Hate my family, coming to Japan~

[gopherwartz]

How embarrassing will it be to drag my luggage down the busy street while trying to find my way to some apartment that I have no clue where to find...it? I'm going to get so lost, I can't even wait!

This is my first post and I look forward to spending more time on this forum until I leave next week and then if I ever find my way around Japon hopefully I'll find somewhere to plug into the net and come back for some more fun!

[Morning Star]

It's going to be mildly embarrassing, since people will deduce from the suitcase that you just landed here from Mars.

If people stop and try to help you, try out these phrases;

"chinpoga kaikai" - Where is the restroom?
"henna byouki nacchattane, dou suru?" - Where is the hospital?
"otousanha inu, okaasanha saru, oreha hentai sukebe." - I hate my parents
"tamatteruyo, daredemoni nyouibouwo iretai" - Where is the zoo?

Good luck!

[gopherwartz]

I think I might just wander around all day without any idea where I'm going (against my will.) I'll try all those phrases out but more than likely all that will come out of my mouth with be something like ...derrrrrrrrrrr

Anyway, I'm pretty excited to get away from this place I call home. If anyone is interested, I'm trying to make a bunch of short movies to keep myself busy. My luggage is going to consist mainly of my video/audio equipment and maybe a few days worth of clothes.

Let me know old mens and womens,

TOODLES

[richard]

Hey gopher don't listen to Morning Star.....Morning Star you hittin't the booze again - geez man I told you not to drink so early in the morning.....:-) :-)

Anyway what is the PURPOSE of this thread? Someone please enlighten me.

[gopherwartz]

It's kind of an introduction/look out/help me/what the hell am I thinking kind of thread...

[richard]

Well if you don't know what you're thinking how the hell would other GP'ers know what you'r ethinking???........although I'm sure you'll get lots of replies from soup (see your other post about soup) to nuts......:-)

Anyway good luck in whatever you decide to do.
R.

[gopherwartz]

Soup2Nuts? We talking Home Movies here or am I just reaching?

[currypanman]

are you off your tits?

[gopherwartz]

I wish that was even possible! How big of a failure will I be in comparison to others you may or may not have encountered?

[Morning Star]

Hey gopher don't listen to Morning Star.....Morning Star you hittin't the booze again - geez man I told you not to drink so early in the morning.....:-) :-)
Not the booze, my friend. There was an historic meeting between two of your favorite posters on here and the result is that one of them is richer and the other is perpetually levitating 6 inches off of the ground, offering excellent advice to all who seek it.

[gopherwartz]

Is this at all normal? About a week ago I was more excited and ready than ever to go to Japan. Now I sit here 12 hours from getting on a plane and feel like I'm outrageously unprepared and setting myself up for total disaster. I'm probably just an emotional, slutty gouulacsh...but what's THE DEALIO WITH MILIO?

[Morning Star]

Write down those phrases I taught you and memorize them on the plane.
Remember that people here say "Goh-jirra," instead of "Godzilla."
If you want legal, edible viagra order "hormone" at the yakiniku shop.
As long as you've got a camera, go for the upskirts shots whenever possible.
Hang out in Harajuku and you might get a glimpse of Gwen Stephani.
Go to 2-choume in Shinjuku for the ultimate in earthly delights.

Remember, you are in Japan to entertain the Japanese. Never forget that.

[gopherwartz]

Write down those phrases I taught you and memorize them on the plane.
Remember that people here say "Goh-jirra," instead of "Godzilla."
If you want legal, edible viagra order "hormone" at the yakiniku shop.
As long as you've got a camera, go for the upskirts shots whenever possible.
Hang out in Harajuku and you might get a glimpse of Gwen Stephani.
Go to 2-choume in Shinjuku for the ultimate in earthly delights.

Remember, you are in Japan to entertain the Japanese. Never forget that.

BUH BUH bUH BUH

:o

[xanid]

Gopherwarz are you ok? I'm worried about you man.

[gopherwartz]

Yea I made it. Still alive. Coming to Japan without knowing anyone and not having any idea what you're doing is not a good idea though let me tell you. I hope not too many people had first night experiences like I did, although maybe everyone does and that's just a part of coming to Japan? But after the first week or so it got to be pretty fun! I've only been here about 11 days though!

[xanid]

Glad you made it! Please describe your experience in glorious detail. Bored househusbands want to know.

[gopherwartz]

For whatever reason I figured it would be no sweat to get off the plane with limited knowledge of Japanese language and not a single friend/relative/acquaintance in Japan and find my way to where I needed to be. Off the plane I was going about 30+ hours without sleep and figuring out the Tokyo subway system for the first time with a duffel, backpack and camera case is not easy OR fun! After an hour or two of figuring out how to get to Hanzomon line and to my destination I crashed at hotel and culture shock set in big time. I'm to understand for most people culture shock doesn't set in right away but I think my situation brought it on full force. I also think it had a bit to do with being away from the old ball and chain for the first time in 5+ years...

