Job Discussion Forums

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

I hope that the situation will get better though. Kids are having direct contact with non-Japanese all the time at school so the next generation may be better at communicating with different types of people.
The problem I see though is that at elementary school, the kids all speak to me Japanese and I try to encourage them to do so. But when they get to junior high, they get told off by the teacher for using japanese with me. So they have it rammed into their mind, white=English, white=English etc.

I've been here seven years and i've never been refused service anywhere though. Maybe i've just been lucky.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

For all the Lucys in the world: when life gives you lemons make lemonade.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

The "just the money honey" attitude of much of the Japanese EFL industry is disappointing, but you can still do a lot of good things with your students despite the system.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

gaijin4life · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:34 am Post subject:

To the OP:

For what its worth, here are some of my experiences in Japan and why Im here - still..

I had the opportunity - out of the blue, to come to Japan a few years ago to work and ended up having a great time. I really loved the country, people and studying Japanese. Unfortunately I had to return home but was keen to return.

Second time around the experience has been completely different. I went to work in a different part of Japan, in a small town - by choice. I wanted to experience small town life as I had lived in a big city before. Unfortunately I worked for a while, for a completely morally bankrupt English school with a psycho boss, who along with having anger-management issues.. , was only interested in making as much money as possible out of the students.

Given that foreigners were pretty scarce in the town, we got alot of looks, - interested, wary etc. and constant reminders that we were foreign, ie. `Gaijin da`, `Ah gaijin desu`, Gaijin oi ne...` etc. were pretty regular occurances. Having said that, people would more often than not, nod, smile or say `Konnichi wa` etc. or return my greeting when we passed on the road. A few people would even say, `Irasshai` (welcome.) A neighbour would often say, `Okairi` when I got back home in the evening.

One time I was in a cafe with a foreign friend and a young boy at a nearby table observed, `Gaijin iru` (foreigners are here ..) His mother immediately said to him, `Youkatta ne..!` (that`s good isnt it !..) * Apologies for the inexactness of my Japanese and translations ..

Initially with all the attention, I felt a little uncomfortable and tried to go undercover a bit. - Sometimes I got a little over being the only gaijin in the coffee shop, bus, train etc. - and feeling like it .. ! However, after a while I got over myself and I suppose .. `embraced my gaijinness` !!! (Sorry, - but you know what I mean ..! Very Happy

)

I found that people were pretty much universally very helpful and willing to help whenever I asked for information or directions. They would even modify their Japanese to more simple language that I could understand. I even had people sometimes coming up to offer help when I didnt need it .. !

So, Im still in Japan, in another job which I enjoy because I enjoy teaching here.

As a visitor to Japan, I try my best to follow the ways of the country and go with the flow, because I believe that is what people should do when living overseas. However, sometimes and somethings are just not me. I guess its because Im not Japanese, never will be and Im ok with that. I am here for as long as I enjoy what I do. I am a foreigner and thats why I am `gaijin4life.` Thats just the way it is ..

I hope this helps !!

Peace out,

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

nickelgoat · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:29 pm Post subject:

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southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

6810 · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 309

gaijin4life · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:55 am Post subject:

Quote: .. I can't stand the place! Hiroshima sucks especially - call it whatever you please, but this city seriously needs to get over its victim mentality - Nagasaki appears to have been successful with this and is forward-thinking - and Hiroshima should do the same.[/quote]

I wonder if you have ever actually `been` to Hiroshima ! Its a beautiful city with the peace vibe and many parks and green areas. Its a symbol of something beautiful that has resulted out of something devastating.

Hongkonghippo · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 64

I can honestly say even though my time in Japan left me luke warm...I never encountered anything you have mentioned. It doesn't sound like you are even in Japan really.

If you want to experience real racism come to Vietnam where people will regularly tell you that they are charging you 50x the price because you are white.....exactly like that... Vietnam would make a man out of you.

Japan has to be one of the easiest places in the WORLD to get by as a foreigner.