Please help me with a few things

[imTony]

As some of you might remember, I was trying to get myself over to Tokyo this coming year. As it turns out, it is going to happen. I will stay in a dorm and go to a language school in Shinjuku for one year. I would like to firstly thank everyone who responded to my questions and helped me. Secondly, I would like to ask a few more, if you all will allow me. : )


-What part times are available to foreign college students without Japanese abilities?
-What is the best way to call home (US) or within Japan. Should I get a keitai?
-I heard that some people get business cards made up (even though they don’t really need them for business) for when they meet people. Is this true? Should I do it or would it be as geeky as it sounds?

[kurogane]

1- teaching English, preferably to some of your young, nubile co-students (remember, divide by two................)

2- I don't know. That is probably part of the reason my family has disowned me ;)

3- It is as geeky as it sounds, but people do really do it. As a language student, however, it would seem a little over the top (to me), simply because it is not a professional situation per se. Not that many uni students seem to do it, either. On the other hand, it is easier than writing out your number, etc. every time you meet someone. Moreover, you can get them made here rather cheaply anyway, so why not save on luggage, and do that.

Good Luck with it, Big Guy. Keep us posted.

And remember, divide by three, add a day............................................... ..................................

[imTony]

Can I really teach english? I would think that I could only get a job doing that if had a degree of somw kind. I was thinking you were going to say "dishwasher" or something, but I imagine that I could get much better money if I taught. Is it really possible for a person in my situation to do this PART TIME?

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Well, I would also use the keitai with the friends I make within Japan. Does anyone else know anything regarding this?

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Hmmm, I *might* be a *little* bit geeky myself, so I guess I could get over it. Thanks for the info that they can be gotten their cheaply, though. If I give in, I'll by them in Tokyo.

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Damn, you divide by 3 now?!?!

Let's see...

(18/3 ) + (1/365) = 6 years and 1 day.

That's waaaay too young for me. I can't be dividing by any whole numbers.

Anyway, thanks for the help, kurogane. Can anyone give me info on the cell phone issue?

[Bluedog]

For the love of Baal and all that is good, would you please explain the "divide by two" thing to me?

[Let's Engrish]

ImTony,

A buddy of mine in Japan used to give out "business" cards. He got them in Thailand, dirt cheap. They went something like this:

"John B***
the incredible a*ss hole.
I don't give my phone number to pinheads.
Why would I want you to call me?"

That probably doesn't help you, but I busted my gut laughing at that because he really did give them to students, and others, who he didn't want to receive calls from. The guy was a bit anti-social with a warped sense of humor, but I guess you already figured that out.

By the way, a trip to Thailand is recommended for cheap CDs and other things that you can get dirt cheap. But of course, you can get diseases there too, but try to avoid those.

Happy Japaning.

[imTony]

bluedog,

kurogane said in some past post that the best age for a woman could be found by taking the man's age and dividing by two then subtracting seven. This is, of course, very young. Other equatuions have since arosen. Personally, being 18, I don't want to go much younger than my own age. Anyway, that is beside the point.

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let's engrish,

Hahaha, that's funny. However, I would rather make friends than keep them away. Thanks for the Thailand tip though.

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Can anyone tell me about cell phones?

[kurogane]

Tony,

You are wiser than I. Do not go below 18. Compatibility issues aside, its illegal.

I was kidding about the new formula. My current is only a year younger than I. Makes for good post fun,, though.
:)

[imTony]

Is it really illegal for an 18 year old to be with a 16 or 17 year old? Oh well... that isn't what I started this post for. haha

Yeah, I assumed that even you wouldn't use such a formula. : )

[kurogane]

Hey man,
The formula is real enough. I hear it at home all the time. I am a mildly maturing man of ??, however, so there is no problem with illegality when using the formula. Only compatibility problems.

As for the Absolute Age of consent, I wouldn't be too cavalier about it, simply because if the **** did hit the fan, it would be messy. I believe that an 18 year old and a 16 or 17 year old would be a grey area, as neither are truly adults. The age 18 thing is, as I understand it, the legal age of consent for sex involving adults (more important for porn movie directors than for you as you search the wilds of Tokyo for a soulmate).

Any real questions, like the one you started the post with????? Ask aaway.

:)

[Bluedog]

When I'm an old man, I wanna be just like kurogane, he doesn't let the wisdom of years interfere with his adolescent ejaculations.

[Anonymous]

You can hire one in NY before you come over and use it in Japan although it will be rather expensive for a year.
Alternatively you can buy a pre-paid phone to use in Japan for about 200 dollars I think.
If you have an address and a Visa (which you must do if you are here for a year) then you may be able to get a certain type of phone, a PHS which only works when the weather is cloudy and after 3pm

[imTony]

Kurogane,

In some post a few months back you mentioned your age. I know your secret, but since you helped me I will keep it to myself. : ) I am happy to know that I can feel safe regarding ages. I'm not going to be snooping around elementary schools or anything like that, it's just that age 16 is only 2 years younger than me. I'm also not saying that the girl has to even be younger than me. Hell, I never even said that I was certainly going to be "looking" for anyone at all. I just don't want to happen to meet someone who is within a mere 2 years of me, and have it get messy (as you say) because of some law that I didn't even know about.

