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Venti

Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:02 am Post subject: |
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| womblingfree wrote: |
Some Japanese in Japan can only speak Japanese!! Shock horror! That's because they don't need any other languages, just like I don't have to learn Gugurati to speak to Indian waiters in England. Why? Because they have the brains and courtesy to learn the language of the country they are working in. |
Does it have to do with brains and courtesy or just necessity? If the home language of Indians was as prevalent in England (or any other country foreign to them) as English is throughout the world, do you really believe that they'd study the languages of the foreign countries they move to as seriously? |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:46 am Post subject: |
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sweetsee posted
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| I remember police parked out front of the parking garage next to the club we used to go to in my hometown, following you until you made a mistake or they got fed up waiting. |
Actually, they sometimes do this in Japan (looking for driving under the influence). Though I must wonder that if this wasn't a one time occurance, why continue to go to that club?
Sweetsee, I suppose it's better in France where my wife was mugged and the police response was, "Yes, these things happen?!" (there was an almost identical mugging at a nearby intersection one hour earlier, both in broad daylight in a city with almost as many security cameras as London, yet something to do with French law doesn't allow these to be used as evidence in cases aganist these motorcycle criminals).
Sorry, neither is a perfect situation, though I suppose you feel your brother was targeted by the police all three times?? The three strikes law applies only to felonies, not misdemeanors. Something tells me we are missing a lot of the story . |
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Sweetsee

Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:15 am Post subject: |
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I hear you Gaijinalways. In fact, it wasn't my brother who went away for life, a friend. And yes, I know nothing of the circumstances though I suspect he was a non-violent felon.
As for the club, well it was THE place to go so after I got popped I just never drove from there. Ahh, natuskashi, ne?
Still waiting for you to lossen that ball-and-chain so we can hit some balls one day, sort it out mate!
Enjoy,
s |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:45 am Post subject: |
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Sorry Sweetsee, confused the two (though I hope your brother is your friend ).
Non-violent felonies= drug possession???
As to the ball and chain, recently it's more the 'work' variety. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| Venti wrote: |
| Does it have to do with brains and courtesy or just necessity? |
It's no more necessary for them than for English speakers in Japan. There are millions of Indian speakers in the UK.
| Venti wrote: |
| If the home language of Indians was as prevalent in England (or any other country foreign to them) as English is throughout the world, do you really believe that they'd study the languages of the foreign countries they move to as seriously? |
Judging by the Indian family (mum, dad, and kids) I saw on the Tobu-Tojo line speaking entirely in Japanese to each other I'd say it's very likely.
What most immigrants understand, that immigrants from ex-colonial powers have yet to realise, is that to settle, function and be even partially accepted (tolerated?) in a new culture learning the native language is the No.1 no brainer on the list of things to do! |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Nickelgoat,
I've lived in both Korea and Japan. In many ways, I've found Japanese people to be more accommidating to foreigners than Koreans. This is coming from a guy who has done his time in two Korean hagwons and spent a week in a Korean hospital.
Don't get me wrong, I've experienced my share of BS, due to me not being a local, in both countries, but don't for one second think that Korea will be any easier than Japan. In fact, in most cases, it's more difficult. You don't need to look any further than the work visa situation in Korea to realize this. |
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Gordon

Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Khyron wrote: |
Nickelgoat,
I've lived in both Korea and Japan. In many ways, I've found Japanese people to be more accommidating to foreigners than Koreans. This is coming from a guy who has done his time in two Korean hagwons and spent a week in a Korean hospital.
Don't get me wrong, I've experienced my share of BS, due to me not being a local, in both countries, but don't for one second think that Korea will be any easier than Japan. In fact, in most cases, it's more difficult. You don't need to look any further than the work visa situation in Korea to realize this. |
I agree. I have lived and taught in both countries as well. The Japanese are far more welcoming and friendlier than the Koreans. The thing about the Koreans, at least you know where you stand with them, they don't hide their feelings like the Japanese. |
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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: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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In my own experiences with Korea I have found that the level of English was about the same as that of Japan.
Xenophobia also exists in both countries but I have found that it can be quite virulent in Korea.
I have never seen anything like this in Japan:
http://aog.2y.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1558
Does Japan have its faults? Of course. All countries do. The police here have extraordinary legal powers in terms of how long they can detain suspects and the fact that foreigners are required to have identification on them at all times is discriminatory and the fines for overstaying a visa are exorbitant compared to most countries.
That said, I have been to few countries in which the people were more welcoming than here in Japan. The bureaucracy in Japan requires a certain amount of tolerance and dealing with Japanese companies requires the willingness to adapt. Also, a guest in the country learning the language of your hosts is also a good idea. Expecting everyone around you to adapt to you is unreasonable. |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
I agree. I have lived and taught in both countries as well. The Japanese are far more welcoming and friendlier than the Koreans. The thing about the Koreans, at least you know where you stand with them, they don't hide their feelings like the Japanese. |
True that. If I could choose one thing that I hate about Japan, it would be that many Japanese seem to be habitual liars (ie. lying to save face, feelings, etc.). As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the most annoying things about this country and takes more getting used to than many other cultural differences.
| furiousmilksheikali wrote: |
| In my own experiences with Korea I have found that the level of English was about the same as that of Japan. |
Really? I found the level of English in Korea to be noticably higher. I didn't live in Seoul, either. |
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