Job Discussion Forums

[Travel Zen]

I was in Japan for a short time, but enough to see that it wasn't what I thought it might be. I was influenced by the movies and ideas of a different culture that is around the world....but it basically seems like a jazzed up version of the west.

I think I expected more pagoda roofs and rice paddies....don't laugh, that's what I thought in 2005. All of Asia has changed in the past 50 years and the cities looks alot more like New York or London.

What didn't surprise me was the prices. Japan is expensive to live and even tour. The people are as friendly as I expected from Asia, and the courtesy and service, better.

Was Japan what you thought it would be? Was it the same as the reality?

[Synne]

I came to Japan about a year ago, so my opinion might not count for as much as some of the "old timers" here.

I found Japan to be better and worse.

I did not expect the country to be so socially mainstreamed to the point that breaking a 1000yen bill into two 500yen pieces at a bank would take a complete documentation write up and a 15 minute wait in the waiting area�

...on the other hand though I found that this made for a very easy lifestyle. It's not so hard to get by in Japan, most tasks, such as bills, can be completed with merely nodding and pointing as the country is set up so everything is extremely efficient.

I expected Japan to be very advanced, but I think I was still surprised at how much more advanced it is, especially transportation wise, mind you with so many ppl in such a small area, I guess it has to be.

I came expecting the culture to be somewhat similar to the N.A. culture, not identical at all, but just somewhat similar, so I was amazed to see how different it was.

Service here amazed me.

All in all, Id say it's a split down the line for me.

[bearcat]

I know we sometimes marvel at how little some of our adult students understand of other places in the world yet this not realizing what it would be like occurence is just the same. I still get friends and family asking questions that make me roll my eyes about the conditions here.

[Glenski]

Maybe I've just been working too long at teaching my students how to conduct surveys, but I really find it pretty near impossible to answer this one. To ask if all of Japan was better or worse than I expected really is too difficult.

Pin down the key points you want to focus on. Was WHAT better or worse?

It also wouldn't hurt to slip in a statement or two about how much experience you had with Japanese culture before moving here, and how long one has been here to date?

[Travel Zen]

HAHA.

Glenski, you must be a teacher! But I'm not handing in a paper to you

I just want other peoples opinions, as broad as that sounds.

[SEndrigo]

I've been here for about a year....I arrived intending only to stay for a year, but I've decided to stay longer.

So I guess it's only fair to say that Japan turned out better than I expected.

I had almost no knowledge of Japan before I arrived, nor did I have any Japanese ability.

I will say this: this is a country of extremes, in almost every way....and for me at least, I've experienced tremendous highs and tremendous lows...but the highs are stronger than the lows, so that's why I stay.

Overall, this is a great place...I could go into more detail if the OP had some more specific questions.

cheers

[Travel Zen]

Some of you guys in Japan are too much.


I didn't know asking questions would be like pulling teeth. Its like dating a shy girl, you have to keep prompting.

I have no specific questions, but check out the Korean Forum in which I ask the same question.

Peace.

[SEndrigo]

I've just looked at the Korea forum....and those answers aren't helpful or informative at all....

Though they appear to be funnier than us eh?

It seems like so far, the Japan crew has done a better job of giving you answers. So the score is:

JAPAN - 1

KOREA - 0

[Travel Zen]

Hey,

That's a good idea. Let's start a war on Daves! Let's see, how to go about it?

[Glenski]

[osakajojo]

that is too vague a question.
At first, I was gonna write how Glensky shouldn't ridicule people who posts vague questions, to keep it to himself, but after rereading the question, I found that I myself could not answer it.
I, like the OP had a completely different image in my mind about what Japan would be like and have now found that it is different-for better or worse, just different than what I had imagined.
All in all, it is a wonderful country and I LOVE it here, otherwise I wouldn't have come back years later.

[Travel Zen]

You guys really crack me up.

Are you so snobby and prissy ::sniff:: that you can't answer a simple and broad question?

If I wanted a specific quesiton like : Did you expect the rice in Japan to be .75 inches or shorter...then i would have asked it. Questions are better when they are not specific. People have their own ideas and experience to share. That is if they are not so snobby, that they would nit-pick at other mundane things.

Specific question. Are all the gaijin in Japan as @nal as some of you posters?

Was Japan what you thought it would be? Was it the same as the reality?

[Mike L.]

No it wasn't! I was young and naieve when I came.

How's that answer?

[Gordon]

I've found that most people stay longer than they orignally intended, so perhaps that would mean most people find it meets or exceeds their expectations. However, if they hated Japan and left, then I wouldn't have been able to talk to them.

[Big John Stud]

[quote="Travel Zen"]

Specific question. Are all the gaijin in Japan as @nal as some of you posters?


Not all, but I must admit alot that post on this board are!

Was Japan what you thought it would be? Was it the same as the reality?