Anyway, the next day I made it to Azabu Juban area and found this gross house I'm staying at. Somehow I was able to get in contact with a dude from my school so he showed me around a little bit and made my life 400% easier! For the last 8-10 days or so I've sort of just been wandering around familiarizing myself with all the different areas. I usually love being on my own (at home at least) but for some reason Tokyo isn't as exciting when you aren't experiencing it with at least another person (maybe some others feel differently?).

Long story short though, I'm enjoying this place more and more every day. The rest of the study abroad students showed up yesterday so now hopefully I can befriend at least one of them that speaks better Japanese than me so I can meet some Japanese youth! One nice thing for me (although it's probably not too healthy) is that it's almost impossible to find meatless food and when I do it's usually cheap as ever. So I'm saving money because I'm not eating too much at the moment. Speaking of which anyone know good/easy ways to be a vegetarian around this place? Non-supplementary question, if I wanted to shoot a 5-15 minute short film with all Japanese actors in their language how hard a task will this be to accomplish?

Hope that is sort of what you're looking for? Any questions feel free to arsk

[paulh]

Where do I fit in?


For the foreign resident in Japan, the attitudes of the ex-pat actually goes through three predictable phases, of varying lengths 1)The Honeymoon Phase, 2) The Critical Phase 3) The Integrating Phase. Let's look at each of these--


The Honeymoon Phase


This always is the mindset of the eager foreigner who has just arrived, and usually lasts a few months to a year. Every day in Japan is like a new day at Disneyland; everything is new, there are lots of places to see and things to do, meeting the warm Japanese is always a joy. Usually the language isn't much of a burden since you simply don't know much of it and don't worry about it. It is these people who stay a short time, go home, and spread myths about Japan being a mystical Shangri-La, full of happy, happy people and money just lying in the street waiting for you to pick it up and make "Big Money Fast".


The Critical Phase


For those that stay longer, they usually leave the Honeymoon and then enter the Critical Phase, which might last several months to even a few years. The disillusionment of Japan not being a Paradise on Earth sets in hard, and the ex-pat encounters frustration at dealing with the language (which is profoundly difficult), cultural differences, and Japanese social obstructions such as the constant treatment of being an Outsider, as well as the needless difficulties in finding an apartment, getting a credit card, or functioning in society. The ex-pat may also find that some of the young Japanese have been really friendly more to practice their own English than to become genuine friends. The pleasures and joys of the things back home become missed more, and the realities of paying the highest prices on the planet become clear. Meeting other ex-pats who vent their stress by attacking nearly everything about Japan may aggravate the trouble. Depending on the person, isolationism or alienation may also set in. It is quite easy to spot an immature ex-pat by seeing how they make sweeping generalizations about Japanese people, Japanese women, etc. and think they know everything there is to know about Japan because they just do the same things every day. He may also believe he has all the answers to everything wrong with Japan and become more irate with the fact that Japan isn't following his brilliant conclusions. These types who go home for good usually have little positive to say about Japan, spread misinformation about Japan on the internet and may permanently hold enmity toward it.


The Integrating Phase


If the ex-pat sticks it out though, and usually takes a periodic vacation to blow off steam, he will usually enter the Integrating Phase, the most objective of all. He can see both the good and the bad of Japan and where he's from, and learns to appreciate the best of both worlds. This is the person who has matured more and is an asset to any company. It is not unusual for long-term ex-pats to have a love-hate relationship with Japan, but over all, they have a stronger resilience as well as a greater tolerance than most people back home. Different people of course will behave differently, and your mileage may vary. It is important though to keep an open mind, to learn about yourself as well as Japan and where you're from, and not to get bogged down with negativity. And remember whatever problems you face, others like southeast Asians have it far harder. It's not unusual to learn as much about your own country as well since you can note the differences.

This then gives you a few of the more difficult cultural aspects of the Japanese. Many of them may delight you and others may completely sour your stomach -- but remember that they may take your behavior as equally "uncivilized", so there are always more than 2 ways to look at it. In many of the aspects listed above, the Japanese do not have any kind of monopoly; many traits could apply to other nations as well. Nor are the Japanese all wind-up drones - you'll find variety there, as anywhere (though many bureaucrats would love to run things more like an ant colony). Remember you're not from Utopia either, and if you were, you wouldn't be thinking of coming to Japan. Once again, for the "why-is-there-only-bad-things-in-the-newspapers" crowd, it's necessary to re-state that what's listed here is not the whole of Japanese culture, only the things that are difficult -- Japan has many, many positive traits as well but these of course will not be problematic for those adjusting to Japan. On the whole, the Japanese people are very warm, helpful, and gracious to the western visitor. One can attain a lot of personal growth as well as make a lot of good friends in Japan. Only when the westerner stays here long enough and tries to go deeper into the Japanese society does the resistance begin.

Japanese Culture: A Primer For Newcomers, (C)1997-2004 All Rights Reserved.

[gopherwartz]

I jumped right into the critical phase. Don't really know where I'm at now though...

[xanid]

Gopherwarz, if my future wife hadn't met me at the airport my first time experience would have been identical to yours. Well, actually not, since I wouldn't have had the nerve to come here on my own. So I think you did alright.

