Is it hard to meet and socialize with other foreig

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of coming to Japan to teach English.
Naturally I am interested in Japan (especially designy stuff + culture) and want to emerse myself in it (meaning NOT rush off for McDonalds) but want to know realistically how hard is it to have a social life and meet other foreigners. As I don't yet speak Japanese I am worried the loneliness will drive me mental as it is one thing to not know anyone when you DO speak the language, but another when you DON'T. I don't know where I will be but hopefully somewhere through ECC near nature / mountains as I really want to get into snowboarding or skiing. Probably not Tokyo os Osaka. Maybe Nagano? Would like Sapporo but ECC doesn't have a school near there. Anyway am just asking for some realistic expectations of living there for a year as a 25 year old Australian girl.

[John]

You could visit www.metropolis.co.jp and post an ad in the 'Freinds & Interest' section there.

The biggest employer of foreigners in Japan happens to be language schools so you'll find others in similar situations.

[Anonymous]

Pretty easy, you have nothing to worry about.

[trip_hop]

In most of the larger towns and of course the cities, there are bars where the foreigners tend to congregate. Easy to find, and as the Japanese also know them, they are a good place to meet some "foreigner friendly" locals.

But like most things, it is up to you what you make of your life here.

Find your own balance, develop your own social circle, integrate with the Japanese and foreigners to your own comfort level, maintain your tolerance and understanding for a different culture, take your time to commit, and try not to use "back home" as a reference platform all the time. You'll be here!

Good luck, and enjoy yourself

Trip Hop

[Anonymous]

ok. Sounds good. Just needed some reassuring. From everything I have read and heard it sounds like it is definately worth taking a risk for.

One more question (for now), my priorities are:
1. Travel / culture difference (obviously to J)
2. Pay off $6000 Aus Visa debt,
3. Meet people / have good experiences generally
4. Be outdoorsy hopefully near snowboarding.

I am sort of set on ECC for various reasons, mostly least amount of hassle (want job lined up b4 go) and seem to be ok as far as big companies go eg not NOVA. With these factors in mind where do you guys out there suggest I go (if I have a choice)? I would like Tokyo but I doubt I could pay off debt which is priority #2 as expensive. This is right no? What is Nagano like? Where else do you suggest?

[samuel]

God help Japan if you are going to teach English there!

[Anonymous]

ummm... why?

[samuel]

If you need to ask and can not see the stack of grammar errors in your messages then I would feel sorry for your "students"!

[Anonymous]

Charming! For some bazaar reason I thought this forum was here to help people with any questions. I was unaware I was demonstrating my abillity to teach. Thank you for your criticism, I am sure you meant it constructively.

[samuel]

Well Jodi, for some "bazaar" reason I don't recommend learning English from you!

It's so sad that there are Gaijin with years of Japan experience who are trying to get back but can not get a job.

I am not an English teacher, never been one. Maybe I should try!

[trip_hop]

Well, Jodi's spelling and grammar are better than many of the teachers I have met here, and other posters on this forum.

But practically speaking, when you are writing on-line, sometimes in a rush to express yourself, watching your phone bill; it is easy to make spelling and grammar mistakes which you would probably never do when expressing yourself through another medium.

Alright, work off-line, take your time, spell check, cut and paste, are all possible solutions to the errors that arise, but the very nature of bulletin boards makes it cumbersome and time-consuming.

Give Jodi a chance, and let her enjoy her Japan experience.

Trip Hop Ms.

PS I always thought "gaikokujin" was the appropriate word for foreigners or aliens here - an "outside country person". Gaijin is perceived as slightly rude.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Trip Hop.

At the end of the day if I do go to Japan, at least there will be one more person there with an open mind and a positive attitude (perhaps not the best speller, granted) but NOT A COMPLETE AND UTTER @!#$. I dont really care about your little ego trip Sammy but since you are dishing out your little pearls of wisdom in such abundance, why don't you take the same amount of time to think of something positive? You never know, you might even find a smile creep onto that face of yours. Did anyone tell you they are contagious?

