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Eva Pilot
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Far West of the Far East
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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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I've only got until November in Japan, and I'm terrified about having to go back to Australia.
So this thread is good for me too. |
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JonnyB61
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 216
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Sour Grape wrote: |
| JonnyB61 wrote: |
And on the other side of the coin:
The sky.
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How is the sky in the UK different from the sky in Japan, apart from being blue at different times of year (England - blue in summer, grey in winter, Japan - blue in winter, grey in summer)? |
Answer:
| JonnyB61 wrote: |
| I know what you mean. In 1997 I went back to Brighton, England after 4 � years in Hong Kong. |
However, I'll take your question on face value and give a quick response, bearing in mind that this is the Japan board, not the Hong Kong board.
In England you can see the sky without difficulty. In the centre of Hong Kong (and other high-rise cities) one would need to tilt one's head back 90 degrees and look vertically up in the air to catch a glimpse of blue sky. The experience makes one feel like a frog in a well. This is why there is a by-law in London limiting the height to which buildings can be errected. Otherwise the property developers would put up high-rise buildings everywhere and block out the sky.
I hope that helps to clear up any confusion.
Best wishes
JB |
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Sour Grape
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 241
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| JonnyB61 wrote: |
| Sour Grape wrote: |
| JonnyB61 wrote: |
And on the other side of the coin:
The sky.
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How is the sky in the UK different from the sky in Japan, apart from being blue at different times of year (England - blue in summer, grey in winter, Japan - blue in winter, grey in summer)? |
Answer:
| JonnyB61 wrote: |
| I know what you mean. In 1997 I went back to Brighton, England after 4 � years in Hong Kong. |
However, I'll take your question on face value and give a quick response, bearing in mind that this is the Japan board, not the Hong Kong board.
In England you can see the sky without difficulty. In the centre of Hong Kong (and other high-rise cities) one would need to tilt one's head back 90 degrees and look vertically up in the air to catch a glimpse of blue sky. The experience makes one feel like a frog in a well. This is why there is a by-law in London limiting the height to which buildings can be errected. Otherwise the property developers would put up high-rise buildings everywhere and block out the sky.
I hope that helps to clear up any confusion.
Best wishes
JB |
Thanks for the reply. Although if I wanted to be pedantic to cover up the fact that I didn't read your post properly, I would point out that your answer doesn't answer my question - how is the sky in Japan different from the sky in the UK. 
Anyway - good point, certainly something I hadn't thought of. |
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madeira
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 182
Location: Oppama
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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The sky in the UK is HUGE, and you can see the weather coming a long way off. Because it's so flat, I guess. The clouds seem higher, too.
Dr Who is on now, got to go... |
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JonnyB61
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 216
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| Sour Grape wrote: |
| how is the sky in Japan different from the sky in the UK. |
Ah Grasshopper, these are the questions which have puzzled the minds of thinkers since the beginning of time:
Do you see the same sky that I see?
Is it possible to jump into the same river twice?
What is the sound of one hand clapping?
If a tree falls down in a forest and there is no-one there to hear it, do the Scots still blame the English?
Woooo! Philosophy!!!
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gonzarelli
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 151
Location: trouble in the henhouse
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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I've recently discovered this podcast of leaving Japan. It was made by an Irish guy last year who left after 7 years. He basically tells us his thoughts on Japan. Really interesting stuff. Check it out!
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread205598/pg1 |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: |
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The guy on the podcast is a total nob.
I mean, he's from the UK and complains about how "getting into the right school" sets you up for life in Japan... huh?
Seven years and this is all he has to say about Japan?
Rather superficial observations...
Although it is all generally true (as in terms of facts), his analysis is so 浅薄 and base level "my culture's so different and probably better"...
Schools are in a sorry state? Well, has he seen (public) schools anywhere in the world?
I guess there is no correlation between travel and an open mind... |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| 6810 wrote: |
| I guess there is no correlation between travel and an open mind... |
I think you're right there. For some people travelling is a way of confirming one's prejudices: "As I suspected, the Japanese are all mindless, inscrutable automatons!" |
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gonzarelli
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 151
Location: trouble in the henhouse
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, he does seem to be a bit harsh and closed minded. I found it interesting even though I don't agree with everything he says. He does seem pretty jaded. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| It's easy to get jaded, especially if you live in a place too long. The problem is trying to gauge 'how long' is 'too long'. |
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flyingkiwi
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 211
Location: In the Golden Gai in Shinjuku, arguing with Mama-san over my tab
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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OP,
I think Markle gave you the best advice. I went back to New Zealand for graduation last year for about a week and was shocked and appalled  by the customer service (or lack of). Japanese customer service is no.1 as far I am concerned. So, if I ever go back to NZ, I'll have to get used to being treated like an inconvenience rather than a customer very quickly. |
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gonzarelli
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 151
Location: trouble in the henhouse
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:32 am Post subject: Maybe Japan isn't so bad after all |
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Just thought I'd update this thread.
I've been back in Canada for a week now and I can feel the euphoria wearing out. I was really excited at first to be home but now I find myself thinking about Japan a lot. Sometimes I start thinking that Japan is a great country and Canada is screwed up. I don't know. I thought I would never catch myself thinking this before I moved.
Tonight I went out with my cousin and some of his friends for drinks. I was so quiet and my cousin did most of the talking. He's travelled through work and he was sharing his travel stories. That helped for some reason. I realized with the other people that they just haven't changed and they're still doing the same lame things. I felt really sad tonight.
While I was away in Japan, life for everyone went on without me. They got used to me being away. Now that I'm back, it's difficult for people to fit me into their lives or routine again. There's a lot of awkward pauses in conversations as if everyone is thinking, "Dang, it's been a while."
I was really happy to speak to some Japanese people the other day from Osaka. They seemed so polite and thin compared to so many people here.
Japan doesn't seem so screwed up anymore. |
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callmesim
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 279
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| Eva Pilot wrote: |
I've only got until November in Japan, and I'm terrified about having to go back to Australia.
So this thread is good for me too. |
I got back in April and things I noticed:
- SBS now has ads.
- Australian TV shows has degenerated into clip shows.
- The Government has become even more xenophobic and conservative.
- The cost of food is ridiculously high.
- People are fatter and breeding more. |
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Sherri
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 749
Location: The Big Island, Hawaii
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Maybe Japan isn't so bad after all |
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| gonzarelli wrote: |
| I realized with the other people that they just haven't changed and they're still doing the same lame things. |
Thanks for the update, and please don't give up too easily! I left Japan 3 years ago and I have been back (to Japan) and could say exactly the same thing about the friends that are still living in Japan. They have not changed, they are still doing the same things, they are progressing with their lives the same way that people do in other countries, ie, buying a place to live (getting a mortgage), caring about the schools their kids go to, drinking at the same old places. There isn't much difference.
Give yourself some time and focus on why you came back.
Sherri |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:58 am Post subject: |
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God its been awhile since I felt like that.
Don't worry you'll start to get into the swing of things eventually, It's just a matter of doing things in common with your friends again.
Believe me in a year if you came back here you'd feel the same way, like inverse reverse culture shock.
Think of it this way you are now part of the new 'international class' not quite Canadian anymore but yet not really Japanese.... or Mongolian or Italian or whatever.
Have fun. |
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