Culture shock hit me as soon as I got to Shinjuku station. It was 6pm Friday March 31 and Tokyo just hit me with a bang. More people than I had ever seen in one place, and being functionally illiterate just scared the heck outta me. I was a blithering idiot (on the inside) when I got to my hotel room and I just wanted to go back home to Mommy. But I'm feeling much better now.

In a way I miss that time because Japan felt like a magical completely different planet to me. But we must all grow and now I am finding more subtle magic as I become more familiar with my new home.

[buds]

"Speaking of which anyone know good/easy ways to be a vegetarian around this place?"
easier than america imo
soba, ramen, udon, etc

"Non-supplementary question, if I wanted to shoot a 5-15 minute short film with all Japanese actors in their language how hard a task will this be to accomplish?"
go outside and pick up a grain of sand, rock, etc
throw it in a dark corner
now try to find it
that's it. good luck mate

[kurogane]

"Speaking of which anyone know good/easy ways to be a vegetarian around this place?"easier than america imo, soba, ramen, udon, etc

I have heard that it is harder here, simply because it is so uncommon as a dietary custom. Also, many of the foods you mentioned are processed using non-vegetable products, which can wreak havoc on the guts of an unsuspecting plant muncher (Ramen? You crazy Buds? That stuff be pure rendered pork fat!! Is there true veggie ramen nowadays?).
The best solution is to try and compromise a little: get yourself used to meat again, so that you can at least hack it if necessary; if you can't do that, for whatever reasons, ummmm, learn to try and be like the _______ love child of Ghandi and Buddha, 'cause you and your guts are in for the trial of your life.
Remember, most Japanese are dyed in the wool omnivores (luckily, so am I); "extreme" culinary ideas like Veggie-ism (or esp. Vegan-ism, breatharian-ism, other misc. ______-isms) are not just not practiced, but not even readily grasped.
Best of Luck, man.

[sasukene]

[QUOTE=kurogane (Ramen? You crazy Buds? That stuff be pure rendered pork fat!! Is there true veggie ramen nowadays?).[/QUOTE]

I'm with you on ramen, Kuro-san. I have some vegie friends who also love eating ramen and think it is a veggie food just because it has veggies in it. I don't have the heart to tell 'em it is not. Obiviously they have never looked at the big vats on the stoves in ramen-yas that have huge pig bones sticking out of them as they bubble away.

[Kazuki-san]

For whatever reason I figured it would be no sweat to get off the plane with limited knowledge of Japanese language and not a single friend/relative/acquaintance in Japan and find my way to where I needed to be. Off the plane I was going about 30+ hours without sleep and figuring out the Tokyo subway system for the first time with a duffel, backpack and camera case is not easy OR fun! After an hour or two of figuring out how to get to Hanzomon line and to my destination I crashed at hotel and culture shock set in big time. I'm to understand for most people culture shock doesn't set in right away but I think my situation brought it on full force. I also think it had a bit to do with being away from the old ball and chain for the first time in 5+ years...

Anyway, the next day I made it to Azabu Juban area and found this gross house I'm staying at. Somehow I was able to get in contact with a dude from my school so he showed me around a little bit and made my life 400% easier! For the last 8-10 days or so I've sort of just been wandering around familiarizing myself with all the different areas. I usually love being on my own (at home at least) but for some reason Tokyo isn't as exciting when you aren't experiencing it with at least another person (maybe some others feel differently?).

Long story short though, I'm enjoying this place more and more every day. The rest of the study abroad students showed up yesterday so now hopefully I can befriend at least one of them that speaks better Japanese than me so I can meet some Japanese youth! One nice thing for me (although it's probably not too healthy) is that it's almost impossible to find meatless food and when I do it's usually cheap as ever. So I'm saving money because I'm not eating too much at the moment. Speaking of which anyone know good/easy ways to be a vegetarian around this place? Non-supplementary question, if I wanted to shoot a 5-15 minute short film with all Japanese actors in their language how hard a task will this be to accomplish?

Hope that is sort of what you're looking for? Any questions feel free to arsk

good luck with saying "please, let me film you"in japanese because its hell if i know! actually, if you do manage it, they'll think that your a pornographer, so dont...anyways. one place you definitely have yo visit is Joypolis if you want some fun. what is it you say? well if you dont mind the ton of japanese eighteen-year-olds with their girlfriends, you'll find lots of indoor rides and entertainment. do you like cats? you do? good, cuz i hope you saw that huge big cat entrace to the place thats absolutely obsessed with cats! (oh, by the way, cats are 3 million yen...you might want to save up for a while to get one of those...dogs are more expensive, so dont even think about those in your first year if you dont work for microsoft...) and may i tell you, those are fine quality neko's those japanese have;) (neko=cat)(dog=inu) and this advice from someone who spent a week there, and is a first year japanese student. Take my advice, it will help you have fun!;)
(by the way, we have something in common, thats the same reason im moving there too!) (get some sleep too! i dont want you scaring the japanese with the bags under your eyes! just kidding!)