[Anonymous]

Jody We are laughing at your spelling & bad grammar because you want to be a English TEACHER.

And Ms. trip Hop this website is GAIJINPOT.COM
Not GAIKOKUJINPOT

so

[Anonymous]

Actually as you spell my name Jodi

[trip_hop]

Dear a fact

You want to be AN English teacher. I think is the correct grammar.

Look at yourself before you laugh at others!

And maybe you are right. The self-deprecating name Gaijinpot is appropriate, but I still prefer gaikokujin for general use. It is more polite.

Trip Hop Ms.

[Joey]

Hey Jodi!!
How you doing mate?? I`m an ozy as well, and trust me don`t listen to those w.....s who are putting ya down, they just don`t realize that everyone is not perfuct like them!!
Mate if you come over here make sure you have an open mind and try and stay away from people like the little jealous thing that was having a go at ya!! Hows that for some grammatical errors ey!!
I am also 25 years old and have been here for 9 months now, I went to Tokyo/Yokohama first and worked there for 6 months and then moved down near Osaka. Actually it is in the country but it`s great! It was just way to expensive in the city, where as here in the country it`s cheaper and I can save more money and have a better chance at studying Japanese which is what I really want to do. I am an English teacher full time and a model part time and I love it!!
If you want to talk more givus an email mate! I will fill ya in on wot I know about Japan so far!
Just remember to ignore little jerks like ur`s truely !
Take it easy mate!!

[Anonymous]

Maaaayte! One thing to say to you.

GET A DOG UP YA !!!

Thanks Joey. Nice to see a sence of humour exists still in cyber space. oi oi OI
This thread of questions / answers sort of got confused or lost along the way but aaanyway...
I found out ECC only has schools in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya so it seems if I am accepted << Sammy & Co refer to ***>> my choices are limited. I think I will go with Nagoya if asked due to above reasons. Joey, from your experience do you think it is possible to save in Nagoya? Is it possible to get away with teaching privately without anyone finding out? << Sammy & Co refer to ***>> Can you teach (converse) privately while living in a Geijin house? Do Geijin houses really suck too badly?

Thanks Joey, hope everything is going as you would like it to go.

*** Please fight the urge to respond. I have the general idea already.

[trip_hop]

Not much privacy in Gaijin houses, e.g. shared phone, so you'll need a mobile to do your business through.

Up to you how much you tell people, though the world of English schools and teachers seems pretty incestuous. Better to keep yourself to yourself until you suss out who you can trust.

Many people want private work, but some are also too lazy to go out and get it, and just bum contacts off others.

You can save easily, but it depends on how active a social life you lead, and if you decide to spend any time touring Japan. Again, it's up to you. Set some goals, and stick to them.

And ignore the anal-retentives, there is more to life and communication than spelling and grammar!

Trip Hop

[Joey]

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate!! Thanks for the truely ozy style reply!
It`s been a while since I have had a good yarn with an Ozy! In response to some of your questions....
I think it is possible to save in Nogoya, I have been there a few times and I think the city is very nice. You can experience a lot more of the traditional culture there as well as mixing with foreigners, it`s a comfy city actually! I live about an hour and a half from Nogoya by train so if you do end up going there givus a yell mate! I`ll show ya around a bit!
As for teaching privately, mate No Worries! I have my full time teaching job but I also have 5 students on the side which I teach every week at a time that I like, (obviously in my free time) and it`s usually at thier place as well! My boss is none the wiser! They all pay cash as well which is a bonus cause you don`t have to pay tax ! The money is good too!
It`s not that hard to find en either, you just gotta go to a few bars and make a few friends and bobs ur uncle mate! Seriously it is that easy. You can teach from a gaijin house if you want but a lot of people just go to a coffee shop or something like that and hold thier lessons thier, the shop attendants don`t mind, you can spend a whole day there if you wanted to just teaching people! I have done that before in Tokyo!
As for living in Gaijin houses well......., A lot of people just aren`t used to living like that! This is Japan! You will have to expect it to be different, of course but thats why I want to tell you to keep an open mind, theey aren`t that great but it`s a bed and if you are coming here alone thats all you need. It`s the cheapest form of accomodation you can find in the cities so It all depends on where you want to go I guess.
And for your job mate...well!!, There are heaps of english teaching jobs here all over Japan, It is a good idea to go for a few interviews with some of them as sometimes there not always cracked up to what they sound like! You have to ask them many questions because a lot of companies won`t tell you the fine print..... which is very important here! but aaaaanyway if you want to know about that then let me know mate!
Oh, and by the way try and stay away from negative thinking foreigners cause they are just gonna lead ya down the wrong track and you`ll end up hating Japan! It really is a beautifull country and is worth having a look around so enjoy it while you can mate!
So I hope I have helped ya a bit, Don`t hesitate to ask me anything mate!, If I know I will tell ya!
Take it easy and talk to ya soon!
P.S. Get that bloody dog up ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See ya, Joey.............................

