Living Abroad in Japan

[Nickolia Oreadia]

Dude - that sounds crazy- I'm glad you went on that tirade though - I was thinking about studying abroad in Japan, but um....I'll get my masters back in the good old US of A.

Ah, I got sick from one of my cute little students. I gave him a little kiss on the cheek and then found out later the reason he looked so sad was because he felt ill. Oops. I'll stick to hugs and smiling from now on...

[Roxalee]

Ahaha, while I'm not in Japan (damn) I am currently studying abroad in the French speaking portion of Switzerland and the French are simultaneously the most friendly and jerk-like people ever. D: Whenever I walk anywhere people are like, "Oh, Bonjour/soir~" and I'm to slow to catch it D: I'm not used to saying hello to everyone I pass, haha. At the same time, they are extremely impatient and precise and will push you and throw lit cigarettes at you (I will never understand why they don't step on the cigarettes/put them out ;A; they just flick them everywhere still lit). Oh culture shock, how I despise thou. AND THE KISSING GREETING, OHGOD. I have a sort of social anxiety and I hate that more then anything, haha.

PS people in Europe stare like it's nobody's business. D: It's so annoyingggggggg. They will just stare at you, even after you glare at them several times ;A;

PS2, I'm going to teach English in Japan hopefully (once I graduate) (:

[Rosechiixo]

I'm glad I came across this thread cause I'm interested in going back to Japan. I'd prefer to be there for more than two weeks. I've been there before and experienced similar things in Tokyo.

[Nickolia Oreadia]

Jeez...France sounds intense, I've heard similar things before. Hate to say it...but I don't think I ever really want to go there, well for too long. Maybe just to visit. I have a french friend I woun't mind visiting.

Today I harassed this guy in starbucks. I was studying Kanji and wanted some help...my Japanese is horrible - I couldn't really say what I wanted to...oh well, maybe next time.

[momoeri -]

Roxalee

Ahaha, while I'm not in Japan (damn) I am currently studying abroad in the French speaking portion of Switzerland and the French are simultaneously the most friendly and jerk-like people ever. D: Whenever I walk anywhere people are like, "Oh, Bonjour/soir~" and I'm to slow to catch it D: I'm not used to saying hello to everyone I pass, haha. At the same time, they are extremely impatient and precise and will push you and throw lit cigarettes at you (I will never understand why they don't step on the cigarettes/put them out ;A; they just flick them everywhere still lit). Oh culture shock, how I despise thou. AND THE KISSING GREETING, OHGOD. I have a sort of social anxiety and I hate that more then anything, haha.

PS people in Europe stare like it's nobody's business. D: It's so annoyingggggggg. They will just stare at you, even after you glare at them several times ;A;

PS2, I'm going to teach English in Japan hopefully (once I graduate) (:

French people's actions don't speak for all of Europe. wink

[LEEdEr94]

......... stare

[The_Brightest_Moon]

I dont find that many Europeans stare. I went to Germany and they are the NICEST PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET. And the Swiss are really nice too. French, well I've never been to France but I've heard they're not so friendly (according to the Americans, Germans, British and many other nationalities I've heard from). Maybe the French are just the French?

[Nickolia Oreadia]

LEEdEr94

......... stare

...Yes...is this some sort of affirmation of the staring thing..?

[La Nausee]

I've been living in Japan for this past semester as well. I'm on a study abroad for one semester before I graduate.

I'm glad to see there are others in a similar situation of living/studying abroad in Japan. How do you like it so far and where are you living?

I see a lot of foreigners around town, because the school I'm attending is a language school, and is famous for hosting many international students each year, so when I do see foreigners here and there around town, I assume they are going to the school.

However, when I travel around or see a foreigner I don't know, I don't usually say anything but usually we'll at least smile/nod at one another. But, I don't get all excited and am like "it's another foreigner! Let's talk!" I don't really care tbh, I'm here to practice Japanese, and seeing another foreigner, though it may be surprising, I don't feel obligated to start up a conversation with them.

[PolyglotKoko]

La Nausee

I've been living in Japan for this past semester as well. I'm on a study abroad for one semester before I graduate.

I'm glad to see there are others in a similar situation of living/studying abroad in Japan. How do you like it so far and where are you living?

I see a lot of foreigners around town, because the school I'm attending is a language school, and is famous for hosting many international students each year, so when I do see foreigners here and there around town, I assume they are going to the school.

However, when I travel around or see a foreigner I don't know, I don't usually say anything but usually we'll at least smile/nod at one another. But, I don't get all excited and am like "it's another foreigner! Let's talk!" I don't really care tbh, I'm here to practice Japanese, and seeing another foreigner, though it may be surprising, I don't feel obligated to start up a conversation with them.

I didn't feel obligated to talk to the foreigners that were in Japan but I sure wished I knew more Japanese back then than I do now. I do plan on going back in late December to meet a friend (She's Japanese) in Osaka and while I'm in Japan I'm really going to make it a point to only use Japanese as much as possible and try to avoid other foreigners if possible.

[Shura Aiken]

I'ts easier if you're Asian.

I wouldn't exactly make eye-contact if I saw a russian.

