[quote]shawninjapan wrote:
AdamC wrote:
Do you own a school out there? And out of curiosity are you Australian?
I do own a school. I’m a Texas good ole boy, though, not Australian. Why do you ask?[/quote]
Cool. An English school i take it. I imagine it’s quite difficult to set up but also rather lucrative if you get it right, given the Japanese fascination with learning English.
The Australian thing was cos you used the term “bat shit.” I thought only Aussies used that expression.
Heh. Bat shit is common use in America, as far as I know.
Setting up a school here, for me, was fairly easy for only two reasons. The first is that I put in my time at another quality, well run private school for more than 4 years, learning everything I could about the management and customer relations end of things. This, btw, is what I suggest anyone do when working for another company. Find out what works. Become a student of their successful business practices. Whatever works for then will usually work for you, too.
The second reason it was easy is another of what I consider to be the problems with Japan. I am married to a Japanese national, so setting up everything, from a legal perspective, was fairly simple. If I had not been married to her, however, it would be basically impossible, at best completely impractical, to start my own company here. The upward mobility in this country is for Japanese, and foreigners are not allowed to share in that. The system is set up where it is “possible,” but one is made to jump through so many hoops, including something like a $50,000 up front, you’ll never see it again, registration fee to start your small business. Good luck.
I have a feeling that all of the ‘for Japanese only’ aspects of the country that at present assure Japanese don’t have to compete with anyone other than Japanese in their home are in fact hamstringing this society. It is going to be a major problem for them in the future if some smart people don’t wake up and make some changes. Globablization will relegate this place back to the second world.
There are some changes happening, granted, but oftentimes it seems to be like turning the Titanic.
[quote]AdamC wrote:
shawninjapan wrote:
AdamC wrote:
Do you own a school out there? And out of curiosity are you Australian?
I do own a school. I’m a Texas good ole boy, though, not Australian. Why do you ask?
Cool. An English school i take it. I imagine it’s quite difficult to set up but also rather lucrative if you get it right, given the Japanese fascination with learning English.
The Australian thing was cos you used the term “bat shit.” I thought only Aussies used that expression.[/quote]
[quote]matt_OD wrote:
Thanks to everybody who’s posted so far.
This has been pretty interesting and helpful.
Anybody else out there with something to say?
Again, I really appreciate this… Thanks.[/quote]
Get a hot japanese girlfriend. They can translate for you and like to have sex while wearing their tokyo uni softball uniform (flashback). Japan rocks.
[quote]shawninjapan wrote:
Though my Japanese speaking, reading and writing is excellent now (5 years here and counting), I still encounter situations all the time where I will make a full statement to someone in perfect Japanese, and they will, smiling, turn to my wife and respond as if I am not even there.
This, probably more than any other thing, used to drive me absolutely batshit. I would check and make sure I hadn’t said anything wrong, my pronunciation was great. No, many Japanese just can’t imagine that a gaijin is capable of speaking ‘their’ language.
[/quote]
I had a completely different experience. My Japanese is shithouse and most people thought it was great that I was trying to speak Japanese. However I spent most of my time in the big cities (Osaka, Tokyo, Hiroshima) and with younger people. Maybe it is an older Japanese person’s attitude?
Iwaki is a nice place. Its definitely “inaka” (the sticks) but you’re right on the ocean. Lots of surfers live there. I myself live just outside of Sendai, about 2 hours north of you.
When I came over I was worried that I wouldnt be able to find a gym. Its not a problem…even the small towns here have city centers with (at worst) basic weight training equipment.
I’ll warn you now, though, that the supplements SUCK here. Despite some of the research breakthroughs Japanese scientists have made the supplement industry hasn’t followed. Go to any supplement store and you’ll see collagen pills, royal jelly tonic and mountains of other useless stuff. I’d recommend bringing some or ordering some online.
There is one good supplement company called Helios that makes some pretty good stuff…otherwise stay away!
When you first come here, you’ll have a “honeymoon period”. Enjoy it. Everything will be new and exciting. You’ll probably rave about how friendly the people are and how perfect everything is.
I’ve been here going on 3 years now…and that period is definitely over. I still enjoy myself but, to be honest, I can’t stand alot of the people and the attitudes. People stare blatantly wherever you are, talk shit about you and interfere in your private life. Try your best to ignore it.
The young guys here are the worst. They will pretend to befriend you, but as soon as they believe you have the SLIGHTEST chance of picking up a girl they WILL “shanghai” (“cockblock”) you will all their might. Mostly a bunch of pussies who perm their hair and use cosmetics.