[Anonymous]

Wow! I have got on line to see what people have to say to HELP other people wanting to work in Japan. How helpful can you get!
I really want to meet you so much. I really hope I get to one day, my day will be filled with negative bullshit. Good Luck. You have given Jodi some helpful hints of your own and my helpful hint to you is good luck in life with that possitive and oh so helpful giving attitude!

[Anonymous]

I wish you australian white trash would stop coming here and try to be english teachers when you don't have a grip on it yourself.

As I recall, you are all the _______ children from a british penal colony. Please stay there and drink beer and get fat.

Any decent english school would throw you out as soon as you opened up your muth with that horriable accent.

[trip_hop]

Dear reject from Europe, or are you one of the bilge rats from a slave boats?

It is ignorant, bigoted comments like the one above that make me happy that abortion is legal, though maybe your mother came from one of the states where it is not.

Y'all speak great real clean down in the South, when y'aint thrown a conniption.

Trip Hop Ms.

And while you are throwing out such wit and repartee, check out the number of immigrant groups living quite harmoniously and successfully "down under", in contrast to the glass ceiling that many non-WASPS experience in the "Land of the free and home of the brave."

You make me puke.

[Anonymous]

American Gaijin,

G'day mate, get a dog up ya.

You've come the raw prawn but that's fair crack a tha whip. Ya right, mate. Ya work so ____in' hard to make yaself articulate and urbane and all that @!#$, ya come ova 'ere an ya think ya doin pretty well - AND THEN YA MEET US BASTARDS. There are heaps of us Aussie White Trash in Japan, too, rootin' loads of local sheilas and blokes, makin' you go "uggh" and "oh my" whenever you hear our swarthy 'strine strains, and we are (especially me) nothin more than inbred _______ offspring of cockney hustlers, cow rustlers and gin soaked whores (a nod to all my mates of non-Anglo-Celtic stock - about 75% of the people I know back home) ....Any decent school would definitely palm us off. If they knew what they were doing, that is. And so ya find yaself stuck with us (ya lucky ____!) ('scuse the 'strine, but I'm Aussie White Trash and I think "decorum" is a brand of underarm deodorant)

You'll be rapt to learn that Aussie White Trash have found another more lucrative place to welcome us: Hollywood !

Matta fact I'm off there meself to put in a bit of an appearance on Baywatch (They told me it was still goin'). So if you givus your mum's (sorry, MOM'S)number, me and Ingo Rademacher can drop in and say G'DAY!!!

[Joey]

Thanks for the support Chuckles!
As for the American Gaijin.....well....there`s a good example of a self centred, negative thinking gaijin in Japan! They are the kind of people you have to stay away from!
Honestly, if you want to make it in Japan you have to experience the Japanese culture in Japan and not the Gaijin culture! They are different.
Hey Chuckles, you sound like you`ve got it together there, good luck to you to mate! Maybe we will meet up somewhere along the way!
Anyway take it easy all you guys, and try and give the Gaijin reputation a good name and not a bad one while you are staying in Japan! It will make it easier for people like Jodi!
See ya, Joey................

