on my salary, so I am connected to this country."

Oh, and I realized that other gaijin can often be the source of discomfort in Japan. Never have I experienced more oneupmanship than when I lived in Japan. I quickly learned to stay way clear of those types.

[Black_Beer_Man]

Uh, you've been here ten years, and you're living in a share house?

?)[/quote]

Yes, because I don't want to give 1 month's rent to a real estate agency that has done nothing for me except show me an apartment.

It shouldn't be the tenants compensating the real estate agencies. It should be the apartment building owners. But, that's Japan always ripping-ff the lowly workers.

And the latest scam by real estate companies here is double-dipping. They used to charge the exorbitant apartment cleaning fee only to the person moving out of the apartment. However, now they are also charging it to the person moving into the apartment.

This would aptly be called "being robbed in broad daylight." I'm sorry, but I think anybody that pays these fees is a sucker.

I do understand that there are UR apartments that don't have these fees. That's the way to go.

[KayuJati]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

To the extent individual postings exceed 300 words they are removed from the public board.

[TokyoLiz]

MOD EDIT It's great that you got so much out of your Japan experience on your own terms.

And I get what you are saying about not prescribing one right way to be here.

I wrote about cooperating with the chonaikai. Membership isn't obligatory, but nearly all residents pitch in. I just did what was expected of a householder there. The old folks were happy to have a younger person around. I made myself useful when we had huge snowfall a few years ago, clearing the streets so old people could get out to do errands.

People who live in apartments won't necessarily have the same experience. Apartments may be preferable for those who like to keep a smaller profile.

[TokyoLiz]

Black_Beer_Man said

[GreenHorse]

Try Osaka? My Japanese friends said people there were a lot warmer than Tokyo...

And, it might just be a case of you not meeting the right people? Try to find Japanese who have studied overseas... they're probably much more open to befriending a gaijin. Finding lifelong friends is hard in any country these days

[TokyoLiz]

Greenhorse wrote

[rxk22]

Osaka was nice, I loved it there. Kansai people are great, but from what I have heard, the schools can be incredibly bad. As a dad I wouldn't want to live there TBH. But ESID, many here don't have kids, so their choices would be different from mine

[kzjohn]

Standing out there for ゴミ当番 is a good way to meet neighbors. Take some gloves and pick up a little, get there early and leave late, or even tell the next person that they can go home, and that you'll take their shift.

Or go out early when you don't have duty and help whoever it is set things up for the day.

[mitsui]

Tough to get work in Osaka. They ask for a lot. Plus the board of ed went the dispatch route. It is competitive there.