Anyway, Japan does have its good points. The girls are incredible. You rarely see the fat, dumpy girls that waddle around in Canada. The food here is very good, and it is easy to eat healthily. Japan is pretty safe. If you happen to leave something somewhere, chances are it will be returned to you.
Enjoy Iwaki!
Since you guys have mentioned living in Japan I will share my experience.
I am currently on Year 3 of my stay in Kyushu Island. I came here as a Researcher with the option of taking a PhD. I studied both my undergraduate and master’s in the states and am pretty much fluent in english, spanish (my mother’s language), and French (my father’s).
Like Shawn mentioned there are some obviously good things here and some blatantly bad ones. I don’t want to be too long with this post so I will focus on the ELT’s and other foreigners situation while living in Japan.
It is apparent to me that japanese society is very much run in a militaristic fashion. Even though they do not have a military and say that they are peaceful, you can see it everywhere. There are lines where you can walk, can not walk, where you should go up the stairs, down the stairs.
Also everyone has what they call “sempai”, “kohai” system. This basically implies a servitude-like attitude in which they can call you and ask for favors, albeit in an extreme polite way, and it is expected of you to bend and go out of your way to do it. Even if it means that you will stay until the early hours working. It is part of the culture.
Regarding food and Bodybuilding. If you are going for one of the major cities (I am not in one) then life can be a tad easier. Some signs will have hiragana and even small english translations. However be prepared to learn japanese as soon as possible. I am right where Shawn was at the 3rd year where I have learned to overpower japanese people and focus only on speaking japanese with them. It is the only way to learn the language and to have a complete understanding of what they are trying to tell you. English is as foreign to them as the whole concept of globalization.
As an ELT you will have a great time and if you are young, horny and don’t mind people using you, there should be no regrets about your stay here. IMO being blond, white and tall helps somewhat with the chicks but don’t expect them to be model type. As the saying goes “after the make-up goes it’s a whole different game!”.
For living accommodations Japan is very very bad. You will just have to be patient. Comfort is not part of their vocabulary since homes are not seen as places you live but only to sleep. Food is to be kept minimum at home and the garbage is glorified. If I was going to come again I would bring 15lbs of Pure Whey and have someone reliable bring me another 15lbs every 3 months.
The beef here, although better tasting than any I have tasted before is actually of a lower protein content since it comes from the lower half of the cow and the cuts are different. However Costco is in Japan and the beef that they carry has western cuts. Be prepared to pay 3 times as much for the same amount of meat you would consume in 1 day.
Night seen is what you make of it. You can party almost every day, given that your obligations are met and that you have the stamina to withstand all the drinking that goes on here. The Japanese are very social persons and usually have lunch, dinner and izakaya (drinks and japanese style bbq) during the nights. The myth of japanese savings rate is just that…a myth.
You will have a celebrity like status and that can be good or bad depending of the situation (i.e. at a bar with chicks vs riding the bus to go to work). Just learn to live with it. Staring, Laughter, strange people saying “hallo” to you and then running away and people waving at you will be common by the 2nd month here.
If I can give you one hard piece of advice about living in Japan is that don’t confuse kindness with trust. Japanese society is based on “hon E” and “tate mae” so that some people that talk to you maybe dislike you and others that don’t look at you actually want to be your friend.
Everything stated in this post is dead on. You really get a different attitude about this country after living here a few years.
I have never seen nor heard of the Helios brand. I’ll have to look into it. I used to buy all my sups from Biotest and have them shipped here, but, in addition to the shipping costs, you get hit with an import tax this is usually another 5000 yen or so, and it just gets ridiculous. I switched to DNS whey protein, which is decent quality. The only thing I still order from overseas now is Surge (I buy six or more tubs at a time) and the odd bottle of HOT-ROX. Fish oil here seems only to be available in a tiny bottle from Nature Made, and you have to take around 20 capsules at a time since they are so tiny. I just put up with it.
I would probably fare better living in a bigger city, but I go crazy enough as it is where I am with the cramped conditions, and this coming from Texas; there is just no way I could put up with worse traffic, narrower streets, smaller living quarters and more people.
The best thing about my current position is that the building that I chose to house my school has a decent gym on the third floor. It is geared toward Karate and submission grappling work but the weight room portion has a power rack, squat rack and benches, so I do alright. I can stop work whenever I feel like it, walk up to the third floor, work out (or is it ‘TRAIN!!!’?) and go back downstairs and continue work. Very convenient.
