Job Discussion Forums

[nomadder]

What are some surprises you encountered in the country you chose to teach in?

My first apartment in the north of Japan had only kerosene heaters-is this first world?

I saw cicadas for the first time-scary prehistoric type insects as far as I'm concerned.

Chinese characters? Why didn't someone tell me?

Drink machines everywhere-including alcohol-civilization at its best.

The best was going to a Starbucks or some other type place and finding somone with perfect English(Hi! How are you? - stunned reply)-must've lived in America for awhile while dad worked at the American branch.

[denise]

In Japan:

The little storage bin in the kitchen floor--at first, I thought it was a trap door into a secret (or not-so-secret, I suppose, since it's in plain sight) basement or something.

Egg vending machines. When I was first told about them, I imagined something kinda Mousetrap-esque where you buy an egg and it goes through all sorts of slides and contraptions and rolls its way down to the bottom. The reality was considerably more mundane, but still, what a concept! (one that I will never use, though...)

In the Czech Republic:

Individually-heated tram seats. Of course, you have to catch the tram near the end of the line in order to get a seat, but when you're lucky enough to get one, ooooooh boy, is it ever toasty warm.

d

[Wolf]

Japan:

The hot hamburger and cold ice cream jidouhanbaiki (umm ... closest English word is "dirnk machines," but "automatic sales machine" - the literal translation - is more accurate.)

The low level of English amoung some of my "higher level" students.

Machines that work properly, and failing that....

Prompt, efficient repairpersons.

The needless and needlessly slow construction projects (the road in my neigborhood was under construction for 8 years.)

China:

The presence of Christian religious texts in our library's bookstore (I'm not making this up )

The staring (and spitting). I won't comment on it at length, but it took me WAY off guard (esp after 3 years in polite Japan.)

The governments (somewhat) lax internet attitude. They've banned all my anime sites for some reason, but I can still access stuff I thought Beijing might not want people to see.

How people responded to the SARS "crisis" in utterly unaffected areas of the country (where I reside.)

Gee, only negative, that's no good. Okay. . .

My vast appartment.

The relatively high level of English amoung my students (I hear complaints of low levels, so either I'm lucky or Japan lowered my expectations to the point where Yoda would sound to me like Joseph Conrad.)

How hard my students study.

The cost of living vs my salry. Wow.

[Shonai Ben]

The first snowfall in a city in Japan and as I was walking down the street
,water started sprinkling from the center of the street.I thought to myself,"This would never work in Canada.".It was kind of a cool way to clear the snow off the streets.

[khmerhit]

i couldn't even begin to describe the surprises in Cambodia. You must be avin a laff

[lajzar]

Wolf wrote

[Wolf]

[Capergirl]

[Roger]

China: Many, many surprises.
My former friend Mimi: She knew Japanese, Russian AND English! Not a common combination, but then again, Mimi got here schooling way before the heady cult revolution, when CHinese had to struggle to pass exams, and those who made it had good communication skills! She was a chemist by training, working for a Kunming SOE.
She reserved me another, though less pleasant surprise: she thought she could become rich, and her company glorious, by befriending me. Soon she suggested I help her company market their fragrances and other aromatic products in the West.
It was a bad mistake trying to "help" a CHinese tap into the world market! Why? Because she could never take a No for a No! I explained to her many times that western countries do not rely on individuals to peddle such products that only luxurty brand companies processed into marketable consumer products. She thought I was trying to let her down - and our reltionship soured (not a romantic one since she was married!).
In time, I would learn that many Chinese in those days thought they could use a foreign national to further their business interests at the foreigner's cost.

For instance "James". He was "Manager" at a Haikou coconut juice canning plant. He wanted me to be "partners" with him. I visited him, and was invited to stay with him and his wife in a highrise. During the day, he took me to his factory, which looked relatively new. I was not allowed to visit the factory floors, though! There was no humming or other production noises. I met a singaporean man who told me to beware of my friend "James".
Finally, my friend even suggested I marry a local girl! He introduced to me a girl whose parents spoke RUSSIAN! The girl knew some English! Guess her age! She was but 15 years! And I was supposed to marry her!!!!
We had a falling-out over this, and at 11 p.m. that night, "James' bade me pack my belongings and move to a hotel!
Never heard of James again, nor of the business he wanted me to work for!