I'm moving to Japan - Woo hoo!

[Jools]

Kobe City, this Saturday, can't wait! Going to be teaching English as part of the JET Programme. Saturday can't come soon enough!

-Jools

[Tycho]

Cool.. I'd like to go there sometime. How many times have you been in Japan before?

[HUnewearl_Meira]

Don't forget to go to a nice restaurant so you can eat flesh off of a live fish and try some raw horse meat!

Heh... As much as I enjoy the Japanese food I've eaten... I have to say... To get the real thing... Their diet is considerably different from a Western diet. Be prepared, enjoy the fireworks and congratulations on your new job!

[Dangerous55]

Prepare to become the idol of every PSOWer who thinks Japan is nothing but anime and video games!

[Scejntjynahl]

On 2004-07-27 10:10, Dangerous55 wrote:
Prepare to become the idol of every PSOWer who thinks Japan is nothing but anime and video games!



You forget school uniforms and sushi http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif

[Ness]

I'm happy for you. I'd love to go there myself, but I don't know the language. Also, I agree with D55; you fanbase here is going to increase dramatically.

[DruidMettool]

On 2004-07-27 10:29, Scejntjynahl wrote:


On 2004-07-27 10:10, Dangerous55 wrote:
Prepare to become the idol of every PSOWer who thinks Japan is nothing but anime and video games!



You forget school uniforms and sushi http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif



And let's not forget tentacle rape and giant robots. Citizens of rural Japan have full-size gundams under their houses. Or, at leat that's what the I-love-Japan-Fanboys says. http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wacko.gif

So yes, have fun in Japan. Bring back some souvineers and a copy of Mother 1+2 for me.

[tai_EX]

sayonara!! hav much fun in the land of the rising sun! http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif been there done that..

[Aredhel]

Congratulations on your new job - I'm sure that it's going to be a lot different from where you live right now...

unless you're living on some far-off alien world right now...

Never forget: the japanese are insane eccentric ...interesting. http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Aredhel on 2004-07-27 12:14 ]</font>

[AUTO_]

On 2004-07-27 10:43, Ness wrote:
your fanbase here is going to increase dramatically.



...fanbase?

...on an online forum?

...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif



Yeah man, enjoy Japan. Just stay away from their arcades.

[Ness]

On 2004-07-27 12:38, AUTO_ wrote:


On 2004-07-27 10:43, Ness wrote:
your fanbase here is going to increase dramatically.



...fanbase?

...on an online forum?

...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif





I have one, don't you?

[Aurra]

Watch out for that O-ren Ishii, she's a nasty one

[AUTO_]

On 2004-07-27 12:51, Ness wrote:


On 2004-07-27 12:38, AUTO_ wrote:


On 2004-07-27 10:43, Ness wrote:
your fanbase here is going to increase dramatically.



...fanbase?

...on an online forum?

...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif





I have one, don't you?



...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Wai--Wait..

...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

! http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif


Ness you need to get over yourself.



On Topic:

Japan would be right up there with my next favorite place to live (1st being the USA), IF I could speak the language.

[Aurra]

I don't think I'd ever want to move to Japan. I don't speak Japanese, I don't play DDR, I don't really like anime, and I don't want to gut squids for the Osaka Seafood Concern.

But yeah, all silliness aside, Japan scares the crap out of me. That place is weird as hell, and probably filled to the brim with samurai sword-wielding school girls and flying robots. No f'ing thanks.

[Ness]

On 2004-07-27 13:14, AUTO_ wrote:


...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

Wai--Wait..

...

http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

! http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif


Ness you need to get over yourself.






Jealous? I thought so.

So, Jools, what are you going to do when you arrive there? Are you going to visit Tokyo?

[Dangerous55]

On 2004-07-27 12:51, Ness wrote:


I have one, don't you?



Tehehehehehehehe!

[Graptakular83]

All right! My friends and I plan to go there and teach english as well, once we get our "degrees". Whatever they may be. Some programs like that only ask that you have "a degree", not necessarily in english. I better get an associates in....plumbing or something FAST. Hmm, i might be a lil scary over there though, dont think they see too many tall latino guys do they??

[Jools]

Heh, thanks for all the entertaining replies. I haven't been to Japan *ever* before amazingly! I do have loads of Japanese friends though (including a lovely Japanese girlfriend) and can speak a little Japanese (night class for nearly two years).

If anyone is interested in doing the same (I would heartily reccommend the Programme) you need a degree (in anything) and need to write an essay and application form. If they like that and you pass the interview, you're off to Japan!

I'll pass along some good web sites if anyone's interested.

-Jools

P.S. I'll be going to Tokyo Game Show come september - woo hoo!

[Solstis]

As I once told navi:

*"Asians are scary."

Either that or sneaky http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif.

I myself probably wouldn't last long in Japan. Most likely, being me, I would get hit by a car as soon as I get out of the airport (trying to use Roman/New York tactics to get across the street).

*I consider myself to have enough blood to say that.

[Jools]

So, Jools, what are you going to do when you arrive there? Are you going to visit Tokyo?