[quote]scorch wrote:
Iwaki is a nice place. Its definitely “inaka” (the sticks) but you’re right on the ocean. Lots of surfers live there. I myself live just outside of Sendai, about 2 hours north of you.
When I came over I was worried that I wouldnt be able to find a gym. Its not a problem…even the small towns here have city centers with (at worst) basic weight training equipment.
I’ll warn you now, though, that the supplements SUCK here. Despite some of the research breakthroughs Japanese scientists have made the supplement industry hasn’t followed. Go to any supplement store and you’ll see collagen pills, royal jelly tonic and mountains of other useless stuff. I’d recommend bringing some or ordering some online.
There is one good supplement company called Helios that makes some pretty good stuff…otherwise stay away!
When you first come here, you’ll have a “honeymoon period”. Enjoy it. Everything will be new and exciting. You’ll probably rave about how friendly the people are and how perfect everything is.
I’ve been here going on 3 years now…and that period is definitely over. I still enjoy myself but, to be honest, I can’t stand alot of the people and the attitudes. People stare blatantly wherever you are, talk shit about you and interfere in your private life. Try your best to ignore it.
The young guys here are the worst. They will pretend to befriend you, but as soon as they believe you have the SLIGHTEST chance of picking up a girl they WILL “shanghai” (“cockblock”) you will all their might. Mostly a bunch of pussies who perm their hair and use cosmetics.
Anyway, Japan does have its good points. The girls are incredible. You rarely see the fat, dumpy girls that waddle around in Canada. The food here is very good, and it is easy to eat healthily. Japan is pretty safe. If you happen to leave something somewhere, chances are it will be returned to you.
Enjoy Iwaki![/quote]
More good commentary. Accurate. It is amazing the impressions we have the 1st year we are here compared to what we realize after the 3rd or so, isn’t it?
The younger generation seems to be more accepting of foreigners, I will say that. And one of my goals in starting a school for kids is to counter the brainwashing that goes on here that Japanese and this culture is the only relevant one, and that gaijin (literally “outside people”) are not to be trusted.
[quote]sawadeekrob wrote:
Since you guys have mentioned living in Japan I will share my experience.
I am currently on Year 3 of my stay in Kyushu Island. I came here as a Researcher with the option of taking a PhD. I studied both my undergraduate and master’s in the states and am pretty much fluent in english, spanish (my mother’s language), and French (my father’s).
Like Shawn mentioned there are some obviously good things here and some blatantly bad ones. I don’t want to be too long with this post so I will focus on the ELT’s and other foreigners situation while living in Japan.
It is apparent to me that japanese society is very much run in a militaristic fashion. Even though they do not have a military and say that they are peaceful, you can see it everywhere. There are lines where you can walk, can not walk, where you should go up the stairs, down the stairs.
Also everyone has what they call “sempai”, “kohai” system. This basically implies a servitude-like attitude in which they can call you and ask for favors, albeit in an extreme polite way, and it is expected of you to bend and go out of your way to do it. Even if it means that you will stay until the early hours working. It is part of the culture.
Regarding food and Bodybuilding. If you are going for one of the major cities (I am not in one) then life can be a tad easier. Some signs will have hiragana and even small english translations. However be prepared to learn japanese as soon as possible. I am right where Shawn was at the 3rd year where I have learned to overpower japanese people and focus only on speaking japanese with them. It is the only way to learn the language and to have a complete understanding of what they are trying to tell you. English is as foreign to them as the whole concept of globalization.
As an ELT you will have a great time and if you are young, horny and don’t mind people using you, there should be no regrets about your stay here. IMO being blond, white and tall helps somewhat with the chicks but don’t expect them to be model type. As the saying goes “after the make-up goes it’s a whole different game!”.
For living accommodations Japan is very very bad. You will just have to be patient. Comfort is not part of their vocabulary since homes are not seen as places you live but only to sleep. Food is to be kept minimum at home and the garbage is glorified. If I was going to come again I would bring 15lbs of Pure Whey and have someone reliable bring me another 15lbs every 3 months.
The beef here, although better tasting than any I have tasted before is actually of a lower protein content since it comes from the lower half of the cow and the cuts are different. However Costco is in Japan and the beef that they carry has western cuts. Be prepared to pay 3 times as much for the same amount of meat you would consume in 1 day.
