Job Discussion Forums

ohahakehte · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 128 Location: japan

if so, how does the experience compare?

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject:

I was in decent-sized cities in both countries. In Japan, things moved a lot faster and I had all of the comforts of home. The public transport was second-to-none and the pollution wasn't nearly as bad as it was in China. It was actually easier for me to make friends in China, though, since there were so few foreigners where I was. It seemed that in Japan people were more concerned with their own agenda.

IMO, the Japanese people are the most polite (outwardly, anyway) on the planet. China had its share of nice folks, but their way of thinking was completely opposite to any I'd ever encountered. I got the impression that China was a bit sleazier as well.

Japanese food is healthier than Chinese food, but the portions were a lot smaller. Japan's also got better beer! Oh, and everything works in Japan--the service industry is definitely world-class. Can't say the same for China.

Overall, I'd definitely go back to Japan (such a beautiful country, even if it is expensive), but I doubt I'll ever return to China.

ohahakehte · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 128 Location: japan

tarzaninchina · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 348 Location: World

I was honestly wondering about the same thing. I'm in China and know what it's like here.

As for Japan, I've heard of the public transpo, cleanliness, higher costs, mould, roaches, and unfriendliness. I just don't know if I'd ever want to teach in Japan.

I mean, the pollution here results in me losing my voice for a few days every year (easily curable). If I got sick from mould (and I know I would), that would be genuine sickness for whatever period of time.

In China, it seems the worst that could happen (outside of prison and deportation) is not being able to acquire resources, including cash (i.e. fending for yourself on the streets). In Japan, it almost seems like they might succeed in making me genuinely not like myself (in a depressing kind of way). Resources are material, but being in a rut with social oppression at every turn is not immaterial to me. Anyway....

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: My curiosity

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:03 pm Post subject:

What Jizzo has said generally (and in confirming tarzan's fears) pretty much sums up my experiences of the two countries too. I'm not sure that I could hack a return to China now after Japan (I'm 35 now, was 25 when in Shanghai)...mind would be willing to re-experience China (Japan is getting a bit stultifying), but body...weakening...LOL

Hmm, sleaze...you can find "sleaze" very easily in Japan if that's what you're into (in China it is less brazenly available)...corruption is a different matter, and endemic the world over (hard to say in which of the two countries it is worse or more widespread).

Freestyle T · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 494 Location: Charming Chengdu

I teach at a university in China and a was at a private school in Japan. It's hard to compare the students, as they are two different arenas, but in my experience, Japanese students learned faster, were more motivated, better behaved, more willing to expand on their ideas when in conversation and more willing to engage in the tasks you gave them. They didn't just attend for the sake of it.

As for lifestyle - it's more relaxed here, I guess, but in terms of service, efficiency, cleanliness, transport and so on, Japan wins hands down.