[MerronSoda]

I noticed that foreigners often tried to make eye contact with me... Depending on my mood I either gave them a short smile - or I completely ignored them. I often found it rather strange that a foreigner wanted to make friends with me just because I am a foreigner too.
I understand that foreigners (probably especially those who don't speak any Japanese - or don't wanna learn to speak it) wanna make friends with somebody they can talk to... But still... it depends on HOW a foreigner starts a conversation with me. There are those who are friendly and don't overrun you with their "coolness" (like what they've achieved in Japan or whatever... oddly enough, I met a few foreigners who boasted about their import-export business in Japan, their large house at the beach near Tokyo and that they're playing guitar or bass in a band o____o As if I'd fall for that...), and they often ask you in Japanese first (even if they have a really hard time speaking it) if you speak English and then switch to English. I was rather pissed off by those who took it for granted that I spoke English and approached me with a loud "WHAT'S UUUUUP?!?!"... Unfortunately, I gotta say that I've only come across Americans doing this ._____.
Well, maybe I felt different about that because I knew Japanese quite well already the time I arrived in Japan. Most of my friends there were Japanese (and I always spoke Japanese with them). Thus I hardly felt any need to talk to other foreigners. There were a few exchange students I made friends with, but usually we talked in Japanese with each other.

[Nickolia Oreadia]

I had a lot of Japanese friends in the US, but they were there only for a short time to study Japanese not to mention I was incredibly busy trying to graduate with a number of other things. I wish I was one of those people naturally gifted in acquiring language...though I posses the love of language meaning and structure (I am a Linguist!!!!). (I'm not horrible at picking up a language - I just need time). I'm trying to learn Japanese now, but I have the need to be able to connect - it's heartbreaking that about half the people here don't really get what I mean because of a language barrier (there are so many well-meaning Japanese mothers here who are taking care of me because they don't think I can do something (I've told them a number of times I can do it...but either they don't care or they don't get it...I'm not sure which one it is yet)).
I don't know, I decided to make it a game to see how many people I can interact with (foreign and Japanese) - I'm not going to be obnoxious, but if I see an opprotunity I'll take it. I just like to meet new people. ^_^

[Roxalee]

momoeri -

Roxalee

Ahaha, while I'm not in Japan (damn) I am currently studying abroad in the French speaking portion of Switzerland and the French are simultaneously the most friendly and jerk-like people ever. D: Whenever I walk anywhere people are like, "Oh, Bonjour/soir~" and I'm to slow to catch it D: I'm not used to saying hello to everyone I pass, haha. At the same time, they are extremely impatient and precise and will push you and throw lit cigarettes at you (I will never understand why they don't step on the cigarettes/put them out ;A; they just flick them everywhere still lit). Oh culture shock, how I despise thou. AND THE KISSING GREETING, OHGOD. I have a sort of social anxiety and I hate that more then anything, haha.

PS people in Europe stare like it's nobody's business. D: It's so annoyingggggggg. They will just stare at you, even after you glare at them several times ;A;

PS2, I'm going to teach English in Japan hopefully (once I graduate) (:

French people's actions don't speak for all of Europe. wink

I'm pretty sure I've found that it's fairly the same throughout Europe, at least in accordance of where I've been. I live in Belgium, and it's the same there. I've also found people do it a lot in other areas. It was just a general saying. If it offended anyone, sorry, it's just what I've noticed.

Then again, maybe it's 'just' me.

The_Brightest_Moon

I dont find that many Europeans stare. I went to Germany and they are the NICEST PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET. And the Swiss are really nice too. French, well I've never been to France but I've heard they're not so friendly (according to the Americans, Germans, British and many other nationalities I've heard from). Maybe the French are just the French?

D:

I live in Switzerland. Not France, haha. When I say the French, I mean the FRENCH SPEAKING portion of Switzerland; as in, the 'Swiss'. All I know, is that where I live in Switzerland, and where I've travelled, they stare. A lot. :/

---------

I sound like I'm angry, but I'm not. XD I swear, haha.

[momoeri -]

Roxalee

momoeri -

Roxalee

Ahaha, while I'm not in Japan (damn) I am currently studying abroad in the French speaking portion of Switzerland and the French are simultaneously the most friendly and jerk-like people ever. D: Whenever I walk anywhere people are like, "Oh, Bonjour/soir~" and I'm to slow to catch it D: I'm not used to saying hello to everyone I pass, haha. At the same time, they are extremely impatient and precise and will push you and throw lit cigarettes at you (I will never understand why they don't step on the cigarettes/put them out ;A; they just flick them everywhere still lit). Oh culture shock, how I despise thou. AND THE KISSING GREETING, OHGOD. I have a sort of social anxiety and I hate that more then anything, haha.

PS people in Europe stare like it's nobody's business. D: It's so annoyingggggggg. They will just stare at you, even after you glare at them several times ;A;

PS2, I'm going to teach English in Japan hopefully (once I graduate) (:

French people's actions don't speak for all of Europe. wink

I'm pretty sure I've found that it's fairly the same throughout Europe, at least in accordance of where I've been. I live in Belgium, and it's the same there. I've also found people do it a lot in other areas. It was just a general saying. If it offended anyone, sorry, it's just what I've noticed.

Then again, maybe it's 'just' me.

The_Brightest_Moon

I dont find that many Europeans stare. I went to Germany and they are the NICEST PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET. And the Swiss are really nice too. French, well I've never been to France but I've heard they're not so friendly (according to the Americans, Germans, British and many other nationalities I've heard from). Maybe the French are just the French?

D:

I live in Switzerland. Not France, haha. When I say the French, I mean the FRENCH SPEAKING portion of Switzerland; as in, the 'Swiss'. All I know, is that where I live in Switzerland, and where I've travelled, they stare. A lot. :/

---------

I sound like I'm angry, but I'm not. XD I swear, haha.

Well I'm from the UK so... it's rude to stare over here.