Job Discussion Forums

[Sadken]

Ok, just got the letter from Nova confirming that I will, in fact, be living in Naha on Okinawa as of 31st March. I am a big bag of massive anticipation and complete and utter dread.

The anticipation - I understand that Okinawa is a tropical paradise, chock full of beaches, wildlife and really cool stuff. I have lived all of my life in Romford, Essex, England (apart from 4 months in Bognor Regis). There are no beaches here. The only wildlife is preoccupied with smashing up the bus stops and cool stuff? Don't make me laugh........

The dread - I am dreading the American military. I was raised by hippies and am 90% peace and 10% complete drunken fool who doesn't know when to stop. Put that at 70/30, actually. How terrible are the American military on Okinawa? I have visions of the worst characters from Tour of Duty marching around town chanting "USA" and raping women. My other dread is that Okinawa is fucking miles from anywhere and I will be stuck in the middle of nowhere with only this *beep* to keep me company .

Right now, dread and excitement are keeping a perfect equilibrium but I am prepared to be swayed either way until I get there and realise it is neither as bad or as great as I thought. Until then..........

[katk]

I don't know what they are putting in your "tea" over there in England (I ment this as being stereo-typical) because that is what you are doing, The US miliatary isn't a bunch of Rambo guys, I have never had a problem with any Military men in MY country. They don't run around RAPING women.... I don't even know where you came up with this....

[Sadken]

Ok - I completely love America and American people, I really do. However, http://www.uchinanchu.org/history/1995_rape_incident.htm concerns me and I have a general disdain for any and all armies. Should have qualified that, perhaps.

In the UK, we only drink tea spiked with liquid MDMA or LSD. Visit us sometime; come for the tea, stay because you are scared to leave your hotel room.

[katk]

Have you ever read the history on Japan invading the Philipines, China or Korea? It is worse than that... I don't have a problem with anything that a country has done in the past but every country has done some horrific things, but i don't think bc there happen to be 3 crazy americans you should worry, there are sick people everywhere, you can't judge a country for itst past, if you did you wouldn't go to japan...
( ATTENT ALL: I in no way have any problem nor do i judge japan or any otehr country for any events past and present in the post) just making a point....


I like to drink my tea Ice cold and Sweet, as we all do down here in the South

[katk]

I am currious are Americans seen as monsters to other countries? I was wondering bc living in a country your whole life you don't think that of yourself but you never really know how other countries feel about you?

[Celeste]

I have encountered the US military guys from Sasebo base in Fukuoka from time to time, and they are fairly decent folks. THat said, they are not the huge presence here that they are in Okinawa. When I lived in Korea, we avoided the military boys because they were really rowdy and we didn't enjoy their company (or want to be mistaken for them) but here, I haven't felt that way. Go into it with an open mind. Okinawa is pretty cool. I think that you are maybe making a bigger deal out of this than you need to. As another child of hippies, let me advise: live and let live.

[Sadken]

Again, it's not their American-ness that concerns me; rather their rowdy miltary-ness.

Celeste - You're probably right.

[Sadken]

Incidentally, katk, it really is called "tea".

[Glenski]

Don't worry about the Americans' rowdiness. Why should they bother you, anyway? A web site set up by Okinawa to describe problems with the military bases presents a detailed account of things from petty theft to environmental issues to the occasional aircraft accident off base, HOWEVER it really does not do justice to the situation.

I'm American but not a military person, and I don't live in Okinawa. However, looking at that web site sickens me. It lists each and every incident that individual soldiers have gotten into and tries to proudly display this as a warning that American soldiers run rampant on the island, breaking laws left and right. What is ridiculous about this is the fact that the same site lists the number of identical crimes committed by Okinawan people, and it FAILS to take into account one important factor. If you look at the PERCENTAGE of crimes committed by the American military, it is LESS THAN the percentage committed by Okinawans. They never tell you that, though.

So, on a per capita basis, Okinawans break the law more than soldiers. The simple fact that Americans are more visible in Japan puts them in the headlines more often. Also, the fact that there is an agreement between the military and Japan which deals with any soldiers who are accused of committing crimes makes things LOOK even worse, but that's a system that both countries agreed to. The Okinawan people have to live with it, too, but they are just too vocal about what they perceive to be wrong, when it is merely what legal agreement has been reached with their own country and the USA.

You won't have any troubles unless you go around bars that the soldiers frequent and start spouting anti-American expressions.

[katk]

Oh I know it is called tea, i just put "tea" there for the stero-type effect, i was being funny with the tea joke....
yeah i agree with the open minded thing, besides isn't that what hippies are supposed to be? open mindend and laid back? It isn't like you will be there protesting etc, i doubt you will take much mind of them

[Sweetsee]

Why don't you blow up that avatar that you've got and wear it on the back of your jacket so they will know you are a friendly?

[Sadken]

As a good friend of sadken, who has somewhat foolishly left himself logged in on my pc, I feel compelled, almost obligated, to launch a tirade of anti-american abuse and pass it off as his own doing. That would, however, be extremely childish, and so I won't. In actual fact I would much rather wait for him to arrive in Okinawa, become hopelessly intoxicated and do it personally in the presence of US military personnel. If anybody is interested I am offering really rather generous odds of 3-1 that his first physical beating will take place within 28 days. Although sadken himself apparently holds no fear. He told me earlier that "Them american pricks are all *beep* anyway. They probably bum eachother all the time, I reckon I could take the lot of them on if they asked for it."

He really does hate americans. And gays. And jews. In fact he really is quite an unsavoury character. Rumour has it he even plans to vote tory at the next election.

[Zzonkmiles]

If you are living in Okinawa, I'd be more worried about the competition for finding private students. Because of the large US military presence there, there is no shortage of native speakers who are willing to teach private students for next to nothing.

As for your overall assignment to Okinawa, most people would say you are very lucky indeed. The climate is similar to that of central Florida. You could always put in a transfer request to work at another branch once you get off probation (2-3 months after you start). But be warned--if you do, it'll probably be very difficult to get back to Okinawa to give the place a second chance, should you choose to. According to NOVA admin, Okinawa, Kyoto, and Sapporo are the three most difficult places to be assigned to as so many teachers want to work/live there and there simply aren't enough branches to go around.

[katk]

Well if that is the way he feels then i am sure he will go with a negative opinion and get himself into trouble....
stuffy bottom englishs k-nig-ht...... i fart in ur general direction

[Big John Stud]

Sadken wrote:

As a good friend of sadken, who has somewhat foolishly left himself logged in on my pc, I feel compelled, almost obligated, to launch a tirade of anti-american abuse and pass it off as his own doing. That would, however, be extremely childish, and so I won't. In actual fact I would much rather wait for him to arrive in Okinawa, become hopelessly intoxicated and do it personally in the presence of US military personnel. If anybody is interested I am offering really rather generous odds of 3-1 that his first physical beating will take place within 28 days. Although sadken himself apparently holds no fear. He told me earlier that "Them american pricks are all *beep* anyway. They probably bum eachother all the time, I reckon I could take the lot of them on if they asked for it." He really does hate americans. And gays. And jews. In fact he really is quite an unsavoury character. Rumour has it he even plans to vote tory at the next election.

With friends like this Sadken doesn't need any enemies! Actually here is to you friend of Sadken. You have a great sense of humour!