[Anonymous]

i think jodis english is impeccable, and consistently good. i also believe that she would be of an assett to japan as a nation. Do you think Samuel? AAAhhh forums are funny, and quaint. Life is how you live it Jodi, go forth and be fluent and focused on all things English! You will reign on Samuels flight and as they say in France, jeuo ne' oui oui la frou!

[David]

Even though Sapporo doesn't have an ECC there are other companies which pay as well if not better. If you dont mind 6 months of winter (I hope your from Melbourne or something) the people I have met in Sapporo said with all earnesty that it was the best kept secret in Japan. Sapporo is definitely sizable city and the rent is some of the cheapest for living in such a big city. Even all the little things seem to be on the cheaper side. Also 5 months of snowboarding would be very cool every year.
On the down side the gaijin population in Sapporo isnt as big as say Nagoya or Kobe but that wont stop you meeting lots of people. I definitely havent had any problems meeting friends here even when I was living in the country side.
I noticed someone has already recommended Nagoya and would have to agree, living there and all. Nagoya is one of the biggest cities ,4th I think, and is relatively close to Nagano ( one of the reasons I moved here). Also there is plenty of teaching work available andlots of friendly people.
Whatever you decide be sure to try and talk to some people from that area and my suggestion is that ECC is not the only the only way to go.Good luck.
Fellow Australian, David

PS Nagoya has a great Australian restaurant ( The Red Rock) for when you get homesick. Chew it over.

[Anonymous]

Just a couple of points for an ignorant 'American Gaijin'. Firstly, the amount of convicts sent to Australia during its beginning was one third of the amount sent to Britain's other penal colony, the U.S.A.
Secondly, it could be said and often is that the U.S.A's adaptation of this language is more of a bastardization. maybe its because the convicts opening up the great frontier lacked the ability to spell or that their accents were so strong they totally confused the pronunciation of words.For example the American pronunciation of the word 'Buoy'. Would you say that a life jacket is very booant or buoyant.
Who knows and who really cares. As for teaching English, if you can speak it then you almost ready to teach it in Japan.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

it's very interesting reading all these mails from different English natives. I don't think to go any English school here, then I think reading Phorum-mails is more helpful to learn and understand English expression.

I personally like the writing syle of Ms. Trip Hop best.


A holding off native

[Anonymous]

Dear American Gaijin

Remember - keep your head on the inside of a moving vehicle. Also try not to put your foot into a bear trap by saying things like "As I recall, you are all the _______ children from a british penal colony. Please stay there and drink beer and get fat." As well as the comment from Australian Gaijin remember that on average the american population is verging on obesity. Or are you so blinded by the stars and stripes of your country's over-inflated patriotism that you cannot see its 'as big as Texas' problems and flaws?

Are you really so insecure? Please read your post again.

Oh! And next time you are talking at someone try this: listen to them!
I know it will be hard but ya gotta try. Look, listen and learn. America is not the centre of the universe - don't compare everything with it. You could start with your own post "Any decent english school would throw you out as soon as you opened up your muth with that horriable accent." Not quite perfect is it? Hmmmmmmmm.

Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!

[James]

Jodi,

If you're still reading this phorum, just know that you're not alone. I will be heading to Nagoya in mid-January thanks to ECC. In the long run, it's not about the job, but about the destination. I have been trying to move to Japan for several years now and the wait is almost over.

After reading the various comments (albeit snide or helpful), I have come to the conclusion that Japan is what you make of it. If you need any help in regards to the ECC process, just let me know. My interview experience in Los Angeles should be similiar to the one in Australia.

Anyway, to those with information on Nagoya, thanks. It wasn't my first option (actually, it never was an option when I filled out the job application), but I will take what I can get.

James

[Chris]

Jodi,

Good luck at ECC. I thought it was crap compared to NOVA, but that's just me :) ECC lessons are easier because you don't have to do anything outside of the robotic texts.

