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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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 Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| chinagirl wrote: |
Anyone in the abovementioned catagories can stick to their personal principles and be fine in Japan as long as they are flexible about living with the practices of others, and being a reasonable observer. As long as you're not the preachy type...
CG
feminist, vegetarian, nonsmoker and nondrinker |
<----High fives to all of the feminists from a fellow "sister".
I'm definitely NOT the preachy type. I agree with Chinagirl because part of feminism is about respecting other people's points of view, even if they are totally different from yours, regardless of whether they are feminists or not. I just say my piece and leave it up to others to agree with me or not. It's all quite simple for me: I talk about feminism to those who are in my "community" (in other words, my line of work) and talk about other topics around my friends and acquaintances who don't take an interest in feminism. However, if they have questions and/or points of view they want to address, I have no problem discussing the issue with them with the understanding that we'll agree to disagree  . Getting back to the topic of this thread, I have no plans to isolate myself. I am already on an email list of a women's organization and if I'm lucky enough to be located in Tokyo, I'll be participating in many of their activities. |
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furenchitoasto
Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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i know im kind of late putting my two cents into this thread, but i was honestly thinking the same thing (in regards to having a concern for being socially isolated).
i am moving to japan this august and although i already understand that japan inherits a mono-societial identity, im trying my best (here in the states) to prepare for this "cultural isolation."
example: ive been taking japanese classes for the last year and a half. and its not because i HAVE to since im moving out there, but i WANT to. i want to have the ability to talk to others and at least TRY to socialize with japanese people, even if im going to make mistake after mistake out there.
i was also curious to what the music scene is like in japan. i play drums and i would LOVE to be in a rock band with japanese people. i dont know how feasible that really is, but im definately going to look into it as soon as i get settled.
i guess at this stage of pre-departure, im trying to not let the "culture shock" (when i arrive) affect me too much as i wish to assimilate into the culture as much as possible...even if im always going to be seen as a gaijin. thats just something im going to have to get over.
and i like to drink too, so i guess that'll help me out.  |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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For music adventure -
hook up0 with a local international centre, post ads, go to pubs and clubs and gigs and talk, talk, talk... you should have no problems if you have a little persistance... |
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luckyloser700
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| furenchitoasto wrote: |
example: ive been taking japanese classes for the last year and a half. and its not because i HAVE to since im moving out there, but i WANT to. i want to have the ability to talk to others and at least TRY to socialize with japanese people, even if im going to make mistake after mistake out there. |
Good for you. A year and a half of lessons should give you a good start. Yes, you will make mistake after mistake. It's normal for people with college degrees in Japanese to do so. Japanese often seems completely unlike what you've studied in a textbook so it will be quite difficult to understand at first. But, it sounds like you want to get involved with Japanese people and dive into it. Good on you! Don't let that desire go if things seem to be a little rough at first; People who studied Japanese quite a bit back home (I'm speaking from my own experience as well as the experiences of some of my foreigner friends) usually become quite conversational in about a year or so if they are speaking with Japanese people every day. Usually a Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend helps with this. But, as others will quickly point out, make sure you're learning how to speak in a manner that's appropriate to your gender. |
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luckyloser700
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| furenchitoasto wrote: |
example: ive been taking japanese classes for the last year and a half. and its not because i HAVE to since im moving out there, but i WANT to. i want to have the ability to talk to others and at least TRY to socialize with japanese people, even if im going to make mistake after mistake out there. |
Good for you. A year and a half of lessons should give you a good start. Yes, you will make mistake after mistake. It's normal for people with college degrees in Japanese to do so. Japanese often seems completely unlike what you've studied in a textbook so it will be quite difficult to understand at first. But, it sounds like you want to get involved with Japanese people and dive into it. Good on you! Don't let that desire go if things seem to be a little rough at first; People who studied Japanese quite a bit back home (I'm speaking from my own experience as well as the experiences of some of my foreigner friends) usually become quite conversational in about a year or so if they are speaking with Japanese people every day. Usually a Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend helps with this. But, as others will quickly point out, make sure you're learning how to speak in a manner that's appropriate to your gender. |
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luckyloser700
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| furenchitoasto wrote: |
example: ive been taking japanese classes for the last year and a half. and its not because i HAVE to since im moving out there, but i WANT to. i want to have the ability to talk to others and at least TRY to socialize with japanese people, even if im going to make mistake after mistake out there. |
Good for you. A year and a half of lessons should give you a good start. Yes, you will make mistake after mistake. It's normal for people with college degrees in Japanese to do so. Japanese often seems completely unlike what you've studied in a textbook so it will be quite difficult to understand at first. But, it sounds like you want to get involved with Japanese people and dive into it. Good on you! Don't let that desire go if things seem to be a little rough at first; People who studied Japanese quite a bit back home (I'm speaking from my own experience as well as the experiences of some of my foreigner friends) usually become quite conversational in about a year or so if they are speaking with Japanese people every day. Usually a Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend helps with this. But, as others will quickly point out, make sure you're learning how to speak in a manner that's appropriate to your gender. |
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luckyloser700
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 308
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| furenchitoasto wrote: |
example: ive been taking japanese classes for the last year and a half. and its not because i HAVE to since im moving out there, but i WANT to. i want to have the ability to talk to others and at least TRY to socialize with japanese people, even if im going to make mistake after mistake out there. |
Good for you. A year and a half of lessons should give you a good start. Yes, you will make mistake after mistake. It's normal for people with college degrees in Japanese to do so. Japanese often seems completely unlike what you've studied in a textbook so it will be quite difficult to understand at first. But, it sounds like you want to get involved with Japanese people and dive into it. Good on you! Don't let that desire go if things seem to be a little rough at first; People who studied Japanese quite a bit back home (I'm speaking from my own experience as well as the experiences of some of my foreigner friends) usually become quite conversational in about a year or so if they are speaking with Japanese people every day. Usually a Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend helps with this. But, as others will quickly point out, make sure you're learning how to speak in a manner that's appropriate to your gender. |
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