Been Accepted To Japan!

[akeenan]

Japanese people are not good friends but they make good pets and silicon fixes the breast thing.

What a stupid thing to say! all my friends in japan go out of their way to do things... Guess it must be the person/ intellect of the person trying to make friends. maybe find some friends who cant/ arent interested in english

Edited August 19, 2006 by akeenan

[Poida]

Akeenan, and everyone else is right... Japan is pretty cool, but to get the most out of it you need 'real' japanese friends. But they seem to be a little hard to come by, and of course they're all too busy with their silly hours here in Tokyo so it does become a bit of stuff around to arrange something, and don't forget the language barrier sometimes. But in saying that, if i had the chance to go back in time and change something, i probably wouldnt.. Definitely worth it!

[Laurence]

What a stupid thing to say! all my friends in japan go out of their way to do things...

Guess it must be the person/ intellect of the person trying to make friends.

Yes, you are right, as someone with an intellect I require more of my friends than smiling, bowing and "doing things".

But if that is enough for you I envy you...

maybe find some friends who cant/ arent interested in english

High level communication is an important part of a proper friendship...

My Japanese is very poor so I am unable to express my thoughts and feelings accurately in it.

Even if I actually speak properly sifting through the superlatives to find someone's true

opinion is another problem for me and most westerners but if your JDM ESP is up to

native level then again, I envy you.

That said, I do have one friend that I feel could offer me that, if I could speak Japanese properly

and you are quite correct that you need to look outside the English speaking world to get that.

Japan's cultural differences are what make it a wonderful and awful place to be, it teaches you

a huge amount about people and gives you a great perspective on the problems with western culture.

But I am and always will be a gaijin and the distance that creates will always be a problem for me.

I hope you are right and I am wrong, but I don't think I will ever have a Japanese "best friend" no

matter how well I learn to speak the language.

Maybe it simply gets down to different interpretations of what the word "friend" really means...

Not to mention the slightly glib wording of my original post

[R-sanichi]

Hey Konect how you doin?

First of all sorry to hear about your problem with recruiting that really sucks mate. There are some other teaching companies that you can try to get into appart from Nova if you wana teach. ie Aeon, Geos and other private companies. have a look around on line and you will be able to find something.

Without turning this thread into an essay, I would just like to add my opinion. I am currently in Japan and think its probably one of my most interesting experiences. I think that it really opens your eyes to certain aspects of life that you wouldnt get to see if you stayed back home. I love Australia and its definately my home but Japan really does grow on you.

I think that people come over for very different reasons and that really effects the outcome of their stay in Japan and how they view this society. If you come over and hang out with gaijins-teachers only you will only gain a very limited perspective of JP. I think people who come over and have no intention of learning japanese only get so much out of the trip, however if you take the time and try to learn the language(or at least a little of it) it opens up so many more doors for and you will make good friends. Plus J-girls are so cute.

Dan

If you need any more input PM

I share Dans thoughts, and I have to add, Its been the best thing I`ve ever done! I came to Japan with no Japanese language. I found my life partner, got married with her in Japan (which taught me a great deal about planning and communication in a opposite culture). Made Japanese friends who've taken me Sailing, to Trials riding, drift racing, to the beach. Generally Japanese people are friendly and although life is different and challenging compared to Aus, its a lot of fun. PM if u want any help. And J-Girls are SOOOO Cute! ie, http://www.sointokoda.co.uk/

Michael.