Night seen is what you make of it. You can party almost every day, given that your obligations are met and that you have the stamina to withstand all the drinking that goes on here. The Japanese are very social persons and usually have lunch, dinner and izakaya (drinks and japanese style bbq) during the nights. The myth of japanese savings rate is just that…a myth.
You will have a celebrity like status and that can be good or bad depending of the situation (i.e. at a bar with chicks vs riding the bus to go to work). Just learn to live with it. Staring, Laughter, strange people saying “hallo” to you and then running away and people waving at you will be common by the 2nd month here.
If I can give you one hard piece of advice about living in Japan is that don’t confuse kindness with trust. Japanese society is based on “hon E” and “tate mae” so that some people that talk to you maybe dislike you and others that don’t look at you actually want to be your friend.[/quote]
[quote]shawninjapan wrote:
Heh. Bat shit is common use in America, as far as I know.
Setting up a school here, for me, was fairly easy for only two reasons. The first is that I put in my time at another quality, well run private school for more than 4 years, learning everything I could about the management and customer relations end of things. This, btw, is what I suggest anyone do when working for another company. Find out what works. Become a student of their successful business practices. Whatever works for then will usually work for you, too.
The second reason it was easy is another of what I consider to be the problems with Japan. I am married to a Japanese national, so setting up everything, from a legal perspective, was fairly simple. If I had not been married to her, however, it would be basically impossible, at best completely impractical, to start my own company here. The upward mobility in this country is for Japanese, and foreigners are not allowed to share in that. The system is set up where it is “possible,” but one is made to jump through so many hoops, including something like a $50,000 up front, you’ll never see it again, registration fee to start your small business. Good luck.
I have a feeling that all of the ‘for Japanese only’ aspects of the country that at present assure Japanese don’t have to compete with anyone other than Japanese in their home are in fact hamstringing this society. It is going to be a major problem for them in the future if some smart people don’t wake up and make some changes. Globablization will relegate this place back to the second world.
There are some changes happening, granted, but oftentimes it seems to be like turning the Titanic.
AdamC wrote:
shawninjapan wrote:
AdamC wrote:
Do you own a school out there? And out of curiosity are you Australian?
I do own a school. I’m a Texas good ole boy, though, not Australian. Why do you ask?
Cool. An English school i take it. I imagine it’s quite difficult to set up but also rather lucrative if you get it right, given the Japanese fascination with learning English.
The Australian thing was cos you used the term “bat shit.” I thought only Aussies used that expression.
[/quote]
Well it looks like you are doing rather well for yourself matey.
I visited Tokyo a couple of years ago, and what struck me most was the fact that for such a huge metropolis, there was very little evidence of multi-culturalism. Not too many non Japanese faces in the crowds. I get the impression that the majority of the Gaijin are English Teachers.
Seems to be similar in South Korea…I’ve been with a South Korean girl for a while now (kind of not anymore but thats another story) and it seems to be the same way there. The older generations seem to be less accepting of foreigners. Her Dad has never ever been told about us for example.
[quote]AdamC wrote:
Well it looks like you are doing rather well for yourself matey.
I visited Tokyo a couple of years ago, and what struck me most was the fact that for such a huge metropolis, there was very little evidence of multi-culturalism. Not too many non Japanese faces in the crowds. I get the impression that the majority of the Gaijin are English Teachers.
Seems to be similar in South Korea…I’ve been with a South Korean girl for a while now (kind of not anymore but thats another story) and it seems to be the same way there. The older generations seem to be less accepting of foreigners. Her Dad has never ever been told about us for example.[/quote]
That’s an interesting one, too. In Japan, the girl will not tell her parents about her boyfriend until they are going to get married! There is this don’t ask/don’t tell situation that the parents seem perfectly fine with. As an American this blows my mind. If I had a daughter, I sure as hell would want to know who she is seeing and what she is doing, as a concerned parent.
Also, when my wife finally told her folks about me, wow did the shit hit the fan. Her mother was screaming and crying, telling her nonononononono you have to stop seeing him right now. Luckily we were both around 30 and old enough that it was more our (her) choice than theirs. Her father was actually pretty cool about the whole situation, but her mother went, well, batshit 
After meeting them a couple of times and assuring them that my intentions were golden, her mother warmed up to me and everything is perfectly fine now. Also the fact that I can communicate probably helps, but we all have a really good relationship at this point.
And, to be fair, my own mother back home was not real hot to the idea of my marrying a Japanese until she met my wife, either. Now everybody is happy.