Welcome to Gaia! ::

For my foreign language class, we actually had a US Marine come into our class and talk to us about different cultures. He told us alot about Japan, and told us it was an amzing place. He actually lived there for a few years, and said that the people there were very open to foreigners.
I'd actually like to live in Japan very much ^^

I am wondering the same since I have the same skin type as you.


EDIT: I think it was on Oofuri, but one of the characters said something about the really good players from Okinawa, and something about tans.....

I don't know what that has to do with this, but yeah...

I'll admit I just read the first post, but example:

Name of a textbook at my university in Japan='Japanese encounters with the outside world.' My friend saw that and put it very simply: "Japan, you need to get out more."

But FYI I voted that it has its ups and downs...I like it here but I don't think its everything the wapanese make it out to be...come here and see it for yourself and you'll understand.

That depends on where you go. There is a automotive scene in Japan, you just have to know someone there to find it

I see lots of posts saying that some japanese dont really like americans that much, but there are alot of countries at the moment that dont like americans. I know tons of americans who pretend that there canadian when they go to europe and other countries cause they get treated better by the locals. Anyone know if this is the case with japan?

Im canadian but I have many american and dual american/canadian relatives who never say there from american when they travel outside of america because they are have been treated worse when they say they are.

I've been here for three months so far, and for the most part, I have had a really good time here. The college that I am going to takes care of it's exchange students (the same can't be said about my home college >___>) and the people here are all really nice.

For foreigners, speaking the language....if it's just a little bit is gold. People appreciate it if you can speak the language. The good thing is you aren't expected to know all the nuisances of keigo (basic formality langauge, all verbs ending in -masu and sentences ending in desu) so you can also get by with just plain form (even if you know all the keigo getting here, making friends and learning the language is much more easier in plain form than keigo) most of the time, though it is politer to use keigo when asking requests or questions to people you don't know really well.

With English.....it seems that it's like learning a foreign language (some schools in the state make it mandatory) in high school in the US. Say I learn French for 4 or 5 years, but after I graduate high school, I really don't use it....or have much a need to because I don't interact much with natives of the language. However, several French people moved in next door, but they only speak mostly French. They are in a problem because most of the language spoken is English, but they mostly speak their native tongue. The same thing is like Japan, despite the fact more and more foreigners are coming and going to the country that speak English. I have heard that a factor in making anyone enjoy speaking another language is actually enjoying using it. High school English here can be a mixed bag, so some people treat it as another class, then forget outside of school, while others study hard (and take the TOLEC and other exams). Another factor in the weight is that a lot of Japanese people I have met will speak the English they know, which is sometimes very little when they see me (or another foreigner for instance). Another factor is some that have decent to good English skills, but are so afraid of making mistakes that when they fumble on English, they just resort to Japanese.

That being said about a language, the thing I found annoying is the "I understand" part. Basically, no matter how badly someone speaks a language, if you still understand them, there's no need to correct them. However, I am a stickler for speaking more "correct" sounding conversational Japanese, so if I do say something weirdly, I make more of an effort to ask them how they would say that. I mainly only bother friends with this. I am also making an effort to correct other student's English, as I was doing the same thing, but only with English instead of Japanese.

I wrote more on general observations dealing with mainly pop-cultural things that I might save for another time.

As for the "people from America that had to say they're Canada" to get better treated, I think that's not the same in all areas. I'm in Tochigi prefecture, and the people here are really nice (not to mention my city is still part of the greater Tokyo sprawling mass of doom) to foreigners no matter where you're at. I have taiwanese friends that have part time jobs in places where normal Japanese students have part-time jobs. That is saying a lot, because if you speak English, and need a part-time, it seems you're teaching English (you need really decent skills in Japanese before you can be expected to get out of the teaching loop).

Here's a tip if you're an American, quiet down and do what the natives do. I think many of the people that "don't like Americans" here have had bad experiences with them. I mainly site the "quiet down" because being really noisy and hyper will wear down anyone after a while. And....as the same thing with being able to speak the language, if you do what the natives do (maybe after observation first) you'll be in better shape to be treated well here. It's the same anywhere in the aspect: treat other people and their culture with respect, then they will be more appreciative of you and will be able to share more with you.

Ok the thing about Japanese people not likeing Americans is true sometimes. The older generation and the rebels of todays youth are the ones that dont really like Americans. They like foreigners all the time or sometime. If you go to the city u may get picked on without even knowing. I love Japan all the way and no matter what race you say you are they arent really going to like you because you are a gaijin. Oh yes and intermixing is not a good thing over there but there is nothing wrong with that!

I would very much like to go to Japan, at least for a few years. It'd be cool to hold dual citizenship though. 3nodding