As to your spelling and grammar, well yeah it's a bit rough but just make sure you concentrate a little more when faced with paying students. I've made a git of myself before buy writing a word down with the incorrect spelling only to have a mid level student correct me.

Chris

[Anonymous]

Jodi

Perfect grammar and spelling don't matter when teaching English as a second language, things like "Hello, How are you?." You're not exactly teaching Moby ____. I suck at it yet I am a successful teacher in most respects.

[Anonymous]

I would just like to reassure American Gaijin that yes, you are in fact the most ignorant, inbred, and intolerable people in the world.
AND THAT, PEOPLE IS ONE GENERALISATION THAT I STAND BY.
It's such a shame that americans hold themselves in such high regard when the world laughs behind their back. Go put on a Garth Brooks record you toothless, banjo-pickin hill
billy.
My god just look who you voted president.

[Anonymous]

wow, what a miserable bunch of people some of you are (and you know who you are). do people really go all the way over to japan just to sling insults at people from other cultures? that's bizarre. ignorant, really. i was raised in new york, went to school in the southern US and then moved to the mid-west recently. i visited europe one summer and am looking forward to teaching in japan in march. one of the best things about being in different parts of the world is experiencing other people and their cultures, not putting them down. and, having visited different parts of the world, it has been my experience that guys who insult others usually are just miserable themselves, uneducated and/or are the unfortunate owners of extremely small penises. so for the small men that feel the need to insult everybody on this forum, go right ahead, but you are really saying more about yourselves than you are about the people you THINK you are insulting. also, get ready for one more good-looking, intelligent, well-endowed american gaijin. i'll be there march 21st.

[Anonymous]

Green by name, green by nature

[Anonymous]

greenie, you spent some time in europe one summer, wow you are an expert!
If you go back and read the posts you will find it was American gaijin who intially insulted the ozzies and fully deserves what came back.
Jodi have fun in japan don't pay attention to the grammer police.
Of course it is different online.

[Anonymous]

Jodi,

Do us a favor. Keep the f!@@ck out of Japan and all you Ozzie's who are descendent from criminals anyway right?

You guys were kicked out of the UK because of your illicit behaviours.

Japan doesn't need anymore of you kangaroo eating low IQ vagabonds infecting our country.

STAY THE F#$CK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

Less you want me to choke you out or knocketh your teeth out, love to kick that Ozzie but...

[Anonymous]

Harry,

If i see you on the street, guarantee I will knock your arrogant teeth out or choke you into unconsciousness.

I will let you feel the power of Japanese freestyle fighting when I get you in an armbar and break it then choke you into dreamland...

We Japanese love to fight!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

be nice

[Anonymous]

if you got a problem the easiest way is to kick the dog
heaven forbid you look in the personality mirror
wash all your rotting dreams away with a bottle of zubrowka
wake up again and have fun being pissed off at people you obviously
don't care for and express it well enough to make yourself feel like a genius
hip hip hurray for you

worst of all, you might just get a little bitty ganglion from all that stress
inside youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

please accent the 3rd u-ly,
shape of antartica

[Anonymous]

Ichiro


so... you were dating an Aussie girl... she saw the size of your ____.. and she dumped you...

life goes on... don't stay so bitter... the world is such a lovely place....

[Anonymous]

To Ichiro , you make me laugh. Most of the Japanese men I have met here are pathetic looking wimps who wouldn't know how to fight if they tried .I'm a big kiwi rugby player who would just love to rip your eye balls out and shove em down your pants so you can watch while I kick the crap out of you. Are you game little man ?