I'll be spending the first three days in Tokyo. I certainly plan to visit Akihabara (the electronic goods/video games district of Tokyo - for those that don't know) been wanting to do that for some time, should be great for getting those rare games (Samba de Amigo here I come).

-Jools

[Tact]

Whatever you do, DO NOT try the fugu! I repeat, DO NOT try the fugu!

[tai_EX]

On 2004-07-27 15:41, tactician7777 wrote:
Whatever you do, DO NOT try the fugu! I repeat, DO NOT try the fugu!




LISTEN TO THE MAN HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH!! :realizes tha Im sticking fugu in my mouth: aww crap!

[Tact]

On 2004-07-27 16:40, tai_EX wrote:


On 2004-07-27 15:41, tactician7777 wrote:
Whatever you do, DO NOT try the fugu! I repeat, DO NOT try the fugu!




LISTEN TO THE MAN HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH!! :realizes tha Im sticking fugu in my mouth: aww crap!



"Aww crap!" Is right...improperly cooked fugu can lead to death...which is bad.

[Sharkyland]

Hmm, did you know some of the Japanese resturants in Japan pay a hefty price to get some of their fish off the coasts of the Canadian fishing banks?

I always wanted to go in the JET program, but my parents are against the idea of me going to another country by myself... therefore, I couldn't study abroad. -_-

[Arislan]

Have fun, Japan is an interesting place. I'll be back in Okazaki come end of September... A bit far from Kobe, and I'm a broke ass bastard, so no visiting the place for me. If you decide in October or so that you want to hit Nara or Nagoya Castle (or even Okazaki Castle), let me know. Always fun to play tour guide. ^_^

As for the whole been to/living in Japan fanboy thing, makes me wonder where my fanbase is. http://www.pso-world.com/psoworld/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif I just want to be loved!

In any case, my recommendations for stuff that you HAVE to do in Japan (that you won't end up doing anyway):

1) Learn Japanese- Yeah, sounds stupid, but JET does NOT teach you Japanese. A friend of mine that just got back to the US after JET is still absolutely horrible at Japanese, and basically forced anyone dealing with her to speak English. You're in another country, speak their language. Makes things a lot more interesting anyway when you know what's going on around you too.

2) Find a good 100 yen sushi place and stick with it. Remember, even if you don't like fish, sushi is FAR more than that. There's this little corner sushi place about 40 minutes walk from my apartment there that sells killer karaage chicken sushi. Love the fish too, but this stuff is to die for.

3) Don't try to change the teaching system. It sucks, trust me on that. You'll find that much of your time is going to be very likely taken up with reading a sentence and having them repeat it. My friend went nuts trying to actually HELP the students learn, rewriting speeches for a contest and the like, just to have the Japanese teachers/heads shake their heads and tell her that she's getting in the way. As well though, for goodness' sake, you're going there to teach, freakin' TEACH! I knew far too many JET programmers that used it simply as a free pass to Japan, and didn't bother with anything else, only putting in the bare minimum at school.

4) When you're touring Tokyo, see if you can't make a little side-trip to Narita (the city, not the airport), and hit Narita-san, the shrine there. That place was almost a religious experience for me. Walking the shrine paths there is amazing... Extremely peaceful, beautiful sights... Well worth going to. Enough so, for me anyway, to consider flying into Narita Kukou and taking the Shin to Nagoya just so that I can stop in and see the place.


That's about all I can think of at the second, but feel free to message me if you have any questions about stuff... I'm not a master at culture or anything, but after having lived there for a few years, I've picked up a lot about how gaijin interact with people over there. ^_^

[burnningthings3]

Congrats I always wished to go but me being 14 aint gonna convince my parents to let me. Well good luck on the job!

[Jools]

Thanks a lot Arislan, thats a great offer. Yeah, one of the JETs who's already been in Kobe for a year just told me that she started learning Japanese 2 weeks ago! My fellow Nihongo night class students told me they'd disown me if I returned to Britain unable to speak and write Japanese. It is something I plan to put some effort into. Cheers again, I'll be sure to contact you, and you're always welcome to visit, of course.

-Jools

[epeon]

On 2004-07-29 14:48, Jools wrote:
Thanks a lot Arislan, thats a great offer. Yeah, one of the JETs who's already been in Kobe for a year just told me that she started learning Japanese 2 weeks ago! My fellow Nihongo night class students told me they'd disown me if I returned to Britain unable to speak and write Japanese. It is something I plan to put some effort into. Cheers again, I'll be sure to contact you, and you're always welcome to visit, of course.

-Jools



ur so lucky....i want to go to japan too!! :'(

[Guile]

Good luck with that, I had a few friends that went on the Jet program also.

[DruidMettool]

Some words of advice:

Every english article of clothing that you'll see in Japan will have the word Happy, Comfort, Pleasure, or some other questionable positive outlook on life (http://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/pleasantdays.jpg) on it. So just bring your own clothes.

[rena-ko]

the japanese also only cook with water, you know.