Errrrrr... I just realized that I have a birthday coming up. I will be 19 while I am in Japan.

The only questions I have right now regard cell phones.



Bluedog,

"Ejaculations" was absolutely the perfect word to use in this context. I nominate you for some literary award.



Rodney Witchelow,

None of those options sound that great, to be honest. I will get a student visa, does this mean that the best available deal (contract, phone, appropriate country) is waiting for me once I get to Japan? If it means a better deal, then I will wait until I get there. If not, then it would be more convenient to buy it here. Also...

What is a PHS?

Is the "only works when the weather is cloudy and after 3pm" thing descriptive on this PHS or cell phones in Japan in general?

[Frungy]

The age rule is divide by 2, then add 7. So for 18 years old, it's 18/2 + 7 = 16. If you're 40, it's 27.

You found a dorm already? In Shinjuku? I'm curious as to how much you're paying, and what it's like.

Yes, do get a cell phone. It is your lifeline to the outside world. Not only is it used to quickly find people to hang out with, it's also used to actually FIND the people you're meeting. "Meet at Hachiko at 8 PM" doesn't cut it, since there's hundreds of other people also waiting there. Okay, maybe not hundreds, but you get the point. Use phone cards like Brastel to call overseas. Keitai are capable of calling international, but it's very pricey. What I usually do is call my folks in the States, say "call me back" and hang up. Rates going the other way are way cheaper if you want to call the US. Also, depending on the phone company, you may need an alien registration card to get a phone. Some companies just need a credit card instead.

And yes, make business cards. If you're looking for a job, you will definitely need it.

[kurogane]

Bluedog,

If you ever call me OLD MAN again, I will your Pocky all to Mine make, with extreme prejudice. Thanks for the backhanded compliment though :)

Rodney (inexplicably) wrote:
"You can hire one in NY before you come over and use it in Japan although it will be rather expensive for a year."

For god's sake man, the young man is all of 18!!!!!!!!! If you wish to whoremonger, do it on that sordid Soapland thread. Granted that NYC is full of ready, willing and able nubile J-Girls, some of whom are even on the prowl, some, perhaps, even on the make, and even assuming he has the pecuniary wherewithals, why would he pick up a girl from here there, bring her here, and then have to pay for an entire year of "User Fees". Phones and girls are cheaper here.
;)

Tony, get one of each here. The girl I leave to your able talents. The phone, as a student, is said to be AU, who offer a nice student discount in order to entrap you in their exploitative capitalist web.. FYI, the age of 19 is still a minor here. 20 is the age of majority. You might want to top up your OTHER student card (i.e. the intenational one you get for a fiver somewhere seedy at home) to 20, to make passage into the depths of the netherworld easier. Not that I, as a uni official would ever condone or suborn such activity.
;)PS thanks for keeping mum on the REAL AGE thing. No big thing, really

Frungy,
UR right mathematically, but what I wanted to say was that legally it could be a bit dodgy if the Other Partner, or The Parents ever got involved, not to mention The Polizei.

[imTony]

Frungy,

The school is in Shinjuku, the dorm is supposed to be “close by.” Before financial aid/scholarships, the cost will be about 15,000 USD for 10 months. I am not sure how much will be paid for me.

This includes housing, local transportation, over 220 hours of language instruction per semester (three semesters in all,) textbooks, fees, minor medical insurance, detailed onsite orientation, and numerous cultural activities and excursions. <--- From their website

Thanks for the info about the phone and cards. I wasn’t sure before, but now I think that it will be a good idea for me to get both of them.



Kurogane,

You aren’t really a uni official, are you? If you are, that makes everything that I know about you even more ironic and hilarious. It would be too perfect. Heh heh

I never actually said that I will be LOOKING for a girl. I was just thinking that IF I did meet someone, I would want to know what the legal age was… because I don’t want to be deported or anything. Since I’ll be 19 I suppose I wont have to worry about it, right? I can go both ways of the magic “maturity line?” I have a US driver’s license that says my name is something that it is not and that I am 27. It almost kind of looks like me (do all of us whites look the same?) Also, the “naughty” Tokyo girl that I sometimes talk with told me that I should have no problems getting into bars and such in the first place. She says that one time she bought vodka from a convenience store while still wearing her school uniform. I suppose it is easy in Japan.

I will get the phone and the geeky cards when I go, thanks again.

[kurogane]

A bona fide one, my young grasshopper. But when I am online, I am Very Silly by choice. At work, I am Ever Most Serious and Diiligent. Well, diligent, anyways.

As for the Girl Problem, yes, I got that much. That is why I thought I would provide the basic info, just for reference. Don't worry about that stuff. Come here, study hard, have fun. You are going to love the beer machines. Avoid the soiled panty vending machines. No, really. Not that I know anything about such sordid matters. :)

Good Luck.

[imTony]

I thought that the law put their foot down when it came to those panty machines, not that I would know about them or anything.

Anyway, thanks again for all of the help!