[pedro]

TO FURYO GAIJIN.., how caring, mature and lovely person you seem....agressivity is the preferred feature of full-blown losers....think(well.., try at least) in what else do you may have real power: social skills, intelligence, money, beauty, creativity, political power.....I don't think so.., well...... continue to play rugby -you will find the same IQ quotient-guys ( an all very aggressive. Ohh, I am shocked !!) evenly distributed among the field,

[trip_hop]

I think the Kiwi Rugby player is atypical, as nearly all players I have known leave their aggression on the field, and are mature enough not to thrown their considerable weight around off it. There are probably much higher IQ players on a rugby field than in a football team, if it that is your measure. I remember the shock in the UK 1st division when Liverpool signed a player with a degree (Phil Neal - B.Econ). My nephew's father was an All-Black trialist, as well as a successful businessman and landowner, but extremely quiet and gentle off the pitch.

Football - a gentleman's game for ruffians.
Rugby - a ruffian's game for gentleman.

[Anonymous]

First of, thank you all for showing how well Foreigners behave outside of their country.
Once thing to remember, we are all guests here and don't ever forget what that mean, show respect to your host. And if you don't like it, well you know the way you came in.
The beauty of internet is that you can pretend to be who ever you want to be, as I went through all these threads I had a lot's of fun hearing so much crap and racism because it turn to be the main topic after all, American against Aussie , Aussie against American, now Japanese wanna whoop some Asses, for some reason Furyo Gajin got offended and reply I Can KICK YER ___.
HEHEHEHEHE Always keep in mind to never underestimate the person you consider as an ennemy because someday he or she might be your friend and who knows might even save your ___.
Don't you people realize that you've just step into hate for no reason.
Where are the moderators that are supposed to whatch over. Tell you what, I'm looking for a job now and I'll be willing to assume that position.
Well Jodi I guess you should be in Japan by now and find out by yourself what it's really like and how wonderfull our hosts are (every countries got their own black ship, hell look up the threads)
And for those young souls out there, the day will come you'll have wisdom too. Just keep on discovering other cultures and you'll end up learning a lot about yourself and your own culture. Soon you won't be commenting on the origin of people or refering to the size of their Thingy, because why assuming that American Gaijin is a dude :) and a wild guess who's to say he or she is American? ? ? ? One person does not represent a whole country.

[Anonymous]

Hi, my name is KawBoy, I am Japanese and I don't like to fight.
Does that make me a non-Japanese?? Puh-leeeeeeze....
Very interesting thread and a wide range of emotions... And to think that it all started about inquiring about meeting other foreigners here in Japan...
Foreign or native, we are all alike. We come in all different colors and shapes, but we are the same. Let's respect each other as so. Any takers?
I hope everyone out there from all walks of life keep coming into Japan. I do notice that English school owners discriminate on the kind of English one speaks. What is worse, its the students and/or their parents with these views. Rather than tear each other up, why not put your minds together to resolve this mentality obsessing everyone with what is the correct English? Have you seen the vivid colors that this World Cup Soccer is bringing into Japan? Look at Roppongi. With the good comes the bad, but without the bad, how can one determine what is good? Foreign hooligans?? We have our own share of native hooligans, commonly known as bosozoku (aka. chin-so-dan). Just goes to show how narrow-minded some people can be....
What is past is past...why not focus on what can be done ahead? I get my share of discrimination for not behaving as a 'Japanese' when I should. We discriminate harshly amongst ourselves, hate to think how much worse it is towards foreigners. But I think discrimination comes from not know any better.
BTW, what does 'get a dog up ya' mean?

[Anonymous]

nagoya isnt near Nagano as David said....as far as I know.....

[trip_hop]

Better check your map, some direct trains from Nagoya to Nagano in just a couple of hours, and specials during the skiing season.

[Anonymous]

Aussies are the nicest people why is everyone slating Jodi ? Come to Sapporo Jodi it is a blast. Great snowboarding, great going out, and hardly any idiots either at least not where I was living. Why do all these gaijin compete with each other ? "it`s my japan, stay out" seems to be the attitude of the small-brained. I swear that American Gaijin and Ichiro are fictional charcters right ? Surely no-one is really that stupid ?
Wundermunt ( from little island off France called `blighty` )
Plus, Nagoya-Nagano isn`t so far, but trains aren`t amazing. What might take you time is driving your car through snowy, dodgy roads.