Job Discussion Forums

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I thought the thread about Brooke asking where to score some X while in Japan was hilarious, she sure opened up a can of worms on that one Very Happy

I agree with most of the posts that really gave it to her but I dont really think she actually meant to offend anyone Smile

So seeing as I don't have another class for at least 2 hours I thought I would ask...

What are the top 3 suggestions out there for avoiding the wrath of long term ex-pats in Japan? Smile

Make your list funny or serious it does not really matter, just killing some time:)

Mine: Just some of the openers I have heard while out and about Shocked

1.) Don't ask anyone who look's like they are over the age of 26 if they work for NOVA.

2.) Don't begin a conversation with someone on just how hot those Japanese girls are or ask how many they have had sex with.

3.) Don't ask them what they are really gonna do when they have to settle down and get a "real" job. If they have previously indicated they are teachers.

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Don't refer to them as 'gaijin'.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Don't start stupid threads.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

For comedic value, I'm going to alter my list slightly.

How to piss off a long-term ex-pat living in Japan:

1. "Do you have any Japanese friends?"

2. "So, when are you returning home?"

3. "Is your wife Japanese?"

4. "Back home, we always ........................."

5. "Can you translate my CV into Japanese for me?"

6. "How do you like Japanese food?"

7. "Where can I meet Japanese people?"

8. "What's the best way to learn Japanese?"

9. "Why can't the Japanese be more like .............?"

10. "How are you?"

Ah... I almost forgot the obvious.... and the WORST of them all!

11. O-hashi wa jouzu desu ne! Makes me twitch every time I hear it!

(For those of you who don't GET #10, let me give you a hint: I'M FINE THANK YOU AND YOU!")

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Oh canuck, always a barrel of laughs are'nt you? So I annoyed you once telling people that they did'nt actually need a 4 year degree if they had 3 years of experience and ever since you just couldnt let it drop.

For a while I wasnt really sure if you were a jerk or if you just enjoyed ribbing people. I was actually cutting you some slack as it recently seemed your postings were taking on more of a helpful tone. Have you made the same remark for all the other "useless" threads on this board or just to mine? Smile

I wonder.

The option was given to be humourous or informative, clearly you are unable to be either. Have a nice day Smile

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

No Jim, #6 should be: Can you eat Japanese food?

12. Do you like Japanese girls? (knowing full well I'm married).

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Canuck you are really starting to bore me. Why dont you just come on down to my place of work I'll put on a big dunce cap and you can sing " na na na na na na, youuuuu made a spelling mistake". Would that get it out of your system?

If you want to get all academic on my ass let me ask you this. Which is a surer sign of ignorance? Making a sweeping generalization that someone is uneducated because of a spelling mistake or someone making a spelling mistake?

You sir may have a 4 year degree but you have no class.

mrjohndub · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 198 Location: Saitama, Japan

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

Brooke Pain · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 31

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Very Happy

thanks for the thread all for me!

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

For someone who's not yet arrived in Japan, there're a couple really annoying questions.

1. Don't you have to know how to speak Japanese?

2. Will you send me ________ ?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I get bugged when people who know me well, know that I speak decent Japanese, have been living in Japan almost 9 years, learned Japanese all through high school and university, knowing all those things, they then say
"Oh, you can write kanji!" when seeing me writing down my address or similar. I wonder what they think I spent all that time at university doing!

Even my boss, who is a really intelligent, well-travelled, internationally -minded guy who I have known for about 5 years now, said this to me last year- it seems to be programmed into people that kanji is impossible for non-Japanese to write, no matter what.